Vigna kirkii (Baker) J.B.Gillett

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170445/1314004

Conservation

LC - least concern

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology General Habit

Perrenial climbing herb 1.8-4 m long

Morphology Stem

stem glabrescent or with short appressed tubercular-based hairs which on the older stem lose their fine points and leave characteristic minute hooks

Morphology Leaves

leaflets 3, ovate or oblong to ovate-lanceolate, acute to rounded and mucronulate at the apex, truncate, rounded or subcordate sometimes subhastate at the base, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; venation slightly raised and reticulate, petioles 0.7-10 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

inflorescence axillary, (1-) 2 (very rarely-3 -5) flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

flower calyx separately pubescent or glabrous; tube 2-3 mm long; lobes 1-4 mm long standard mauve, yellow or white with a yellow patch or very pale blue tinged yellowish, oblate, 1.1-2 cm long, 1.4-2.2 cm wide, the left hand petal with a small but distinct upward pocket just behind the middle

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

fruit pods held erect, linear, 5-9 cm long, 3-4.5 mm wide, glabrous or covered with hooked hairs, ± 15 seeded

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

very dark blackish-red, black or brown densely mottled with black, oblong cylindric, longest dimension 4-5 mm, shorter dimension 2-2.5 mm, 1.8 mm thick.

Ecology

SWampy grassland, alluvial plains, forest undergrowth, disturbed ground, inundated areas, stream and river banks, roadsides, savannas; sandy or clay loam. altitude1-1712m

Distribution

burundi, Cameroon, Guinea bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, gambia, uganda, Zaire, Zambia.

Conservation

least concerned

Phenology

Flower (february – may), fruit (february - may)

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Somalia-Masai grasslands, Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; grassland., Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Zambezian grassland

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Climbing, Herb

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Perennial (or rarely annual, fide Milne-Redhead & Taylor 9917) climbing herb 1·8–4 m. long.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrescent or with short adpressed tubercular-based hairs which on the older stems lose their fine points and leave characteristic minute hooks.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets 3, ovate or oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 1·3–10 cm. long, 0·5–5·5 cm. wide, acute to rounded and mucronulate at the apex, truncate, rounded or sometimes subhastate at the base, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; venation slightly raised and reticulate; petioles 0·7–10 cm. long; rhachis 0·1–2 cm. long; petiolules 0·5–3 mm. long; stipules lanceolate, 2–6 mm. long, bilobed and prolonged at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, (1–)2(very rarely –3–5)-flowered; peduncle 2–15 cm. long; pedicels ± 1 mm. long; bracteoles deciduous, oblong-lanceolate, 1·5–2·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely pubescent or glabrous; tube 2–4 mm. long; lobes triangular-lanceolate, 1–4 mm. long, the upper pair united to form an emarginate to apiculate lip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard mauve, yellow or white with a yellow patch or very pale blue tinged yellowish, oblate, 1·1–2 cm. long, 1·4–2·2 cm. wide, glabrous and without appendages; wings yellow or white with blue marks; keel white, sometimes tinged with blue, twisted to the left and also curved inward for ± 260°, the left-hand petal with a small but distinct upward pocket just behind the middle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods held erect, linear, 5–9 cm. long, 3–4·5 mm. wide, glabrous or covered with hooked hairs, ± 15-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds very dark blackish-red, black or brown densely mottled with black, oblong-cylindric, longest dimension 4–5 mm., shorter dimension 2–2·5 mm., 1·8 mm. thick; aril developed, eccentric.

Habitat

Seasonally swampy grassland, grassland with scattered trees, old cultivations, also in sandy soil by rivers in semi-desert bushland; 0–1250 m.

Distribution

K7 T3 T6 T8 U2 U4 Z