Vigna monophylla Taub.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170456/1314488

Conservation

LC - least concern

Leguminosae, B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, erect, climbing or trailing herb, 14–60 cm tall, with slender often woody fusiform tuberous roots up to 7 × 1.5 cm.

Morphology Stem

Stem angled, glabrous or with sparse hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leave simple; leaflet ovate to oblong-lanceolate or ± elliptic, 1.8–11.5 × 0.5–3 cm, acute or rounded but mucronulate at the apex, rounded or very slightly emarginate at the base, glabrous or with a few hairs on the midrib beneath, margins sometimes ciliolate, ± 3-nerved from the base; venation raised and reticulate; petiole and rhachis reduced to a pulvinus c. 1.5 mm long, without stipels; stipules 1.5–4 × c. 1.5 mm, lanceolate, multinerved, bilobed at the base or not produced below the point of attachment.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Peduncle 7–35 cm × 0.8–2 mm, winged, glabrescent to puberulous; rhachis 3–15 mm long, 2–9-noded, internodes 1–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower variously described as yellow or white but mostly purple, 10–14 mm long; pedicel 1 mm long, not expanding as the pod matures; bracteoles 1–2 mm long, ovate-oblong, 1-nerved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous or densely covered with small appressed blackish hairs; tube c. 2 mm long; lobes 1.5–2.5 mm long, subequal, upper lip emarginate or bidentate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard with two weak centrally placed appendages; keel with a short beak up to 2 mm long, slightly twisted towards the left.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Alternate anthers with a pair of glands at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollen

Pollen exine not reticulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 12–16-ovuled; style tip almost not beaked.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 4–5 cm × c. 3–4 mm, linear-cylindrical, tomentellous to densely covered with dark brown hairs, with curved tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed small, 1.5–2.5 mm in diameter, subglobose to cubic, white when fresh, cream-coloured later; hilum central; without an aril.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect, climbing or trailing herb, 14–60 cm. tall, with slender often woody fusiform tuberous roots up to 7 cm. long and 1·5 cm. wide.

Morphology Stem

Stems angled, glabrous or with sparse hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unifoliolate; leaflets ovate to oblong-lanceolate or ±elliptic, 1·8–11·5 cm. long, 0·5–3 cm. wide, acute or rounded but mucronulate at the apex, rounded or very slightly emarginate at the base, glabrous or with a few hairs on the midrib beneath, margins sometimes ciliolate, ± 3-nerved from the base; venation raised and reticulate; petiole ±1·5 cm. long; stipules persistent, lanceolate, 3–4 mm. long, 1·5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes with rhachis 5–12 mm. long; peduncle 7–35 cm. long, ±winged, puberulous with stiff blackish hairs towards the apex or rarely glabrescent or pale; pedicels 1 mm. long; bracts and bracteoles ±deciduous, ovate-oblong, 1–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous or densely covered with small adpressed blackish hairs; tube ±2 mm. long; lobes ±1·5–2·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard variously described as green, apricot, mauve, yellow or white but mostly purple, deeper inside and tinged greenish outside, round, 1–1·4 cm. long and wide, glabrous; wings purplish or green inside and magenta outside; keel greenish or white, often tipped with mauve.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Alternate anthers with a pair of glands at their base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods held ±erect, cylindrical, 3·8–5 cm. long, 3–4 mm. wide, tomentellous to densely covered with dark brown hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds reddish-brown, often speckled blackish, subglobose to cubic, 2–2·5 mm. in diameter.

Figures

Fig. 98, p. 662.

Habitat

Grassland, grassland with scattered trees, Brachystegia woodland, often on waterlogged clay soils; 840–2100(–2400) m.

Distribution

K2 K3 K5 T1 T4 T7 T8 U2 U3 U4

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Lake Victoria regional transition zone; woodland., Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Zambezian wooded grassland, Zambezian grassland, Zambezian woodland, Sudanian grasslands, Sudanian woodland, Lake Victoria regional mosaic; wood

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb