Fabaceae
Vigna

Vigna richardsiae Verdc.

First published in Kew Bull. 24: 566 (1970)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to Zambia. It grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Twining or procumbent herb, c. 1.5 m long.
Morphology Stem
Stem slender, somewhat angular, practically glabrous.
Morphology Leaves Leaflets
Leaflets 3, 1.5–5 × 0.4–2.8 cm, narrowly lanceolate to ovate, acute to sharply acuminate, rounded at the base, glabrous or very sparsely pilose on both surfaces; petiole 1.5–5 cm long; rhachis 0.2–1 cm long; stipules reflexed, 2–4 × 1 mm, lanceolate, 3-nerved, not at all or scarcely prolonged below the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Peduncle 1–6.5 cm × c. 0.5 mm, angled or almost winged, glabrous; rhachis 0.5–1 cm long, 1–7-noded, internodes 0.5–2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flower yellow or mauve, 11–12 × 12–13 mm; pedicel 2–4 mm long, expanding as the pod matures; bracteoles just over 1 mm long, oblong-cucullate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx glabrescent; tube c. 2.5 mm long; lobes 1–1.5 mm long, deltate or ovate, ciliate, subequal, the upper pair joined for half their length or united into an emarginate lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard with two central (although parallel) appendages; keel slightly twisted towards the left, with a short beak, c. 1 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Alternate anthers without a pair of glands at their base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollen
Pollen exine not reticulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 10–13-ovuled.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod c. 4 cm × 3–4 mm, linear, glabrous, with a curved beak.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seed unknown.
[FZ]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/170472/1314758

Conservation
DD - data deficient
[IUCN]

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: low confidence
[AERP]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Morphology General Habit
Climbing/Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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

Morphology General Habit
Twining or procumbent herb, ± 1·5 m. long.
Morphology Stem
Stems slender, somewhat angular, practically glabrous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaflets 3, narrowly lanceolate to ovate, 1·5–5 cm. long, 0·4–2·8 cm. wide, acute to sharply acuminate, rounded at the base, glabrous or very sparsely pilose on both surfaces; petiole 1·5–5 cm. long; rhachis 0·2–1 cm. long; petiolules 0·5–2 mm. long; stipules reflexed, lanceolate, 2–4 mm. long, 3-nerved, not or scarcely at all prolonged below the base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary; rhachis 0·5–1 cm. long, 1–7-nodose, the flowers in 3–5-flowered fascicles at the nodes; peduncle 1–6·5 cm. long, angled or almost winged; pedicels 2–4 mm. long; bracts ovate, 1 mm. long, deciduous; bracteoles oblong-cucullate, just over 1 mm. long, at length deciduous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx-tube ± 2·5 mm. long, glabrescent; lobes deltoid or ovate, 1–1·5 mm. long, ciliate, the upper pair joined to form a rounded emarginate lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers yellow or mauve; standard oblate, 1 cm. long, 1·2–1·3 cm. wide, emarginate, glabrous; keel obtuse at apex, not incurved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod (known from single immature detached valve) linear, 4 cm. long, 4–4·5 mm. wide, glabrous or minutely puberulous, 6–10-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds not known.
Habitat
Not known; 1800 m.
Distribution
T7
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0