Fabaceae
Vigna

Vigna triphylla (R.Wilczek) Verdc.

First published in Kew Bull. 24: 566 (1970)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is an annual and 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
Perennial prostrate, trailing or twining herb, 0.6–1.8 m long.
Morphology Stem
Stem glabrous, usually ± winged.
Morphology Leaves Leaflets
Leaflets 3, 3–7 × 0.5–3 cm, linear-oblong, oblong-lanceolate or ovate, acute to rounded and mucronulate at the apex, rounded to slightly subcordate at the base, sometimes slightly subhastate, glabrous or nearly so; secondary veins leaving midrib almost at a right-angle; petiole 1.2–3 cm long; rhachis 0.3–0.6 cm long; stipules 3–6 × c. 2 mm, lanceolate, often reflexed, truncate or very slightly bilobed at the base, multinerved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Peduncle 5–9 cm × 0.5–1.8 mm, 3-winged (mainly in the lowest part), glabrous to puberulous; rhachis 3–25 mm long, 3–12-noded, longest internode 2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flower yellow, tinged with mauve, 10–13 × 12–14 mm; pedicels 0.5–2 mm long, not expanding as the pod matures; bracteoles 1.5–2 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, 1-nerved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx glabrescent; tube 1.5–2 mm long; lobes 1–2.5 mm long, ciliolate, lower lobe slightly longer, upper lobes united into an emarginate lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard with two central 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 their base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollen
Pollen exine not reticulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary 13–18-ovuled; style tip almost not beaked.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod 4–5 cm × 3–4 mm, linear, cylindrical, with a curved beak.
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.
[FZ]

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
[AERP]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zambezian grassland, Sudanian grasslands
Morphology General Habit
Climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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

Morphology General Habit
Prostrate herb, 0·6–1·8 m. long.
Morphology Stem
Stems glabrous, usually ±winged.
Morphology Leaves
Leaflets 3, linear-oblong, oblong-lanceolate or ovate, 2·8–5·5(–7) cm. long, 0·3–2·2(–3) cm. wide, acute to rounded and mucronulate at the apex, rounded to slightly subcordate at the base, sometimes slightly subhastate, glabrous or nearly so; secondary veins leaving midrib almost at a right-angle; petiole 1–2·3 cm. long; rhachis 3–6 mm. long; petiolules 0·5–2 mm. long; stipules persistent, lanceolate, 3–6 mm. long, often reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes with rhachis 0·3–2 cm. long; peduncle (1·5–)7–9 cm. long, prominently winged below, puberulous above; pedicels 0·5–2 mm. long; bracts and bracteoles ovate-lanceolate, ±1·5 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx glabrescent; tube ±1·5–2 mm. long; lobes triangular, 1–2·5 mm. long, ciliolate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard yellow or purple, oblate, 0·9–1·3 cm. long, 1·2–1·4 cm. wide, glabrous; keel greenish.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Alternate anthers with a pair of glands at their base.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Young pod 2·5–4·5 cm. long, 1·5–2 mm. wide, covered with minute yellowish glandular hairs and also some longer sparse whitish hairs along the suture.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds not known.
Habitat
Grassy places; ±1500m.
Distribution
K3/K5
[FTEA]

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit
A glabrous, twining, annual herb, with angular stems 4–6 ft. long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers mauve or yellow
Ecology
Usually amongst grasses.
[FWTA]

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

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical 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/

  • 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