Chamaecrista nigricans (Vahl) Greene

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Somalia-Masai anthropic landscapes, Zambezian anthropic landscapes., Sudanian anthropic landscapes, Zambezian grassland, Sudanian grasslands, Somalia-Masai grasslands

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

Leguminosae, R.K. Brummitt, A.C. Chikuni, J.M. Lock and R.M. Polhill. Flora Zambesiaca 3:2. 2007

Morphology General Habit

Upright herb, sometimes woody towards the base, probably usually annual, 30–100 cm tall.

Morphology Stem

Stem smooth, pubescent with short curled and long straight yellowish hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate, tending to be held in a single plane, 5–8.5 × 3.5–4.2 cm; stipules 5.5–6.5 × 1.5 mm, narrowly triangular, rounded or truncate at the base, pubescent with long and short hairs; petiolar gland oval, cushion-shaped, depressed; rachis channelled; leaflets in (7)11–14 pairs, 15–24 × 3.5–5 mm, oblong-elliptic, slightly asymmetric, proximal side of base rounded to cuneate, distal cuneate, apex mucronate, mucro 0.8–1.2 mm long, margins inrolled above into mucro, yellowish pubescent above and beneath; midrib slightly excentric to almost central; secondary nerves moderately prominent beneath, indistinct above, 2–3 lateral nerves from base on proximal side of midrib, 1–2 on distal side.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences supra-axillary, an additional axillary one sometimes arising later, 4–7-flowered; pedicels 1.5–3 mm long, apparently not elongating in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers small; petals 3.5–4.5 × 1.5–3.5 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary densely appressed-white-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod blackish, 2–2.5 × 0.4–0.5 cm, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, c.2.5 × 1.8 mm, rhomboid, flattened.

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

Morphology General Habit

Herb, apparently annual, erect, simple or branched, 25–45 cm. (–1.8 m.) high.

Morphology Stem

Stems pubescent with short crisped and longer spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ± oblong, 3–10 cm. long, 2–4 cm. wide; gland at top of petiole, sessile, cushion-shaped, 2–4 mm. long, 1–1.25 mm. wide; rhachis eglandular, channelled but not crenate-crested along upper side; leaflets sessile, mostly in 7–15(–18, fide L.T.A., but not confirmed) pairs, narrowly oblong, straight, (10–)12–25(–33) mm. long, (2–)2.5–5(–7.5) mm. wide, rounded to obtuse and mucronate, rarely subacute, at apex, shortly and rather densely pubescent on both surfaces; midrib central or almost so, particularly above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences supra-axillary (sometimes a second axillary one present), 3–8-flowered; pedicels very short, 2–4(–5) mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals small, yellow, 3.5–4.5 mm. long, 1.5–3.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods erect, 1.7–2.4(–4) cm. long, 4–5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown, obovate or rhombic, 2.5–4 mm. long, 1.5–2.5 mm. wide, not areolate.

Figures

Fig. 10/27, p. 57.

Habitat

Grassland, cultivated and fallow ground and roadsides; said ( G. H. S. Wood 831) to be frequent in N. Busoga District on bare dry sites where there is little competition; 900–1220 m.

Distribution

West Africa from Senegal and Gambia to Nigeria, Central African Republic, Congo Republic, Sudan Republic, Eritrea and Angola K5 T1 T4 U1 U2 U3

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

Morphology General Habit

A woody herb or undershrub, up to 4 or 5 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Small yellow flowers.