Gelrebia trothaei (Harms) Gagnon & G.P.Lewis

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 0.3–3(–5) m. high, erect or sometimes somewhat climbing.

Morphology Stem

Young stems glabrous to pubescent, armed with scattered straight and spreading or ± curved and defiexed prickles varying in length up to 9 mm.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves:petiole with rhachis 1.5–15 cm. long, often ± prickly; pinnae 3–17 pairs, 0.7–5.3(–8.5) cm. long; leaflets 4–33 pairs per pinna, narrowly oblong, or oblong-elliptic, or the uppermost slightly obovate, (2.5–)4–10(–13) mm. long, 1–4(–5) mm. wide, rounded at apex and usually mucronate, ± pubescent or puberulous on midrib and margins or becoming quite glabrous, margins usually minutely crenulate (? glandular, use lens of at least × 20).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes terminal and lateral, 2.5–15(–24) cm. long, simple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts ovate- or elliptic-acuminate, 3–6 mm. long, usually falling off while flower-buds are still young.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers mauve-pink (or ? rarely yellow:see note below).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 2–7 mm. long in flower, to 15 mm. in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 8–12 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals obovate, 9–20 mm. long, 4.5–15 mm. wide; upper one smaller than others, with a transverse usually bidentate wing-like projection on inner side at apex of claw.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers appearing glabrous but, under a × 20 lens, a sparse minute puberulence is visible.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary and style glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods shortly boat-shaped or anvil-shaped, 1.5–5 cm. long, 1.5–2.2 cm. wide, compressed, narrowed to an acute beak directed forwards or upwards and continuing line of upper suture at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds obovoid, scarcely compressed, 10–11 mm. long, 7–9 mm. wide, olive, or mottled olive and brown.

Figures

Fig. 5, p. 34.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Shrub

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Erect or somewhat climbing shrub, 0.3–3(–5) m high, armed with scattered prickles on the branches and often on leaf-rhachides

Morphology Leaves Pinnae

Pinnae 3–17 pairs; leaflets 4–33 pairs per pinna, narrowly oblong to slightly obovate, (2.5–)4–10(–13) x 1–4(–5) mm, ± pubescent or puberulous on midrib and margins or glabrescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers mauve-pink in terminal and lateral racemes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 8–12 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals obovate, 9–20 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers minutely puberulous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods shortly boat-shaped, 1.5–5 x 1.5–2.2 cm, compressed, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds obovoid, 10–11 x 7–9 mm.

Note

Subsp. trothae occurs in Kenya and Tanzania.