Pleurolobus tanganyikensis (Baker) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi

Leguminosae, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:6. 2000

Morphology General Habit

Erect or suberect subshrubby perennial herb 0.6–2 m tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems angular, densely shortly bristly hairy on the angles and uncinulate-pubescent between them.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 2–13 × 0.6–7 cm, elliptic or elliptic-oblong to lanceolate, acute to rounded at the apex, rounded to truncate or slightly subcordate at the base, margins entire or somewhat undulate, with sparse to dense longer hairs on the nerves and a mixture of very short and rather longer hairs between on upper surface, densely pilose beneath, the hairs on the nerves being mostly more ferruginous; venation strongly raised and reticulate beneath; petiole absent or not exceeding 5 mm; rhachis 1–4 cm long; petiolules 1 mm long; stipules 5–10 × 1.2 mm, lanceolate, densely pubescent outside, eventually deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, branched, 25–65 cm long, with same indumentum as the stem; peduncle 20–46 cm long; pedicels 2.5–4 mm long, uncinulate-pubescent; primary bracts 3 × 0.8 mm, lanceolate, soon deciduous, each subtending 3 or more pedicels; secondary bracts about half the size, 1–2 × 0.5 mm, deciduous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx with longer bristly hairs and short uncinulate pubescence; tube 1.5 mm long; lobes 2–3 mm long, ovate-triangular to lanceolate, the upper two joined to form a very rounded lobe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pink or rose-pink, rarely white or purplish, 8–9 × 6–7 mm, almost round, wings brighter rose-pink.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits 9–22 mm long, of 1–3 articles, each article 7–8 × 6 mm, broadly elliptic, densely uncinulate-pubescent, with rather obscurely raised venation, necks between articles 1.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds orange-brown, strongly compressed so that edge is almost keeled, 4.2–5 × 2.5–3 × 1.3 mm, reniform; hilum small, almost central, the seed margin raised to one side of it.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect or arching perennial herb 1.2–1.5 m. tall with reddish angular stem and branches abundantly spreading pilose with slender white tapering hairs and somewhat uncinulate-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate (rarely some 1-foliolate), stipulate, essentially sessile; terminal leaflets elliptic to elliptic-ovate, obtuse to acute at apex and apiculate, truncate to cuneate at base, 7–9 cm. long, 3–5 cm. wide; lateral leaflets apiculate, usually obliquely ovate, obtuse at apex and truncate at base, 5–8 cm. long, 3–5 cm. wide; all with margins thickened, sometimes sinuate, upper surface with long pilosity on midrib and chief lateral veins, uncinulate-pubescent throughout, lower surface with very prominent reticulate venation and long lax, usually glandular pilosity on veins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal, racemose-paniculate, broad; rhachides abundantly spreading uncinulate-pubescent; primary bracts reddish brown, narrowly ovate-attenuate, 3–4.5 mm. long, striate, densely long white pilose on outer surface; secondary bracts similar, smaller, paler, less densely pilose; pedicels borne in fascicles of 3 to 5, densely uncinulate-pubescent, (2.5–)4–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx brown to brick-red, 2-lipped, long spreading pilose and minutely puberulent throughout, 4.5–5.5 mm. long (including the generally lanceolate-acuminate teeth).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale to rose-pink; standard almost orbicular, somewhat clawed at base, 7–8.5 mm. long, 6–7.5 mm. wide; wings and keel-petals sometimes slightly longer, obliquely oblong, obtuse, auricled at base and clawed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens sometimes with the filament a little elongated beyond the anther-thecae.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style long and bent at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit essentially sessile, 1–3-articled, with the style persistent, upper suture somewhat indented, the lower deeply so at the isthmi, uncinulate-pubescent throughout, ± straight pilose on and near sutures; articles suborbicular to subelliptic or almost rectangular, 5–8 mm. long, 4.5–6 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed elliptic-reniform, brown, 3–4 mm. long, 2.5 mm. wide.

Figures

Fig. 66.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland or grassland; 930–2100 m.

Distribution

T4 T7 T8

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Zambezian grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb