Osodendron altissimum (Hook.f.) E.J.M.Koenen

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/144268534/149051223

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

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

Morphology General Habit

Tree, to 120 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white

Ecology

In forests by river banks.

Leguminosae, J.P.M. Brenan. Flora Zambesiaca 3:1. 1970

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or tree 5-35 m. high, unarmed or (Eggeling & Dale, Indigenous Trees Uganda, ed. 2: 223 (1952)) often spinous on juvenile and sucker shoots; crown spreading; young branchlets puberulous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: rhachides ± densely and shortly crisped- or spreading-pubescent or -puberulous; pinnae 5-7 pairs; leaflets 11-22(25, fide Eggeling & Dale, loc. cit.) pairs, 7-16 x 2-6 mm. (to 22 x 10 on juvenile leaves), somewhat obliquely oblong, and widest near the base which is slightly auricled on both sides, narrowed to a usually obtuse apex, glabrous on both surfaces except for ciliolate margins at the base, with the lateral nerves rather close and fine; the basal pair of leaflets on each pinna characteristically represented by a single leaflet only, on the lower side, that on the upper side being replaced by a minute stipel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences on peduncles 1·2-4·5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, sessile or subsessile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2·5-3·5 mm. long, glabrous or subglabrous except on the teeth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 5-7 mm. long, glabrous outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod c. 10-28 x 1·3-2 cm., ± regularly lobed along one or both margins which are puberulous, the pod otherwise subglabrous or sparingly puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 6-9 x 6·5-7 mm., brown, ± flattened.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or tree 5–35 m. high, unarmed or (I.T.U., ed. 2:223) often spinous on juvenile and sucker shoots; crown spreading.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets puberulous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves:rhachides ± densely and shortly crisped-pubescent or puberulous; pinnae 5–7 pairs; leaflets 11–22(–25 fide I.T.U.) pairs, somewhat obliquely oblong, and widest near the base which is slightly auricled on both sides, 7–15 mm. long, 2.5–6 mm. wide, narrowed to a usually obtuse apex, glabrous on both surfaces except for ciliolate margins at base, with the lateral nerves rather close and fine; the basal pair of leaflets on each pinna is characteristically represented by a single leaflet only, on the lower side, that on the upper side being replaced by a minute stipel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences on peduncles 1.2–4.5 cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, sessile or subsessile.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–3.5 mm. long, glabrous or subglabrous except on teeth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 5–7 mm. long, glabrous outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods about 10–28 cm. long, 1.3–2 cm. wide, ± regularly lobed along one or both sutures which are puberulous, the pod otherwise subglabrous or sparingly puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ± flattened, brown, 6–9 mm. long, 6.5–7 mm. wide.

Figures

Fig. 23.

Habitat

Fresh-water swamp-forest; altitude range unknown

Distribution

from Sierra Leone and the Sudan southwards to Angola, Northern Rhodesia and Uganda U2