Fabaceae
Rhynchosia

Rhynchosia megalocalyx Thulin

First published in Nordic J. Bot. 8: 480 (1989)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is E. Ethiopia to Central Somalia. It is a scrambling shrub and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Type
C1, 8 km NE of Budbud, Gillett, Hemming & Watson 22596 (K holo., EA MOG iso.).
Morphology General Habit
Robust half erect and half climbing plant, up to 5 m tall, somewhat viscid
Morphology Stem
Young stems pubescent with short erect hairs, some of which are tubercle-based
Morphology Leaves Leaflets
Leaflets 3, broadly rhombic to ovate or oblate, 3–5.5 x 3–6.5 cm, rounded to slightly emarginate at the apex, puberulous with spreading, sometimes tubercle-based hairs on both surfaces but not gland-dotted; stipules c. 2 mm long, falling very early
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence lax, 5–20-flowered
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx pubescent; tube c. 4 mm long; lowest lobe c. 15–18 mm long, the others c. 5–8 mm
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard yellow with purplish veining, c. 20–24 mm long, densely pubescent outside and with a pair of rather fleshy thickenings on the inner face
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod 30–45 x 16–18 mm, densely pubescent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds c. 12–16 x 10–12 mm, brown.
Distribution
C1, 2; E Ethiopia
Ecology
Altitude range 135–390 m.
Vernacular
Gabal weyne (Somali).
[FSOM]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Insufficiently known
Ecology
Africa: Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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: threatened. Confidence: low confidence
[AERP]

Uses

Use
The comparatively large seeds are eaten fresh or roasted.
[FSOM]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • 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