Chamaecrista fenarolii (Mendonça & Torre) Lock

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or short-lived perennial usually prostrate woody-based herb.

Morphology Stem

Stems terete, pubescent with crisped hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate, 2.2–5.5 × 0.4–0.9 cm; stipules 3.2–5.5 × 0.5–0.8 mm, narrowly triangular, apex long-acuminate, base cuneate to subcordate, surfaces and margins glabrous; petiolar gland single, dark, 0.3–0.5 mm in diameter, circular, shortly (0.3 mm) stalked, shallowly cup-shaped; rachis channelled, but the ciliate rims of the channel can be very closely appressed so that it appears ridged, but not crenate-crested; leaflets in 24–40 pairs, 2.9–6 × 0.5–0.9 mm, narrowly triangular-oblong to falcate, asymmetric, base asymmetric, proximal side rounded, distal side narrowly cuneate, apex mucronate, margins ciliate, cilia ascending, surfaces glabrous to sparsely appressed-pubescent; midrib c.0.6 mm from proximal margin, 0.2 mm from distal; c.3 somewhat obscure lateral nerves from base on proximal side, 0–1 on distal side.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary to somewhat supra-axillary, 1(2)-flowered; pedicels 1.2–1.7 cm long in flower, similar in fruit, pubescent with crisped and long straight hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals ovate-elliptic, acute, appressed-pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, up to 7 × 3 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary densely appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods to 3 × 0.4 cm, sparsely appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds uniformly brown, c.2 ×1.5 mm, rectangular-rhomboid, scattered-punctate.

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

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19891682/20120015

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Herb, apparently annual (described in C.F.A. as perennial).

Morphology Stem

Stems erect or ascending, ± 10–45 cm. high, shortly crisped-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ± oblong, up to ± 2.5–7.5 cm. long, 6–11 mm. wide; gland at top of petiole, funnel-shaped, raised on a very short stalk up to ± 0.2 mm. long; rhachis channelled but not crenate-crested along upper side; leaflets sessile, mostly in 11–37 pairs, oblong, slightly falcate, 4–8.5 mm. long, 0.75–1.75 mm. wide, acuminate or shortly aristate at apex, ± ciliate, otherwise glabrous or sparsely hairy beneath; midrib excentric, nearer anticous margin, but with some lateral nerves between; venation ± prominent beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–2(–3)-flowered; pedicels 1.2–2 cm. long, puberulous, but also with ± numerous straight hairs spreading about at right angles and several times as long as the diameter of the pedicel.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 7–7.5 mm. long, 4–7 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 2.9–4.3 cm. long, 4–5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brownish, ± 3 mm. long and 2 mm. wide, not areolate.

Figures

Fig. 10/33, p. 57.

Habitat

Insufficiently known; “growing in ecotone conditions” (B. D. Burtt 2015); 1490 m.

Distribution

T5