Cajanus scarabaeoides (L.) Thouars

Seed Collecting Guide. RBG Kew (2013-2016)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower calyx campanulate, 5-lobed, or 4-lobed with upper 2 incompletely connate, lobes linear-lanceolate Calyx campanulate, 5-lobed, or 4-lobed with upper 2 incompletely connate, lobes linear-lanceolate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

2-7, dark brown, ellipsoidal, ca 4 mm, strophiole convex. Seeds 2-7, dark brown, ellipsoidal, ca. 4 mm; strophiole convex.

Morphology Stem

stems slender, ± pubescent Stems slender, ± pubescent

Morphology General Habit

Perrenial, woody, creepers or twiners, stems to 2 m Perrenial, woody, creepers or twiners, stems to 2 m

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence raceme axillary, usually less than 2 cm, 1-5-flowered; peduncle 2-5 mm, densely brown to dull brown villous Raceme axillary, usually less than 2 cm, 1-5-flowered; peduncle 2-5 mm, densely brown to dull brown villous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; stipules small, ovate, hairy, usually deciduous; petiole 1-2 cm; stipels absent; petiolules extremely short; leaflets papery or nearly leathery, with glandular spots, sparsely pubescent on both surfaces, denser abaxially, basal veins 3, obviously convex below; terminal leaflet elliptic or obovate-elliptic to obovate, 1.2-4 x 0.8-1.5(-3) cm, apex obtuse or rounded; lateral leaflets smaller, obliquely elliptic to obliquely obovate pinnately 3-foliolate; stipules small, ovate, hairy, usually deciduous; petiole 1-2 cm; stipels absent; petiolules extremely short; leaflets papery or nearly leathery, with glandular spots, sparsely pubescent on both surfaces, denser abaxially, basal veins 3, obviously convex below; terminal leaflet elliptic or obovate-elliptic to obovate, 1.2-4 x 0.8-1.5(-3) cm, apex obtuse or rounded; lateral leaflets smaller, obliquely elliptic to obliquely obovate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx campanulate, 5-lobed, or 4-lobed with upper 2 incompletely connate; lobes linear­ lanceolate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, ca. 1 cm, usually deciduous; standard obovate, with emarginate auricle and claw at base; wings narrowly elliptic, slightly curved, base auriculate; keels curved at apex, densely very pale brown villous corolla yellow, ca 1 cm, usually deciduous, standard obovate, with emarginate auricle and claw at base, wings narrowly elliptic, slightly curved, base auriculate, keels curved at apex, densely very pale brown villous

Distribution

China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, Oceania.

Conservation

Least concerned

Phenology

Flower (September - November); fruit (October - December)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary Ovules

Ovules several-Pod oblong, 1.5-2.5 x 0.4-0.6 cm, leathery, densely villous, transversely constricted between seeds

Ecology

Fields, roadsides, grassy slopes, coastal areas. Altitude:100 - 1500 m

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19892765/20032501

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

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial climber or trailer forming thick mats; rootstock woody, slender.

Morphology Stem

Stems often reddish, covered with short ferruginous pubescence.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets elliptic, the laterals slightly oblique, 0·8–7·3 cm. long, 0·5–3 cm. wide, rounded to subacute at both ends, sparsely to densely greyish velvety pubescent and gland-dotted on both surfaces; petiole 0·7–2·7 cm. long, ferruginous pubescent; rhachis 1–5 mm. long; petiolules 1–1·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, few-flowered; peduncle 1–3 mm. long; pedicels ± 4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx ± 6–7 mm. long, the lobes longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, flushed crimson outside, obovate, 9–10 mm. long, 5 mm. wide, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod oblong, compressed, 1·5–2·5 cm. long, 5–7·5 mm. wide, 3–6-seeded, the valves conspicuously grooved between the seeds, densely shortly pubescent and also with much longer ferruginous ± adpressed hairs and small glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds reddish, mottled brown or black, oblong, longest dimension 4–5 mm., shorter dimension 2·5–3 mm., 1·5–1·8 mm. thick.

Figures

Fig. 107.

Habitat

Bushland; sea-level

Distribution

Z W. Africawidespread throughout Asia and the Orientundoubtedly introduced into Africathe earliest Zanzibar specimen I have seen was collected in 1930