Chamaecrista grantii (Oliv.) Standl.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial decumbent or prostrate suffruticose herb from a slender woody rootstock.

Morphology Stem

Stems apparently annual, terete, pubescent with short curved hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate, 4–6 × 1.8–2 cm; stipules c.5 × 2 mm, narrowly ovate, apex acuminate, base rounded, symmetric, surfaces glabrous, margins ciliate; petiolar gland single, stalked, pinhead-like, with further similar glands between all or most of the leaflet pairs; rachis channelled, not crested; leaflets in (6)8–13 pairs, 10–20 × 5–8 mm, oblong, almost symmetrical, proximal side of base rounded, distal cuneate, apex mucronate, surfaces glabrous, margins ciliate, margins inrolled over base of apical mucro; midrib 2–3 mm from distal margin, secondary nerves prominent beneath, indistinct above, 2–3 lateral nerves from base on proximal side of midrib, 4–5 on distal side.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, usually 2–4-flowered; pedicels 3.3–4.5 cm long in flower, apparently not elongating in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers large; sepals acuminate, appressed-pubescent outside; petals yellow, up to 10 × 6 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary densely appressed-white-pubescent; stigma terminal, fringed with hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods to 5 × 0.5 cm, sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c.3.5 × 2 mm, rhomboid, flattened.

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 herb with thickened, woody rootstock (? sometimes rhizomatous).

Morphology Stem

Stems radiating from rootstock, prostrate, 3.5–40 cm. long, shortly but rarely densely pubescent to subglabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves ± elliptic-oblong or oblong, mostly 1–6(–8.5) cm. long and 1.5–3(–4) cm. wide; gland at top of or in upper half of petiole, broadly cup-shaped, raised on a distinct slender stalk 0.25–1 mm. long; similar glands on the rhachis below the insertion of some (particularly the lower) or all pairs of leaflets; rhachis channelled but not crenate-crested along upper side; leaflets sessile, in (3–)6–11 (very rarely to 13) pairs, oblong or elliptic-oblong, straight or very slightly falcate, 6–20(–25) mm. long, 3–9(–11) mm. wide, rounded to obtuse and mucronate at apex, glabrous to ciliolate or sparingly pubescent, rarely more densely so beneath; midrib somewhat excentric, rarely strongly so, nearer anticous margin, but with numerous lateral nerves on both sides, prominent on both surfaces and branching mostly towards the margins.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–3-fiowered; pedicels 1.5–4.2(–5) cm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 10–14 mm. long, 6–9 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 3–5 cm. long, 4.5–5.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Ripe seeds not seen.

Figures

Fig. 10/28, p. 57.

Habitat

Hard, bare ground, particularly by roads and paths, in woodland, wooded grassland and grassland; 300–2440 m.

Distribution

K4 K6 T1 T2 T5 T6 T8 U1