Fabaceae
Chamaecrista

Chamaecrista plumosa E.Mey.

First published in Comm. Pl. Afr. Austr.: 159 (1836)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is KwaZulu-Natal. It is a perennial and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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
[AERP]

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

Morphology General Habit
Perennial erect to decumbent herb from a woody rootstock.
Morphology Stem
Stems generally annual except for the extreme bases, terete with slight pale ridges decurrent from the stipule bases, sparsely appressed-puberulous.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves paripinnate, 4–7 × 0.7–0.9 cm; stipules 3.5–6 × 0.7–0.9 mm, narrowly triangular, apex long-acuminate, base truncate to subcordate, surfaces glabrous, margins ascending-ciliate or not; petiolar gland single or occasionally 2 superposed, dark, 0.4–0.5 × 0.3–0.4 mm, elliptic, very shortly stalked or at least constricted below, shallowly cup-shaped; rachis ridged to crenate-crested, sparsely appressed-pubescent; leaflets in 21–43 pairs, 4.2–6.1 × 0.7–1.1 mm, narrowly triangular oblong, asymmetrical, base asymmetrically truncate, apex acuminate-mucronate, margins sparsely ciliate, cilia ascending, surfaces glabrous to very sparsely appressed-pubescent; midrib 0.2–0.3 mm from distal margin, 0–1 lateral nerves from base on proximal side of midrib, 2–4 on distal side.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences supra-axillary, 1–3-flowered; pedicels 2–3 cm long in flower, longer in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers large; mature buds 7.5–9.5 mm long; sepals ovate, acuminate, very sparsely appressed-pubescent outside; petals yellow, 12–14 × 6–8 mm.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary densely appressed-pubescent; style glabrous; stigma terminal, fringed with hairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods 3.6–4.4 × 0.3–0.4 cm, very sparsely appressed-pubescent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds yellow-brown with darker spots, 3–3.5 × 1.5 mm.
[FZ]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Morphology General Habit
Perennial, Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

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

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • 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 Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. 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

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2026. 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