Dolichos bianoensis R.Wilczek

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial prostrate herb 13–50 cm. long from a large tuber.

Morphology Stem

Stems somewhat zigzag, compressed, densely pilose with silky white hairs, sometimes flowering when the leaves are scarcely developed.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unifoliolate; leaflet narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 4–23 cm. long, 1·5–5 cm. wide, acuminate or bluntly acute and mucronulate at the apex, narrowly rounded at the base, pubescent on both surfaces, 3–5-nerved from base to apex, the tertiary venation quite evident; petiole 3–5 mm. long; stipules persistent, sometimes reflexed, lanceolate, 1·2–3 cm. long, 3–5 mm. wide or up to 7 mm. where stipules have remained joined on new shoots, pubescent outside, veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 1–10 in axillary fascicles; peduncle obsolete; pedicels 3–10 cm. long, mostly densely pilose; bracteoles minute, linear, placed on the pedicel well below the calyx or wanting.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent with spreading white hairs; tube 4–5 mm. long; 3 lower lobes linear-triangular, 2–10 mm. long, the lowest much the longest, the upper pair joined to form a narrowly triangular lobe, bifid at the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard mauve, sometimes tinged greenish outside, almost round, 1·4–2 cm. long, 1·2–2 cm. wide; keel pale.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Very immature pods densely white hairy all over.

Distribution

As above with addition of Congo

Leguminosae, B. Mackinder, R. Pasquet, R. Polhill and B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:5. 2001

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate herb to 50 cm long, arising from a perennial tuberous rootstock, sometimes flowering when leaves are under-developed.

Morphology Stem

Stems annual, somewhat zigzag, flattened, white pilose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1-foliolate; leaflet 4–23 × 0.5–5 cm, narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate or bluntly acute and mucronulate at the apex, narrowly rounded at the base, pubescent on both surfaces, 3–5-veined from base to apex; petiole 3–5 mm long; stipules 12–30 × 2–5 mm (sometimes appearing wider when pair remain fused on new shoots), lanceolate, pubescent, striate, persistent, sometimes reflexed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers axillary, solitary, in pairs or in 3–8-flowered fascicles; pedicels 18–90 mm long; pilose; bracts absent; bracteoles minute, caducous, placed on the pedicel well below the calyx.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent with spreading white hairs; tube 3–5 mm long; lower lobes 2–10 mm long, linear-triangular, central lobe twice as long as the laterals, upper pair completely fused.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard purple, sometimes tinged greenish outside, 13–20 × 12–20 mm, almost round, emarginate; wings and keel pale.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 6–9 mm long, linear-oblong, compressed, pubescent; style 5–9 mm long; stigma minute, terminal, capitate, penicillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Very immature pods (Richards 15881, Tanzania) are densely white pubescent.

Note

Only one collection seen from the Flora Zambesiaca area; description also based on material from Dem. Rep. Congo and Tanzania.