Dolichos simplicifolius Hook.f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect, prostrate or ascending perennial herb from a massive ellipsoidal tuberous rootstock 13 cm. long and 9 cm. wide.

Morphology Stem

Stems branched, undulate or zigzag, glabrous or with sparse spreading hairs on the ribs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unifoliolate; leaflet narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, 4–23 cm. long, 1–4·4 cm. wide, tapering acute or rarely rounded and mucronulate at the apex, cuneate, glabrous or pubescent on both surfaces, 3-nerved from the base or very shortly above it to the apex, the tertiary venation quite conspicuous; petiole 3–8 mm. long; stipules persistent, lanceolate, 0·8–1·3 cm. long, 3–5 mm. wide, ciliate, veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 1–8 in axillary fascicles; peduncle obsolete; pedicels 0·5–4·5 cm. long, glabrous or sparsely pilose; bracteoles minute, linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely pubescent or glabrous; tube ± 3 mm. long; 3 lower lobes triangular, 1·5–2·5 mm. long, the upper pair almost or completely joined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pale purple or lilac, usually drying yellowish-brown, almost round, 1·1–1·2 cm. long, 1·2 cm. wide; keel paler.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod oblanceolate, 4·5–7 cm. long, 5–10 mm. wide, faces glabrous or pubescent, margins sparsely to densely hairy.

Habitat

Mixed Brachystegia woodland but typical habitat not known; 1350–1600 m.

Distribution

T5 T7 T8

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate, ascending or erect herb, arising from a perennial tuberous rootstock; rootstock to 13 × 9 cm, ellipsoid.

Morphology Stem

Stems annual, branched, undulate or zigzag, laterally flattened, ribbed, glabrous or with sparse spreading hairs on the ribs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1-foliolate; leaflet 4–23 × 1.4–4 cm, narrowly elliptic, lanceolate, acute or rarely rounded and mucronulate at the apex, base cuneate, glabrous or pubescent on both surfaces, 3-veined from the base or very shortly above it to the apex, the tertiary venation quite conspicuous; petiole 3–8 mm long; stipules 8–13 × 3–5 mm, lanceolate, ciliate, striate, persistent; stipels minute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers axillary, solitary, in pairs or in 3–8-flowered fascicles; pedicels 5–45 mm long, glabrous or sparsely pilose; bracts absent; bracteoles minute, linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely pubescent or glabrous; tube 3 mm long; lower lobes 1.5–3 mm long, triangular, upper pair almost or completely fused.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pale purple or lilac, usually drying yellowish-brown, 11–12 × 12 mm, almost round; wings and keel paler.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 5–7 mm long, linear-oblong, compressed, densely pubescent; style 3–4 mm long, stigma minute, terminal, capitate, penicillate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 4.5–7 cm × 5–10 mm, oblanceolate, glabrous or pubescent on the surfaces, margins sparsely to densely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds unknown.