Eriosema macrostipulum Baker f.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect perennial herb 9–60 cm tall, often ± unbranched; rootstock woody, spindle-shaped or globose, up to 4 cm thick, with lateral tubers.

Morphology Branches

Branches shortly pubescent and with some long hairs.

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets (1)3, often paler beneath, 1.3–21 × 0.5–4(6) cm, ovate or elliptic to linear-lanceolate, usually acute or somewhat rounded but mucronulate at the apex, rounded or even minutely subcordate at the base, sparsely puberulous or pubescent above, pubescent particularly on the nerves beneath, densely covered on both sides with orange-red glands; venation pale, raised beneath; petiole 0.7–4.5 cm long; rhachis 2–18 mm long; petiolules 1–2 mm long; stipules leafy, green, 10–21 × 1–6.5 mm, lanceolate, falcate (rarely in depauperate plants, linear stipules 6 × 0.5 mm are found), acuminate, pubescent, hairy and glandular outside, veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes terminal, the flowering part 1.5–8 × 1.5–2.2 cm; peduncle 1–6 cm long, pubescent; pedicels 1.5–2 mm long; bracts soon falling, 6–10 × 2–3 mm, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, pubescent and glandular outside, the margins ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx finely pubescent and glandular, (2.5)4–5 mm long; lobes equal or unequal, narrowly triangular or triangular, longer or shorter than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard greenish-yellow, (6)8–14 × (2)5.5–9 mm, obovate, glabrescent or slightly puberulous, very densely covered with orange-red glands; wings brighter yellow, glandular; keel greenish-yellow, glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 10–12 × 5–7 mm, elliptic-oblong, covered with long white or ferruginous hairs and also with a fine pubescence as well.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown or black, 2.5–3.5 × 2 × 0.6–1.2 mm, oblong; rim aril white or cream-coloured.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Sudanian woodland, Sudanian grasslands, Zambezian grassland, Zambezian woodland

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

Erect perennial herb, 9–60 cm. tall, ± unbranched; rootstock woody, spindle-shaped or globose, up to 4 cm. thick, with lateral tubers.

Morphology Branches

Branches shortly pubescent and with some long hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets (1–)3, often paler beneath, ovate, elliptic to linear-lanceolate, 1·3–21 cm. long, 0·5–4(–6) cm-wide, usually acute or somewhat rounded but mucronulate at the apex, rounded or even minutely subcordate at the base, sparsely puberulous or pubescent above, pubescent particularly on the nerves beneath, densely covered on both sides with orange-red glands; venation pale, raised beneath; petiole 0·7–4·5 cm. long; rhachis 0·2–1·8 cm. long; petiolules 1–2 mm. long; stipules leafy, green, lanceolate, falcate, 1–2·1 cm. long, 1–6·5 mm. wide (rarely, in depauperate plants, linear stipules 6 × 0·5 mm. are found), acuminate, pubescent, hairy and glandular outside, veined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes terminal, the flowering part 1·5–8 cm. long, 1·5–2·2 cm. wide; peduncle 1–6 cm. long, pubescent; pedicels 1·5–2 mm. long; bracts soon falling, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 6–10 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, pubescent and glandular outside, margins ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx finely pubescent and glandular, (2·5–)4–5 mm. long; lobes equal or unequal, narrowly triangular or triangular, longer or shorter than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard greenish-yellow, obovate, (0·6–)0·8–1·4 cm. long, (2–)5·5–9 mm. wide, glabrescent or slightly puberulous, very densely covered with orange-red glands; wings brighter yellow, glandular; keel greenish-yellow, glandular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oval-oblong, 1–1·2 cm. long, 5–7 mm. wide, covered with long white or ferruginous hairs and also with a fine pubescence as well.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblong, brown or black, longest dimension 2·5–3·5 mm., shorter dimension 2 mm., 0·6–1·2 mm. thick; rim-aril white or cream.