Hymenaea verrucosa Gaertn.

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

Morphology General Habit

Large tree (or occasionally a shrub) to at least 20 m, with broad crown.

Morphology Branches

Young branchlets pale brown, lenticellate, glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves unijugate; stipules tiny, triangular with ciliate margins, early caducous; petiole 1.2–3 cm long, glabrous; leaflets 5.3–10.5 × 2.8–5.5 cm, ovate-elliptic, asymmetric, the inner margin weakly curved, cuneate at the base, the outer strongly curved and cuneate to subcordate at the base, apex bluntly acuminate, glabrous; midrib distinct, venation prominulous on both surfaces, resin vesicles (dark spots) scattered in the areolae beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary and terminal, paniculate; axis terete, densely to sparsely appressed-pubescent, glabrescent; bracts and bracteoles c.2.5 mm in diameter, subcircular, concave, very early caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers c.15 mm long; pedicels 5–7 mm long, terete.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx lobes 4, c.10 × 5–7 mm, broadly elliptic to obovate, densely pubescent outside, densely sericeous inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 5; the three upper ones white, clawed, the limb c.9 × 8 mm, suborbicular, the claw c.10 mm long; the two lower ones minute, c.1.5 mm long, oblong.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10; filaments 12–14 mm long, glabrous; anthers dorsifixed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 4-ovulate, oblong, c.3 × 2 mm, pilose; stipe very short, densely spreading-hairy at the apex, glabrous below; style c.6 mm long, glabrous, stigma capitate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod c.5 × 3 cm, ovoid to ellipsoidal, glabrous except for a ring of hairs at the extreme base, with numerous superficial resin-filled vesicles, 1–3-seeded, indehiscent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed dark brown, shiny, c.20 × 12 mm, ellipsoidal, enclosed in the cream-coloured mealy endocarp.

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

Tree 6–24 m. high (–40 m., fide Léonard, l.c., 1950); bark grey or greyish-white, smooth or rough; young branchlets puberulous to glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets ovate to elliptic or oblong-elliptic, asymmetric, 3.5–12 cm. long, 2–5.7 cm. wide (smaller ones often present with the inflorescence, larger (to 15 × 7.4 cm.) on juvenile shoots), coriaceous, glabrous or subglabrous, obtusely pointed to shortly subacuminate at apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Panicle up to 35 × 25 cm., but often much smaller; ultimate branches and pedicels densely and shortly whitish-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 7–11 mm. long, densely appressed-pubescent outside and silvery-silky inside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Larger petals ± 1.5–2 cm. long; lamina ± 8–10 mm. in diameter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods ovoid-oblong, ellipsoid-oblong, or obovoid, 2.5–5 cm. long, 1.5–3 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.3–1.8 × 0.9–1.2 cm.

Figures

Fig. 25, p. 133.

Habitat

On or near the coast, in lowland dry evergreen forest, woodland and coastal evergreen bushland; 15–240 m.

Distribution

K7 T3 T6 T8 Z