Kotschya strobilantha (Welw. ex Baker) Dewit & P.A.Duvign.

Leguminosae, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:6. 2000

Morphology General Habit

Erect, rarely prostrate shrub or subshrub 0.15–2 m tall.

Morphology Stem

Young stems with bristly hairs which are somewhat thickened at the base, older soon glabrous usually with a rather peeling epidermis.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sensitive, 6–8-foliolate; leaflets (5)9–18 × (1.5)2–4 mm, oblong or oblong-oblanceolate, slightly falcate, acute at the apex, obliquely rounded at the base, glabrous all over or with margins ciliate or ciliate-denticulate, 3–4 nerved from the base, petiole 5–16 mm long; rhachis 5–10 mm long; petiolules 0.5 mm long and wide; stipules joined at base for 3–4 mm, 8–16 × 1–2.5 mm, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, scarious, persistent, strongly veined, pubescent or glabrous, often dense and sheathing on the long shoots.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, dense, strobilate, subsessile, 1–2.5 cm long; pedicels 2–4 mm long with long setae; bracts 3–6 × (1.5)2–4 mm, ± semicircular, sometimes falcate, venose, pubescent to glabrescent and ciliate with long bristly hairs; bracteoles 3–5 × 1–2.5 mm, ovate, elliptic or oblong, ± falcate, acute, venose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrescent to densely pubescent and ciliate, 3–6 mm long, 2-lipped; the upper lip shortly 2-lobed, the lower lip deeply 3-lobed, the lobes ovate, rounded, subequal, venose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard blue, white or pink, sometimes veined with darker colour, 6–7 × 3–3.5 mm, obovate-cuneate or ± violin-shaped, emarginate and with 1–2 bristly hairs at the apex; wings blue or pink, sparsely ciliate at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of 1–2 articles; articles 3 × 2–2.5 mm, ellipsoid or oblong, compressed, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds pale yellowish to brown, 2.2 × 1.8 × 1 mm, reniform; hilum small, very eccentric.