Sesbania goetzei Harms

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by G.P. Lewis

Morphology General Indumentum

Young stems densely and softly grey pubescent, not aculeate; older ones glabrescent and striate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary sometimes speckled reddish-purple, strongly to sparsely pubescent to glabrescent along the upper margin; style glabrous to pubescent.

Morphology General Habit

An erect, softly woody shrub to small tree 3–6 m tall, the trunk up to 12 cm in diameter. An erect, softly woody shrub to small tree 3–6 m tall, the trunk up to 12 cm in diameter.

Morphology Stem

Young stems densely and softly grey pubescent, not aculeate; older ones glabrescent and striate.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves (0.7)1.5–5.6 cm long; rachis pubescent; petioles 1.5–5 mm long, pubescent; leaflets in (3)4–8(12) pairs, (0.5)1–1.8 cm × (2)3–5 mm, oblong to oblong-elliptic, rounded to obtuse to emarginate at the apex, minutely apiculate, tapering to an asymmetrical base, pubescent on both surfaces; stipules 2–4 mm long, triangular-lanceolate to triangular-ovate, pubescent, caducous. Leaves (0.7)1.5–5.6 cm long; rachis pubescent; petioles 1.5–5 mm long, pubescent; leaflets in (3)4–8(12) pairs, (0.5)1–1.8 cm × (2)3–5 mm, oblong to oblong-elliptic, rounded to obtuse to emarginate at the apex, minutely apiculate, tapering to an asymmetrical base, pubescent on both surfaces; stipules 2–4 mm long, triangular-lanceolate to triangular-ovate, pubescent, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Raceme axillary, 0.5–2.7 cm long, 1–2(rarely 4)-flowered, the rachis pubescent; peduncle 0.5–2 cm long, pubescent; pedicels (3)5–6(9) mm long, pubescent; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, caducous to rarely persistent, the bracts 3–4 mm long; bracteoles 1.5–2 mm long. Raceme axillary, 0.5–2.7 cm long, 1–2(rarely 4)-flowered, the rachis pubescent; peduncle 0.5–2 cm long, pubescent; pedicels (3)5–6(9) mm long, pubescent; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, caducous to rarely persistent, the bracts 3–4 mm long; bracteoles 1.5–2 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 7–8 × 8 mm, the tube sparsely pubescent or occasionally glabrous; teeth 0.5–1 mm long, subulate, sparsely pubescent. Calyx 7–8 × 8 mm, the tube sparsely pubescent or occasionally glabrous; teeth 0.5–1 mm long, subulate, sparsely pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard dark yellow with purple flecks and spots on outer face (sometimes without the purple markings on plants outside the Flora Zambesiaca area), 1.6–2.8 × 1.6–2.4 cm, suborbicular, deeply emarginate, appendages with free tips 3–4 mm long; wings yellow, 1.6–2.4 cm × 7–9 mm, with an obscure broadly-triangular upper basal tooth and prominent lamellate sculpturing in upper basal half on outer face; keel greenish-yellow, 1.6–2.4 cm × 8–10 mm, the basal tooth triangular, ± horizontal. Standard dark yellow with purple flecks and spots on outer face (sometimes without the purple markings on plants outside the Flora Zambesiaca area), 1.6–2.8 × 1.6–2.4 cm, suborbicular, deeply emarginate, appendages with free tips 3–4 mm long; wings yellow, 1.6–2.4 cm × 7–9 mm, with an obscure broadly-triangular upper basal tooth and prominent lamellate sculpturing in upper basal half on outer face; keel greenish-yellow, 1.6–2.4 cm × 8–10 mm, the basal tooth triangular, ± horizontal.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary sometimes speckled reddish-purple, strongly to sparsely pubescent to glabrescent along the upper margin; style glabrous to pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 14–21.5(26) cm × (2)4 mm, ± linear, slightly torulose, thicker at the centre than the margin, sometimes with prominent fracturing at right angles to the sutures when mature, glabrous, (26)30–46-seeded; septa 5–6 mm apart; sutures slightly thickened, 1 mm wide. Pod 14–21.5(26) cm × (2)4 mm, ± linear, slightly torulose, thicker at the centre than the margin, sometimes with prominent fracturing at right angles to the sutures when mature, glabrous, (26)30–46-seeded; septa 5–6 mm apart; sutures slightly thickened, 1 mm wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds greenish, olive-brown or orangish-brown, 2.5–3.5 × l.5–2 mm, 1–1.75 mm thick, subovoid to oblong, the hilum subcentral in a small circular pit surrounded by a rim aril. Seeds greenish, olive-brown or orangish-brown, 2.5–3.5 × l.5–2 mm, 1–1.75 mm thick, subovoid to oblong, the hilum subcentral in a small circular pit surrounded by a rim aril.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian halophytic vegetation, Somalia-Masai freshwater swamp and aquatic vegetation, Somalia-Masai saline and brackish swamp., Zambezian freshwater swamp and aquatic vegetation

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

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

Morphology General Habit

Softly woody bush or small tree 3–6 m. tall, the trunk up to 12 cm. in diameter; young stems densely pubescent, never aculeate.

Morphology Leaves

Stipules triangular-ovate, pubescent, rather persistent; leaf-rhachis 1.5–4 cm. long, pubescent; leaflets in 4–8 or, rarely, up to 12 pairs, 10–16 mm. long, 3–5 mm. wide, pubescent on both surfaces.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Raceme 1–2 (rarely–4)-flowered, pubescent; peduncle 0.5–2 cm. long; pedicel 3–6 mm. long; bracts and bracteoles linear-lanceolate, very caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx sparsely pubescent or, less often, glabrous; receptacle-cup 2 mm. long; calyx-tube 4 mm. long; teeth acuminate, 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, the standard usually with, but rarely without, purple streaks and dots; blade of standard suborbicular, emarginate, 18–24 mm. long and wide; claw 4 mm.; appendages with free tips 3–4 mm. long, ± oblong, 1.2–1.5 mm. wide at the base; blade of wing 18 mm. long, 8–9 mm. wide, shortly hooked at the base; claw 6 mm. long, 3 mm. wide; blade of keel 8–12 mm. long, 6 mm. wide at the base and 8–10 mm. near the apex; basal tooth ± horizontal; claw 12 mm. long (fig. 49/3, p. 332).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Filament-sheath 18–20 mm., free parts 3–5 mm., anthers 1.4–1.6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 30–45-ovulate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent; style glabrous, 6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod very slightly torulose, up to 26 cm. long and 4 mm. wide, thicker at the centre than at the margin; sutures 1 mm. wide; septa 5–6 mm. apart.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds green, not mottled, ± 4 × 2 × 1.7 mm.