Sesbania grandiflora (L.) Poir.

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A small tree or shrub

Morphology Branches

Rather stout branchlets pubescent when young

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers very large, few, pink or red or cream-white.

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-rhachis 15–30 cm long including a petiole of c. 1 cm; leaflets 20–50, linear-oblong, 25–40 x 6–14 mm, sparsely appressed pubescent on both surfaces

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 2–4-flowered, rhachis up to 5 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx c. 2 cm long, subtruncate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla up to 8 cm long, white, yellowish, greenish or red

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filament-sheath 35–60 mm long, curved for most of its length

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 20–55 x 0.6–0.9 cm with broad sutures, 15–50-seeded.

Distribution

Grown at least in N1, S2 and S3 probably a native of Indonesia.

Note

The red-flowered form has been called var. coccinea (L. f.) Bak. ex Chiov. Moggi & Bavazzano 282.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Cultivated

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub/Tree

Vernacular

Aagasti, Agathi, Agati, Agati A Grandes Fleurs, Agati-keerai, Akatti, Baby Boots, Baculo, Bak, Basna, Brede Malabar, Brede Morongue, Brede Morongue Gros, Christmas Bells, Cresta De Gallo, Gallito, Hatiya, Katura Murunga, Ofai, Ouai, Oufai, Picashia, Pois

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by G.P. Lewis

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous, stipitate; style glabrous, flattened, terminating in a slightly lobed stigma.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark brown, 6.5 × 5 mm, 2.5–3 mm thick, subreniform, the hilum in a small pit. Seeds dark brown, 6.5 × 5 mm, 2.5–3 mm thick, subreniform, the hilum in a small pit.

Distribution

A native of parts of Asia but cultivated in many parts of the world both as an ornamental and for forage, firewood, pulp and paper, food and green manure.

Ecology

It appears to be a recent introduction to the Flora Zambesiaca area and is only known from the Chapman Malawi collection.

Morphology General Habit

A fast-growing tree to 7 m tall. A fast-growing tree to 7 m tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems tomentose, unarmed. Stems tomentose, unarmed.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves up to 30 cm long; rachis slightly pubescent or glabrous; petioles 0.7–1.5 cm long; leaflets in 15–21 pairs, opposite to alternate on the same leaf, 1.2–4.4 cm long (including a petiolule of c.2 mm), 0.5–1.5 cm wide, oblong to oblong-elliptic, rounded to obtuse to slightly emarginate at the apex, slightly asymmetrical at the base, glabrous or with small scattered, appressed hairs on both surfaces (just visible with a ×10 lens); stipels 0.75–1 mm long, filiform, pubescent, persistent; stipules 8 mm long, broadly lanceolate, caducous. Leaves up to 30 cm long; rachis slightly pubescent or glabrous; petioles 0.7–1.5 cm long; leaflets in 15–21 pairs, opposite to alternate on the same leaf, 1.2–4.4 cm long (including a petiolule of c.2 mm), 0.5–1.5 cm wide, oblong to oblong-elliptic, rounded to obtuse to slightly emarginate at the apex, slightly asymmetrical at the base, glabrous or with small scattered, appressed hairs on both surfaces (just visible with a ×10 lens); stipels 0.75–1 mm long, filiform, pubescent, persistent; stipules 8 mm long, broadly lanceolate, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Raceme axillary, 2–6.5 cm long, 2–3-flowered; peduncle 1.5–3.5 cm long, tomentose; pedicels 1.5–1.8 cm long, pubescent; bracts 3–6 mm long, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, caducous; bracteoles 4–6 mm long, broadly lanceolate, caducous. Raceme axillary, 2–6.5 cm long, 2–3-flowered; peduncle 1.5–3.5 cm long, tomentose; pedicels 1.5–1.8 cm long, pubescent; bracts 3–6 mm long, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, caducous; bracteoles 4–6 mm long, broadly lanceolate, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 1.5–2.2 × l.6–2 cm, ± two-lipped with a rather indeterminate margin due to the mode of splitting as the bud develops, abscising together with the nectarial region as the fruit develops but tending to persist around the stipe of the pod, the lips broadly rounded and terminating in slightly pubescent subulate tips. Calyx 1.5–2.2 × l.6–2 cm, ± two-lipped with a rather indeterminate margin due to the mode of splitting as the bud develops, abscising together with the nectarial region as the fruit develops but tending to persist around the stipe of the pod, the lips broadly rounded and terminating in slightly pubescent subulate tips.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, flesh-pink or crimson. Flowers white, flesh-pink or crimson.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard up to 10.5 × 6 cm, the claw without appendages; wings up to 10.5 × 3 cm, without a basal tooth and petal sculpturing; keel up to 10.5 × 4.5 cm with a basal, broadly triangular tooth. Standard up to 10.5 × 6 cm, the claw without appendages; wings up to 10.5 × 3 cm, without a basal tooth and petal sculpturing; keel up to 10.5 × 4.5 cm with a basal, broadly triangular tooth.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers up to 6 times as long as wide. Anthers up to 6 times as long as wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary glabrous, stipitate; style glabrous, flattened, terminating in a slightly lobed stigma.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod up to 52.5 cm × 8 mm, linear to slightly falcate, occasionally slightly torulose, stipitate, apex long-acuminate, glabrous, up to c.50-seeded; septa 7.5–10 mm apart; lower suture angled, wider than the rounded upper suture; valve surface rather warty with prominent raised venation. Pod up to 52.5 cm × 8 mm, linear to slightly falcate, occasionally slightly torulose, stipitate, apex long-acuminate, glabrous, up to c.50-seeded; septa 7.5–10 mm apart; lower suture angled, wider than the rounded upper suture; valve surface rather warty with prominent raised venation.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1500 m.; Andes, Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Arbolito, árbol

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

cantagallo blanco, gallito, pirigallo

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

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

It has short, 2-flowered racemes, curved buds, and large white to red flowers 7–8 cm long. A small tree probably native either to India or Australia, is sometimes cultivated for ornament; it is locally called picashia or Spanish Armada

Distribution

Grand Cayman

Use

Cultivated for ornamental use

Use

Chemical products, Environmental, Fibre, Food and Drink, Forage, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Wood