Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/144292947/149031069

Conservation

LC - least concern

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub/Tree

Vernacular

Cafe De La Costa, Tamarindillo

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by G.P. Lewis

Morphology General Indumentum

Young stems glaucous, green to dark-brown, often longitudinally ribbed, glabrous to slightly appressed-pubescent, older stems with cracked greyish-black bark.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5–16 cm long; petioles 1–1.8 cm long; leaflets in (6)10–18(21) pairs, 1.1–2.9 cm × 3–8 mm, linear-oblong to oblong, rounded at the apex, apiculate, entire, slightly pubescent beneath especially on the margins and also punctate with minute, scattered black dots, the venation very evident beneath; stipules 3–7 mm long, lanceolate, ± persistent. Leaves 5–16 cm long; petioles 1–1.8 cm long; leaflets in (6)10–18(21) pairs, 1.1–2.9 cm × 3–8 mm, linear-oblong to oblong, rounded at the apex, apiculate, entire, slightly pubescent beneath especially on the margins and also punctate with minute, scattered black dots, the venation very evident beneath; stipules 3–7 mm long, lanceolate, ± persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Raceme axillary, 4–11.3 cm long, 12–24-flowered; peduncle 1–3.3 cm long, slightly appressed-pubescent especially near the base; pedicels 5–10 mm long, glabrous; bracts 2 mm long, lanceolate, marginally pubescent, caducous; bracteoles 0.5–1 mm long, filiform to narrowly lanceolate, caducous. Raceme axillary, 4–11.3 cm long, 12–24-flowered; peduncle 1–3.3 cm long, slightly appressed-pubescent especially near the base; pedicels 5–10 mm long, glabrous; bracts 2 mm long, lanceolate, marginally pubescent, caducous; bracteoles 0.5–1 mm long, filiform to narrowly lanceolate, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx a deep red colour in bud, 4.5–6 × 5–7 mm, apically rather oblique, almost truncate, the teeth inconspicuous, 0.5 mm long, broadly triangular, slightly pubescent at the tips. Calyx a deep red colour in bud, 4.5–6 × 5–7 mm, apically rather oblique, almost truncate, the teeth inconspicuous, 0.5 mm long, broadly triangular, slightly pubescent at the tips.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary arcuate, glabrous, not winged; style glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod pale brown, darker brown in central area over the seed cavities, 4.5–9.2 × 1.3–1.8 cm, linear to slightly falcate, 4-winged, stipitate, beaked, glabrous, (3)4–9(10)-seeded; septa 6.5–8 mm apart, slightly oblique; the main part of the pod (i.e. excluding the wings) torulose with prominent reticulate venation on the valves above the seed cavities. Pod pale brown, darker brown in central area over the seed cavities, 4.5–9.2 × 1.3–1.8 cm, linear to slightly falcate, 4-winged, stipitate, beaked, glabrous, (3)4–9(10)-seeded; septa 6.5–8 mm apart, slightly oblique; the main part of the pod (i.e. excluding the wings) torulose with prominent reticulate venation on the valves above the seed cavities.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Germination

Seedlings with first foliage leaf simple, much larger than the persistent cotyledons; second foliage leaf paripinnate with four pairs of leaflets.

Distribution

A native to South America found in Argentina, Uruguay and S Brazil, where it has also been cultivated as an ornamental for over 100 years. It is now widely cultivated as a garden plant in many parts of the world but has, in many cases, escaped to become a problematic weed invading indigenous vegetation. It is now a particular problem in the USA and South Africa. In the Flora Zambesiaca area most records are from cultivated specimens but it has undoubtedly escaped from gardens and is also recorded as a weed of aquatic areas.

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree, 1–4(5) m tall. Shrub or small tree, 1–4(5) m tall.

Morphology Stem

Young stems glaucous, green to dark-brown, often longitudinally ribbed, glabrous to slightly appressed-pubescent, older stems with cracked greyish-black bark.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard 1.7–2 × 1.9–2.1 cm, broad, rounded, apically emarginate, the appendages minute with acute free tips and located at the very base of the claw; wings 1.6–1.9 cm × 4.5–6.5 mm, slightly falcate, without a basal tooth; lamellate sculpturing weakly present in upper basal two-thirds on the outer face of the petals; keel 1.6–1.9 cm × 8–10 mm, arcuate, without a basal tooth, the limbs of the two petals fused apically and slightly overlapping (but not fused) basally. Petals red or bright orange. Standard 1.7–2 × 1.9–2.1 cm, broad, rounded, apically emarginate, the appendages minute with acute free tips and located at the very base of the claw; wings 1.6–1.9 cm × 4.5–6.5 mm, slightly falcate, without a basal tooth; lamellate sculpturing weakly present in upper basal two-thirds on the outer face of the petals; keel 1.6–1.9 cm × 8–10 mm, arcuate, without a basal tooth, the limbs of the two petals fused apically and slightly overlapping (but not fused) basally. Petals red or bright orange.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary arcuate, glabrous, not winged; style glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds greyish-green to straw-coloured, 6.5 × 5 mm, 4 mm thick (quite distinct in shape from all the African species of the genus) without a rim aril but with a paler coloured raised area around the elliptic (not circular) hilum which is not centrally located. Seeds greyish-green to straw-coloured, 6.5 × 5 mm, 4 mm thick (quite distinct in shape from all the African species of the genus) without a rim aril but with a paler coloured raised area around the elliptic (not circular) hilum which is not centrally located.

Seedling

Seedlings with first foliage leaf simple, much larger than the persistent cotyledons; second foliage leaf paripinnate with four pairs of leaflets.