Chamaecrista gracilior (Ghesq.) Lock

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Zambezian woodland

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual, occasionally short-lived perennial, usually erect herb.

Morphology Stem

Stems terete, pubescent with crisped hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves paripinnate, 2.4–6.5 × 0.4–0.5 cm; stipules 5–6 × 1 mm, very narrowly triangular, apex long-acuminate, base cuneate to subcordate, surfaces and margins glabrous; petiolar gland single, dark, 0.1–0.3 mm in diameter, circular, stalked, the stalk 0.3–0.6 mm long, the whole trumpet-shaped; rachis weakly crenate-crested, not winged, hairy only at the insertions of the leaflets above, sparsely crisped-pubescent beneath; leaflets in 30–40 pairs, 2–4 × 0.5–0.7 mm, narrowly triangular-oblong to falcate, asymmetric, base asymmetric, proximal side rounded, distal side narrowly cuneate, apex mucronate, margins sparsely ascending-ciliate, surfaces virtually glabrous; midrib 0.3–0.4 mm from proximal margin, 0.2 mm from distal; 2–3 lateral nerves from base on proximal side, 0–1 on distal side.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary to distinctly supra-axillary, 1–2-flowered; pedicels 1–1.5 cm long in flower, a little longer in fruit, pubescent with crisped appressed hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 5–5.5 × 3 mm, narrowly ovate, acuminate, sparsely appressed-pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals cream to yellow, drying pinkish, up to 4.5 × 3 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary c.2.5 mm long, densely appressed-pubescent; style c.1 mm long, glabrous; stigma oblique.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (1.5)2.5–3 × 0.3–0.35 cm, sparsely appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (immature) pale brown, rectangular-elliptic, c.2.5 × 1.5 mm.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, prostrate or sometimes erect.

Morphology Stem

Stems radiating from rootstock or occasionally simple, 5–30(–45) cm. long.

Morphology General Indumentum

Indumentum an appressed or very short crisped puberulence.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves oblong, up to ± 2–6(–8) cm. long, 6–7 mm. wide; gland at top of petiole, peltate or funnel-shaped, raised on a distinct stalk ± 0.25–0.8 mm. long; rhachis crenate-crested along upper side; leaflets sessile, mostly in 17–50 pairs, oblong, 3–5 mm. long, 0.5–0.75 mm. wide, acutely acuminate, glabrous or nearly so or shortly ciliate; midrib running very close to anticous margin; venation not or slightly raised beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–2-flowered; pedicels 1–2 cm. long, puberulous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals yellow, 3–5.5 mm. long, 1.5–4 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (1.7–)2–3.5 cm. long, 2.5–3.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds grey-brown, ± quadrate, 2 mm. long, 1.2–1.5 mm. wide, not areolate.

Figures

Fig. 10/34, p. 57.

Habitat

Grassland and deciduous woodland; in shallow soil near rocks, now also a weed in old cultivated land and by roadsides; 800–1400 m.

Distribution

T4 T7 T8