Physostigma mesoponticum Taub.

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial mostly erect herb but more rarely with climbing or prostrate shoots, 0·15–1 m. tall, from a very woody rootstock which reaches ± 80 cm. in length, usually flowering before the leaves appear.

Morphology Stem

Stems pubescent or glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets ovate to oblong or rhomboid in outline, 3–9(–14·5) cm. long, 0·8–6(–9·5) cm. wide, usually 2–3-lobed, the lobes oblong, rounded, emarginate or apiculate at the apex, subcordate to rounded at the base, pubescent on both surfaces; petioles 2–8(–10) cm. long; rhachis 0·6–1·6(–4) cm. long; petiolules 3–5 mm. long; stipules ovate-oblong, 4–9 mm. long, 3–6 mm. wide, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Pseudoracemes terminal and axillary, sometimes branched, appearing like a leafless panicle, 7–50 cm. long above a peduncle 3·5–20 cm. long; pedicels 3–7 mm. long; bracts deciduous, ovate-lanceolate, 2–4 mm. long; bracteoles deciduous, linear-oblong, 2–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx often purplish, pubescent or glabrescent; tube 3–4 mm. long; lobes 3–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pinkish-brown or dusky purplish outside, rose-pink or pale cream flushed purplish or yellowish inside, mostly with a rectangular patch of yellow edged with purple at the base, oblong, 1·8–2·5 cm. long and wide, median area thickened and keeled behind, emarginate at the apex, subcordate at the base; wings rose-pink; keel pale basally, deep violet or purplish-brown at the apex, very twisted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods linear or linear-oblong, falcate, 4·5–11·5 cm. long, 6–10 mm. wide, 6–12-seeded, ± velvety pubescent and minutely gland-dotted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown, ovoid-reniform, oblong or ellipsoidal, compressed, longest dimension 5·5–9·5 mm., shorter dimension 3·5–6·5 mm., thickness 2–3·5 mm.; hilum small, ovate.

Figures

Fig. 92, p. 607.

Note

Imperfectly known species

Habitat

Grassland and open Combretum or Brachystegia woodland subject to burning; 150–2100 m.

Distribution

T4 T5 T7 T8

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Zambezian wooded grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Climbing/Not climbing, Herb

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