Pomaria lactea (Schinz) B.B.Simpson & G.P.Lewis

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

Morphology General Habit

Low much-branched shrub up to 50 cm high.

Morphology Stem

Stems densely appressed pubescent with whitish hairs, plumose setae very few or absent; dark glands present and very conspicuous on stems, leaves, inflorescences, calyces and pods.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves: petiole and rachis glabrous to appressed or spreading pubescent, setae, if present, not plumose; petiole 0.3–2.3 cm long, often persisting as a rigid subspine after the fall of the rest of the leaf; rachis (excluding terminal pinna) 0.3–3.8 cm; pinnae (1)2–5 pairs; rachides of lateral pinnae (0.3)0.6–1.8 cm long, with 3–7 pairs of leaflets; rachides of terminal pinna 0.4–2.4 cm long, with 4–6 pairs of leaflets; leaflets 3–8 × 1–3 mm, oblong to elliptic-oblong, glabrous; stipules up to 6 × 2 mm, laciniate, often rigid and persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence (including peduncle) up to 21 cm long; pedicels up to 3 mm long in flower; bracts up to 5 × 2 mm, laciniate, deciduous before the buds open.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx with a very short tube; lobes 5, unequal, the lower lobe up to 7 × 3 mm, the upper ones up to 6 × 1 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals unequal, up to 8 × 3 mm, recorded as red, dark red, brownish-pink and purple-orange.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens 10; filaments alternately longer and shorter, up to 5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary subsessile, up to 4 × 1 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 2.4–3.4 × 0.7–0.9 cm, distinctly curved or falcate, pale buff with conspicuous dark glands, with a short dense indumentum interspersed with plumose setae, 3–5-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 5–5.5 × 4.5–5 mm.