Aeschynomene glauca R.E.Fr.

Leguminosae, B. Verdcourt. Flora Zambesiaca 3:6. 2000

Morphology General Habit

Erect subshrub with tufts of usually many stems, 10–40 cm tall, from a very woody rootstock, usually flowering after burns.

Morphology Stem

Stems at first with short tubercular-based hairs, later ± glabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 12–24-foliolate; leaflets 3–9 × 1–2.5 mm, linear-oblong to oblong, truncate or rounded and mucronulate at the apex, obliquely rounded at the base, glabrous or slightly ciliolate when young, glaucous; petiole and rhachis together 6–25 mm long, at first pubescent, later glabrescent; petiolules 0.5 mm long; stipules 4.5–10 × (1)1.5–2 mm, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate, unilaterally appendaged, leaf-like, glabrous, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, several- to 10-flowered, sometimes branched; peduncle 5–15 mm long; rhachis 2.5–8 cm long; pedicels 2–7 mm long, pubescent; bracts 2–3-fid, 2–3 mm long, persistent; bracteoles 2–3 × 0.5–1 mm, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, slightly ciliolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx glabrous, 2-lipped; lips 4–4.5 × 3–3.5 mm, ovate, one 2-toothed, the other 3-toothed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, 7–8 × 5 mm, violin-shaped; wings and keel petals yellow, the latter not laciniate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of 1 article, or 2 joined by a very narrow neck, rounded or ± semicircular, 4–7 × 3.5–5 mm, glabrous, reticulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds dark chestnut-brown, 3.5 × 3 × 1 mm, elliptic-reniform; hilum small, circular, slightly eccentric.