Polhillides velutina (Willd.) H.Ohashi & K.Ohashi

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Photo: Meg Coates Palgrave
Nhambita (PSP15), Gorongosa, Sofala Province, Mozambique

Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Vunduzi River at opposite bank of Bunga Inselberg, northwestern Gorongosa National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along road North out of Chironde Camp, Coutada 12

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Synonyms:	Anarthrosyne cordata Klotzsch Desmodium lasiocarpum (P. Beauv.) DC. Desmodium velutinum (Willd.) DC. Hedysarum velutinum Willd.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect, subshrub or woody herb, 0.5 -3 m tall. Stems with dense spreading ferrugineous hairs when young, becoming hairless below. Leaves 1-foliolate; leaflet lamina large, 3-19 × 2-13 cm, ovate to almost circular; apex bluntly acute to rounded; appressed-pubescent above, velvety beneath; petiole 1.5 - 3.5 mm. Inflorescences of terminal and axillary false racemes. Calyx hairy; lobes to 1.5 mm long. Standard violet, lilac, red or blue. Fruit of 2-7 articles, bearing hooked hairs; articles 2.5-4 mm long. Seeds brown.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	velutina: velvety
Habitat:	In grassland and woodland, sometimes in riverine habitats.
Altitude range:	100 - 1320 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in the Old World tropics
Mozambique distribution:	N,Z,MS
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Saturday 19 August 2017
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 20. as Desmodium velutinum Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 67. as Desmodium velutinum Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 219. as Desmodium velutinum Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 48. as Desmodium velutinum Ohashi, K, Ohashi, H., Nemoto, T., Ye, B., Matsumoto, T. & Nata, K. (2019). Phylogenetic Analyses for a New Classifi cation of the Desmodium Group of Leguminosae Tribe Desmodieae 3. The Systematic Position of Desmodium velutinum Journal of Japanese Botany 94(2) Pages 65 - 77. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 60. as Desmodium velutinum Verdcourt, B. (2000). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(6) Pages 5 - 9. as Desmodium velutinum (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Burundi: Polhillides velutina
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Flora of Zambia: Polhillides velutina
Flora of Zimbabwe: Polhillides velutina

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Polhillides velutina
African Plant Database: Polhillides velutina
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IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Polhillides velutina
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Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Polhillides velutina
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Wikipedia: Polhillides velutina