| Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae | > | Alysicarpus | > | ovalifolius |
| Synonyms: |
Alysicarpus vaginalis (L.) DC. var. paniculatus Baker f. Hedysarum ovalifolium Schumach. |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Erect or spreading annual herb, sometimes woody at the base, 20–60 cm tall. Stems pubescent when young, later almost hairless. Leaves 1-foliolate, elliptic or oblong to narrowly lanceolate, 1–10 cm long, subcordate, finely velvety and with some hairs on the veins beneath; petiole 2–9 mm long; stipules lanceolate, 5–20 mm long. Inflorescences terminal or leaf-opposed, up to 15 cm long, sometimes branched, very lax, the internodes between the 3–7 pairs of flowers long; pedicels 1–2 mm long. Calyx pubescent with lobes narrowly triangular, 3–4 mm long, not overlapping. Standard orange-buff to pink, reddish-violet or rarely whitish, 4–6 mm long; wings purplish-mauve; keel pale greenish. Fruit 18–25 mm long, well exserted from the calyx, not constricted between the articles; articles subcylindrical, with raised reticulate ridges, 2–8 mm long, velvety. |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | ovalifolius: with oval (elliptic) leaves |
| Habitat: | In hot and dry woodland, open sandy soils and river beds, often in soil pockets and cracks in granite outcrops, along roadsides, footpaths, savanna woodland. |
| Altitude range: | 65 - 700 m |
| Flowering time: | |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa, Madagascar and Asia. |
| Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,T,MS |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
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 65. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 216. 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 46. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 57. Verdcourt, B. (2000). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(6) Pages 37 - 39. |
| Home | > | List of families | > | Fabaceae subfamily Papilionoideae | > | Alysicarpus | > | ovalifolius |