Sphenostylis stenocarpa (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Harms

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Domboshawa

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Synonyms:	Dolichos stenocarpus Hochst. ex A. Rich. Sphenostylis congensis A. Chev. Sphenostylis katangensis (De Wild.) Harms Vigna katangensis De Wild. Vigna ornata Welw. ex Baker
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial prostrate or climbing herb, growing from a tuberous rootstock. Stems 1 to 3 m long, often reddish, hairless or sparsely hairy. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2-7-13 cm long, hairless or sparsely hairy on the midrib beneath; sometimes with microscopic black spots; petiole 1.5-8 cm long; stipules linear-lanceolate, 1-5.2 mm long. Inflorescences axillary, 4-9-flowered. Calyx with a tube up to 8 mm long and very short lobes. Flowers creamy to mauve or bright pink with a greenish-yellow or white blotch at the base of the standard; keel slightly twisted. Pods lineat, up to 16 cm long, hairless.
Notes:	A form with very narrow leaflets (see image 1) has sometimes been named S. congensis.
Derivation of specific name:	stenocarpa: with long and narrow fruit.
Habitat:	In a variety of habitats, mostly associated with rocky places or termite mounds.
Altitude range:	10 - 1600 m
Flowering time:	Dec - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa from Guinea and Ethiopia south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Mozambique distribution:	N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 44 - 45. (Includes a picture). Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 169. (Includes a picture). 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 72. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 227. Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 71 - 73. (Includes a picture). 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 51. As Sphenostylis congensis Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 65.

Other sources of information about Sphenostylis stenocarpa:

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Flora of Burundi: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Flora of Malawi: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Flora of Zambia: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Sphenostylis stenocarpa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Sphenostylis stenocarpa
African Plant Database: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Sphenostylis stenocarpa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Sphenostylis stenocarpa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Sphenostylis stenocarpa
JSTOR Plant Science: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Plants of the World Online: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Tropicos: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Wikipedia: Sphenostylis stenocarpa