Habit
Dambo margin in damp muck soil
Near Shanda Village, Luena, Kaoma Distr.
Mar 2021
Photo: Nick Wightman
Inflorescence
Dambo margin in damp muck soil
Near Shanda Village, Luena, Kaoma Distr.
Mar 2021
Photo: Nick Wightman
Flower
Dambo margin in damp muck soil
Near Shanda Village, Luena, Kaoma Distr.
Mar 2021
Photo: Nick Wightman
| Synonyms: | |
| Common names: | |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Native |
| Description: |
Erect, generally well-branched annual or short-lived perennial up to 2 m tall, branches appressed pubescent to tomentellous; leaves 3-foliolate, estipulate; leaflets variable, mostly 3-17 x 0.8-4.5 cm, linear-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic, appressed puberulous or pubescent beneath, petiole shorter than leaflets; racemes 6-35 cm long, shortly pedunculate, densely many flowered; bracts 3-12 mm long, caudate, bracteoles inserted at base of calyx, 3-5 mm long, filiform; calyx 3.5-5 mm long, becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, appressed pubecent, lobes narrowly triangular acuminate, ± as long as tube or longer; standard obovate-circular or obovate-elliptic, yellow with brown or maroon veining; wings ± as long as the keel; keel 6-8 mm long, strongly rounded about the middle with a narrow sharp beak incurved at the tip; pod very shortly stipitate, 1.2-1.6 x 0.5-0.7 cm, ellipsoid-oblong, shortly pubescent to tomentellous, 10-16-seeded; seeds c. 3 mm long, obliquely cordiform, smooth, brownish. |
| Type location: |
Angola |
| Notes: | |
| Derivation of specific name: | comosa: bearing a tuft of hairs or leaves, with many leaves |
| Habitat: | |
| Altitude range: (metres) | |
| Flowering time: | Feb - Apr |
| Worldwide distribution: | Widespread in tropical Africa except the easternmost and southernmost parts |
| FZ divisions: | T |
| Growth form(s): | Annual. |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Literature: |
Martins, E.S. et al. (2003). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(7) Pages 146 - 147. |