Synonyms: | |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Local to locally common |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Shrub or small unarmed tree up to 14 m high; bark smooth, grey; leaves up to 14 cm long, densely brown pubescent when young and glabrescent with age, pinnae 2-5 pairs with each pinna rachis 2-12 cm long; leaflets (3)5-10(11) pairs per pinna, (0.5)1-3.4 x (0.3)0.4-1.4(1.9) cm, asymmetrically elliptic to elliptic-oblong, obtuse to emarginate at apex and strongly asymmetric at base, pubescent to glabrescent; flowers in fairly dense racemes grouped together to form a terminal panicle up to 15 cm long, side racemes often shorter; bracts up to 8 x 4 mm, lanceolate or ovate to elliptic, falling at or slightly before anthesis; pedicels 4-10 mm long; sepals 5-8 mm long, densely brown-pubescent; petals unequal, the lower and lateral ones 1.2-2.5 x 0.9-1.4 cm, the upper one 0.9-1 x 0.7-0.8 cm, all yellow; pods 7-12 x 1.2-2.2 cm, broadest in the distal third, erect, brown tomentose especially in the median groove of each valve; seeds 1-3, 1.6-2.2 x 0.9-1.2 cm, oblong, elongated longitudinally. Subsp. rhodesica differs in the petiole and rachis together 5-14 cm, with (3)4-5 pairs of pinnae; pinna rachis (3)5-12 cm; leaflets with (5)7-10(11) pairs of pinna; and larger petal 1.2-1.5 x 0.9-1.2 cm. |
Type location: |
Zambia |
Notes: | Red data status: VU B1B2c |
Derivation of specific name: | rhodesica: of Rhodesia, an old name for Zambia Zambia |
Habitat: | Itigi forest |
Altitude range: (metres) | 900 - 1250 m |
Flowering time: | Sep - Mar |
Worldwide distribution: | |
FZ divisions: | N |
Zambian distribution (Provinces): | N |
Growth form(s): | Tree. |
Endemic status: | Endemic |
Red data list status: | Vulnerable |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Tuesday 17 May 2022 |
Literature: |
Brummitt, R.K., Chikuni, A.C., Lock, J.M. & Polhill, R.M. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(2) Pages 191 - 193. (Includes a picture). |