Vigna frutescens A. Rich.
subsp. frutescens
var. frutescens

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Vigna frutescens subsp. frutescens var. frutescens

Photo: Bart Wursten
Goldenstairs Road, Thornpark Estate

Photo: Bart Wursten
Main Vumba rd before Westaway

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Vigna esculenta (De Wild.) De Wild.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Perennial prostrate or climbing herb, growing from a woody rootstock. Usually short erect stems appear first after burning of the grassland, sometimes flowering before the leaves appear. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets ovate-oblong to rhombic, up to 4 cm long, sometimes 3-lobed, sparsely to densely pubescent. Flowers mauve to lilac, darker in the centre with or without a yellow spot at the base of the standard. Fruit 8-11 cm long, linear-cylindric, almost straight with a curved beak.
Notes:	Similar to Vigna antunesii which can be distinguished by its keel facing distinctly to one side, giving the flower an asymmetrical appearance. That species also has bright pink flowers and the leaves never appear before the flowering is finished.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In seasonally burnt grassland and woodland.
Altitude range: (metres)	500 - 2200 m
Flowering time:	Aug - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Tropical and South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	N,W,C,E,S
Growth form(s):	Climber, perennial, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Tuesday 5 November 2019
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 171. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 228. as Vigna frutescens Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 247. As Vigna frutescens Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 136 - 138. 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 52. Plowes, D.C.H. & Drummond, R.B. (1990). Wild Flowers of Zimbabwe. Revised edition. Longman, Zimbabwe. No. 62, plate 87 Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 73.

Other sources of information about Vigna frutescens subsp. frutescens var. frutescens:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Vigna frutescens subsp. frutescens var. frutescens
Flora of Caprivi: Vigna frutescens subsp. frutescens var. frutescens
Flora of Malawi: Vigna frutescens subsp. frutescens var. frutescens
Flora of Mozambique: Vigna frutescens subsp. frutescens var. frutescens
Flora of Zambia: Vigna frutescens subsp. frutescens var. frutescens

External websites:

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