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:	Rare and local in Zimbabwe
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. In Zimbabwe, confined, remarkably, to the two rocky hills of Domboshawa and Ngomakurira in the Chinamora CL.
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: (metres)	1600 m (approx)
Flowering time:	Dec - Mar
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in tropical Africa from Guinea and Ethiopia south to Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Zimbabwe distribution:	C
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Saturday 4 November 2023
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 Mozambique: Sphenostylis stenocarpa
Flora of Zambia: 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