Rhynchosia discolor M.Martens & Galeotti

  • Authority

    Grear, John W. 1978. A revision of the New World species of Rhynchosia (Leguminosae-Faboideae). Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 31 (1): 1-168.

  • Family

    Fabaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Rhynchosia discolor M.Martens & Galeotti

  • Description

    Species Description - Herbaceous or suffrutescent vine, to 7 m, from woody rootstock, the stems one to several, simple or branching, angular, later becoming terete, viscid-villosulose, becoming glabrate on older stems. Stipules ovate to lanceolate, acuminate, caducous, 3.5-6 mm long, 1-3.5 mm wide. Petioles stout, l-5(-10) mm, viscid-villosulose. Leaflets 3, coriaceous to thin-coriaceous, lanceolate to deltiod- or rhombic-ovate, acuminate, base obtuse to subcordate, 2.5-10 cm long, 0.8-7.5 cm wide, rugose, and villous (becoming glabrate) above, villous to thickly tomentose beneath, gland-dotted on both surfaces, terminal petiolule 5-40 mm, the laterals subobsolete to 5 mm, stipels lacking or setiform, 3 mm. Inflorescences elongate, exceeding the leaves, 15-30 cm, often branching, flowers lax, peduncle 3-15 cm, pedicels 2-5 mm, viscid-pubescent throughout. Bracts lanceolate or lanceolate-ovate, acuminate, caducous, 6-9 mm long, 1.5-6 mm wide. Calyx not exceeding the corolla, viscid-villous or -hirsutulous, 12-14 mm, tube 4-5 mm, lobes lanceolate, attenuate, 5-10 mm, vexillar sinus 2-3.5 mm. Corolla yellow, often flushed brownish, 15-25 mm. Standard widely ovate to suborbicular, emarginate, with paired internal callosities, puberulous and gland-dotted, 15-23 mm long, 12-16 mm wide, auricles 2 mm, claw 4-6 mm. Wings oblong to widely ovate, glabrous, 16-20 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, claw 4-5 mm. Keel blades falcate, glabrous, 17-20 mm long, 5-9 mm wide, claw 4-7 mm. Stamens 18-22 mm. Fruits oblong-lanceolate, base attentuate, compressed, viscid-hirsute or -villous, the hairs yellowish, 3-5.5 cm long, 6-12 mm wide, beak 3-6 mm. Seeds ovate-reniform, compressed, brown, black or mottled, 4.5-7 mm long, 3-5 mm wide, hilum ovate, 1-2 mm, strophiole lobes cuneate.