e-Key v3 - Cyamopsis
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Interactive keys to the identification of seed plants of southern Africa using keys based on plant morphology.

Fabaceae - Papilionoideae - Indigofereae - Cyamopsis DC.

Description :

  • Herbs, hairy with biramous hairs
  • Leaves imparipinnately 3-foliolate; leaflets often dentate; stipules small, setaceous
  • Flowers small, in axillary racemes, ebracteate
  • Calyx with obliquely campanulate tube; lower lobes longest
  • Petals similar, glabrous; vexillum sessile, somewhat pointed, markedly veined; wings sessile; keel sessile, incurved, obtuse
  • Stamens monadelphous, with closed tube; anthers uniform, with apiculate connective
  • Ovary sessile, few- to many-ovuled; style incurved at apex, with capitate stigma
  • Pod linear, somewhat 4-angled, beaked, 2-valved, septate within
  • Seeds quadrate, compressed
  • x = 7

Nomenclature:

  • Cyamopsis DC.
    • Candolle: 230 (1825)
    • Gillett: 6 (1958)
    • Gillett: 328 (1971)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species ± 4, Africa to India
  • Southern Africa : Species 2, Namibia, Botswana and Northern Cape, with another species introduced into KwaZulu-Natal

References:

  • CANDOLLE, A.P. DE. 1825. Mémoire sur la famille des Légumineuses . Belin, Paris
  • GILLETT, J.B. 1958. Indigofera ( Microcharis ) in Tropical Africa with the related genera Cyamopsis and Rhynchotropis . Kew Bulletin Add. Ser. 1
  • GILLETT, J.B. 1971. Flora of tropical East Africa . Leguminosae (part 3). Papilionoideae