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

Fabaceae - Papilionoideae - Phaseoleae - Phaseolinae - Lablab Adans.

Description :

  • Herbs, erect or climbing
  • Leaves pinnately 3-foliolate; stipules reflexed, persistent; stipels lanceolate
  • Flowers in axillary racemes longer than leaves; rachis swollen at insertion of pedicels; bracts caducous
  • Calyx with campanulate tube longer than lobes, bilabiate; upper lip entire, emarginate, lower 3-lobed
  • Petals : vexillum usually reflexed, auriculate at base, with 2 callosities on inner face; wings longer than keel; keel beaked, incurved at right angle
  • Stamens 10, vexillary filament free, others connate into sheath; anthers uniform
  • Ovary surrounded by lobed disc; several-ovuled; style incurved at right angle, flattened laterally, with soft hairs towards top of adaxial face; stigma terminal
  • Pod obliquely oblong-falcate, beaked by persistent style, sometimes with upper margin verrucose
  • Seeds slightly compressed, dark brown, with a white aril more than half their length
  • x = 11

Nomenclature:

  • Lablab Adans.
    • Adanson: 325 (1763)
    • Harvey: 263 (1862)
    • Verdcourt: 409 (1970)
    • Verdcourt: 696 (1971)

Distribution & Notes:

  • Global : Species 1: Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet subsp. uncinatus Verdc., variable under worldwide cultivation, widespread in Africa
  • Southern Africa : Throughout

References:

  • ADANSON, M. 1763. Familles des plantes 2. Vincent, Paris
  • HARVEY, W.H. 1862. Leguminosae . Flora capensis 2
  • VERDCOURT, B. 1970. Studies in the Leguminosae - Papilionoideae : III. Kew Bulletin 24
  • VERDCOURT, B. 1971. Flora of tropical East Africa . Leguminosae (part 4). Papilionoideae