The World Flora Online

Savanna thickets, margin of forest galleries, lake shores and riverbanks, becoming colonial and weedy in old fields, coppiced woodland and on roadsides, widespread in tropical Africa, whence introduced into tropical and warm temperate horticulture, sporadically naturalized in s. India, Sri Lanka, Malesia, s. peninsular Florida, apparently only cultivated in s. California, Cuba, Mexico, Panama.—Fl. in N. America mostly XII-II.

Shrubs, usually several-stemmed and of broadly rounded outline, at anthesis (0.6-)1-5 m, reportedly sometimes arborescent to 9 m, the terete striate, densely leafy annotinous branchlets with foliage and inflorescence pilosulous throughout or almost so with erect or spreading-ascending white hairs up to 0.2-0.6 mm often (especially on raceme axis) mixed with random granular or longer ± flexuous thickened trichomes, the mustily foetid foliage subconcolorous, the dull-olivaceous lfts equally pubescent on both faces or rarely glabrous above, the racemes incurved to vertical from distal axils, forming a panicle at length ± exserted.Stipules thinly herbaceous, early reflexed, symmetrically ovate-cordate-acuminate 6-17 mm, palmately several-nerved from base, tardily deciduous.Lvs mostly 1-3.5(-5) dm, in expanded outline narrowly oblong-elliptic; petiole including discolored but not much swollen pulvinus (1-)1.5-4.5(-5.5) cm, at middle 1.3-3 mm diam, rounded dorsally, very narrowly margined and shallow-sulcate ventrally; rachis ±0.7-2.8(-4) dm; petiolar glands 0; pulvinules 1.2-2.7 mm; lfts (8-)9-16(-18) pairs, slightly decrescent at either end of rachis, from asymmetric base elliptic-oblong ±2-5.5(-6.5) x 0.8-2(-2.5) cm, 2.3-3 times as long as wide, at apex obtuse or broadly deltate-subacute, aristate-mucronate, the pallid margin plane, the centric straight midrib immersed above, cariniform beneath, the (6-)7-11 pairs of slender camptodrome secondary veins finely prominulous beneath, not or scarcely so above, the tertiary venulation faint, not forming a raised reticulum.Peduncles with tapering axis of many-fld raceme together 1-4 dm, the several fls simultaneously expanded overtopped by a cone of firm brownish or blackish- green bracts, these broadly ovate, abruptly subacute or acuminulate concave (8-) 10-17 mm, caducous; pedicels at anthesis and afterward 4-10 mm; fl-buds obliquely obovoid, densely puberulent; sepals firm, oblong-obovate, little graduated, the longest (9-) 10-14 mm; petals glabrous, yellow, fading stramineous brown-veined, little heteromorphic, beyond the short slender claw oblong or obovate, the longest 17-25(-27) mm, at anthesis all concave, forming a bowl-shaped perianth; androecium glabrous, functionally 2-merous, the anthers of 4 median stamens 2.5-3.3 mm, of 2 large abaxial ones 3-4 mm, of 1 centric abaxial one 4-5 mm, the anthers of 4 median and 1 (slightly longer) centric abaxial stamens including the pronounced porrect beak 4-5.5 mm, those of 2 large fertile ones lunately lanceolate in outline 9-11 mm, the short porrect biporose beak 0.6-1 mm; ovary densely yellowish- or pallid-pilosulous; style linear, gently incurved distally 7.5-12 mm, just below stigma 0.2-0.4 mm diam; ovules ±12-17.Pod stiffly ascending or randomly spreading-declined, the stipe 7-11 mm, the Unear-oblong, strongly compressed body 7-12 x (1.5-)1.7-2.3(-2.5) cm, bicarinate by the sutures, the fuscous-green, finally papery nigrescent valves finely pilosulous with short sometimes mixed with longer white hairs, corrugate by low obtuse ridges elevated over each seed, finely transverse-venulose, the locules between the narrow membranous interseminal septa 4-5.5 mm long, occupying the whole width of cavity; seeds oblong narrowed proximally, compressed parallel to the valves, 6-8.2(-"9") x 3-4.6(-"5") mm, the testa pale tan sometimes overlain with fuscous-green, smooth or obscurely pitted, moderately lustrous, crackled in age, the oblong-elliptic areole 3-4 x 0.7-1.1(-"1.5") mm.—Collections: 30.

Its shrubby growth form, its large, multijugate leaves lacking petiolar and rhachidal glands, its dark brownish-green (almost black at a distance) viscid and foetid bracts and sepals, and its conspicuous erect racemes of deep yellow flowers, make C. didymobotrya distinctive among the species of the Flora area. Its closest relative, C. italica, is herbaceous and prostrate or decumbent: it is also a plant of drier areas.

Here it has also become naturalized and grows as a ruderal especially in sheltered, moist spots. Naturalised in weedy places; origin tropical Africa, declared invader (Category 2); Sub-Escarpment Savanna. Woodland, disturbed places. Probably indigenous in swamps and beside rivers in seasonal regions; also on roadsides and in waste places. Naturalised in weedy places; origin tropical Africa, declared invader (Category 2); Sub-Escarpment Savanna. Woodland, disturbed places. Probably indigenous in swamps and beside rivers in seasonal regions; also on roadsides and in waste places.

Widespread in tropical Africa. Native elsewhere in Africa. This striking and easily recognized species is known from Ethiopia, the Sudan, Zaire, Congo (Brazzaville), Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola, Zambia, Rhodesia, Mozambique and South Africa. In the Flora area it is not indigenous, but is grown under cultivation, particularly in the Transvaal, Natal and the Eastern Cape. Native elsewhere in Africa. This striking and easily recognized species is known from Ethiopia, the Sudan, Zaire, Congo (Brazzaville), Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola, Zambia, Rhodesia, Mozambique and South Africa. In the Flora area it is not indigenous, but is grown under cultivation, particularly in the Transvaal, Natal and the Eastern Cape.

Rather soft-wooded shrub, 2-4 m or more tall, unpleasant-smelling when fresh. Branchlets dark brown, sparsely pubescent. Leaves paripinnate; stipules 10-15 x 8-11 mm, broadly ovate, cordate at base, acuminate at apex, persistent; petioles 1.7-3.5(8.5) cm long, pubescent; rachis 10-25 cm long, pubescent; leaflets in 6-16 pairs, opposite, 21-55 x 6-20 mm, oblong, asymmetrically cuneate at base, acute and mucronate at apex, pubescent above and beneath. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, axis 22-34 cm long; bracts present in bud, falling before anthesis, 10-16 x 8-13 mm, broadly ovate, base cordate, apex acute, apiculate. Sepals 5, c. 13 x 5 mm, elliptic. Petals 5, yellow, with prominent darker veins particularly when dry, c. 20 x 10 mm, broadly elliptic to obovate. Stamens 10, seven of them probably fertile, two of these with filaments c. 2 mm long and anthers c. 10 mm long, five with filaments c. 2 mm long and anthers c. 5 mm long; three probably infertile with filaments c. 2 mm long and reduced anthers. Ovary c. 12 mm long, densely pubescent; stipe c. 5 mm long; style c. 12 mm long, glabrous. Pods blackish, 8-10.4 x 1.8-2.4 cm, oblong, corrugated on the flat surface, very tardily dehiscent along both sutures. Seeds dull brown, 6.5-7.5 x 3.5-5 mm, oblong, flattened, apiculate at the proximal end, with a narrowly obovate to oblong areole in the centre of each face. Coarse shrub, up to 1.5-5.0 m high; stems, leaves, and inflorescences sparsely pubescent with spreading hairs. Leaves 100-140 mm long. Leaflets 10 to 20 pairs per leaf, oblong-elliptic, mucronate apically, rounded basally, rachis terete. Stipules leafy, cordate, ovate with attenuate apex. Inflorescences axillary, flowers and fruits co-occurring. Flowers bright yellow drying to white, with brown veins. Flowering time Mar.? Pod stipitate, flattened, 60-120 x 15-25 mm. Valves corrugated over seeds, papery, dark brownish black, glabrate. Seeds compressed, oblong, grey-brown, bearing elliptic areole on each face. Shrub, up to 7 m high. Stipules persistent, broadly ovate-cordate, 8-14 mm long. Petals obovate, 20-25 x 12-13 mm. Flowers bright yellow. Perennial, multi-stemmed and much branched from ground level forming an erect, rounded shrub (0.6-)2-7 m high. Stems ± woody, subterete, inconspicuously ridged, finely and softly pubescent with dense, short, white, patent hairs. Leaves-, petiole and rhachis 19-30(-45) cm long; stipules broadly ovate-cordate, long acuminate, 1-1.2 cm long, 1.1-1.4 cm wide, pubescent, persistent, conspicuous; petiole 2.5-3.2 cm long including basal pulvinus; petiolar gland lacking; rhachis terete, lacking conspicuous glands, but with 1 - several small, hair-like dark structures between each of the leaflet pairs; leaflets in (8-)13-21 pairs, ovate-oblong, becoming ovate-elliptic and obovate towards distal end of leaf, 2-4.2(-5.5) cm long, 0.7-1.6(-2) cm wide, uppermost pair not largest, bases asymmetric, broadly cuneate to round, apices broadly obtuse, with a fine apiculus up to 3 mm long, margins slightly thickened, pubescent, surfaces pubescent, adaxial sparsely, abaxial densely. Inflorescences in axils of upper leaves, racemes elongating with age up to 45 cm long including peduncle, many-flowered; peduncles at flowering and fruiting 4-6 cm long, stout; bracts 2-2.3 cm long, 1-1.2 cm wide, elliptic, boat-shaped, viscid, foetid, dark brownish-green, conspicuous; pedicels, at flowering 5-8 mm long, at fruiting up to 10 mm long, pubescent to villous with soft patent hairs. Sepals obtuse, pubescent, viscid, foetid. Petals elliptic to obovate, shortly stalked, 2-2.5 cm long, 1.2-1.3 cm wide, bright yellow. Stamens 10: 3 adaxial smallest, ± functional, 4 lateral medium, 2 lateral-abaxial largest, central-abaxial longer than laterals but shorter and considerably more slender than 2 lateral-abaxial, dehiscence porose. Ovaries white velutinous with soft, patent hairs; styles curved, glabrous; stigma narrowed to a fine hollow point, becoming ± membranous with age. Pods flattened, shortly stalked, straight, oblong-linear, 10-11 cm long, ±2 cm wide, apex usually beaked, septate, sutures slightly thickened, slightly lighter than the dark brown, pubescent valves, many-seeded, dehiscent. Seeds laterally compressed, oblong with one pointed end, 6-7 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, testa light brown, minutely pitted or smooth; areole central on each lateral face, oblong, finely transversely striated, ±4 mm long, ±1 mm wide. Coarse shrub, up to 1.5-5.0 m high; stems, leaves, and inflorescences sparsely pubescent with spreading hairs. Leaves 100-140 mm long. Leaflets 10 to 20 pairs per leaf, oblong-elliptic, mucronate apically, rounded basally, rachis terete. Stipules leafy, cordate, ovate with attenuate apex. Inflorescences axillary, flowers and fruits co-occurring. Flowers bright yellow drying to white, with brown veins. Flowering time Mar.? Pod stipitate, flattened, 60-120 x 15-25 mm. Valves corrugated over seeds, papery, dark brownish black, glabrate. Seeds compressed, oblong, grey-brown, bearing elliptic areole on each face. Shrub, up to 7 m high. Stipules persistent, broadly ovate-cordate, 8-14 mm long. Petals obovate, 20-25 x 12-13 mm. Flowers bright yellow. Perennial, multi-stemmed and much branched from ground level forming an erect, rounded shrub (0.6-)2-7 m high. Stems ± woody, subterete, inconspicuously ridged, finely and softly pubescent with dense, short, white, patent hairs. Leaves-, petiole and rhachis 19-30(-45) cm long; stipules broadly ovate-cordate, long acuminate, 1-1.2 cm long, 1.1-1.4 cm wide, pubescent, persistent, conspicuous; petiole 2.5-3.2 cm long including basal pulvinus; petiolar gland lacking; rhachis terete, lacking conspicuous glands, but with 1 - several small, hair-like dark structures between each of the leaflet pairs; leaflets in (8-)13-21 pairs, ovate-oblong, becoming ovate-elliptic and obovate towards distal end of leaf, 2-4.2(-5.5) cm long, 0.7-1.6(-2) cm wide, uppermost pair not largest, bases asymmetric, broadly cuneate to round, apices broadly obtuse, with a fine apiculus up to 3 mm long, margins slightly thickened, pubescent, surfaces pubescent, adaxial sparsely, abaxial densely. Inflorescences in axils of upper leaves, racemes elongating with age up to 45 cm long including peduncle, many-flowered; peduncles at flowering and fruiting 4-6 cm long, stout; bracts 2-2.3 cm long, 1-1.2 cm wide, elliptic, boat-shaped, viscid, foetid, dark brownish-green, conspicuous; pedicels, at flowering 5-8 mm long, at fruiting up to 10 mm long, pubescent to villous with soft patent hairs. Sepals obtuse, pubescent, viscid, foetid. Petals elliptic to obovate, shortly stalked, 2-2.5 cm long, 1.2-1.3 cm wide, bright yellow. Stamens 10: 3 adaxial smallest, ± functional, 4 lateral medium, 2 lateral-abaxial largest, central-abaxial longer than laterals but shorter and considerably more slender than 2 lateral-abaxial, dehiscence porose. Ovaries white velutinous with soft, patent hairs; styles curved, glabrous; stigma narrowed to a fine hollow point, becoming ± membranous with age. Pods flattened, shortly stalked, straight, oblong-linear, 10-11 cm long, ±2 cm wide, apex usually beaked, septate, sutures slightly thickened, slightly lighter than the dark brown, pubescent valves, many-seeded, dehiscent. Seeds laterally compressed, oblong with one pointed end, 6-7 mm long, 2.5-3 mm wide, testa light brown, minutely pitted or smooth; areole central on each lateral face, oblong, finely transversely striated, ±4 mm long, ±1 mm wide.

Seeds dull brown, 6.5–7.5 × 3.5–5 mm, oblong, flattened, apiculate at the proximal end, with a narrowly obovate to oblong areole in the centre of each face. Pods blackish, 8–10.4 × 1.8–2.4 cm, oblong, corrugated on the flat surface, very tardily dehiscent along both sutures. Sepals 5, c.13 × 5 mm, elliptic. Petals 5, yellow, with prominent darker veins particularly when dry, c.20 × 10 mm, broadly elliptic to obovate. Stamens 10, seven of them probably fertile, two of these with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.10 mm long, five with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.5 mm long; three probably infertile with filaments c.2 mm long and reduced anthers. Ovary c.12 mm long, densely pubescent; stipe c.5 mm long; style c.12 mm long, glabrous. Rather soft-wooded shrub, 2–4 m or more tall, unpleasant-smelling when fresh. Branchlets dark brown, sparsely pubescent. Leaves paripinnate; stipules 10–15 × 8–11 mm, broadly ovate, cordate at base, acuminate at apex, persistent; petioles 1.7–3.5(8.5) cm long, pubescent; rachis 10–25 cm long, pubescent; leaflets in 6–16 pairs, opposite, 21–55 × 6–20 mm, oblong, asymmetrically cuneate at base, acute and mucronate at apex, pubescent above and beneath. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, axis 22–34 cm long; bracts present in bud, falling before anthesis, 10–16 × 8–13 mm, broadly ovate, base cordate, apex acute, apiculate. Pods blackish, 8–10.4 × 1.8–2.4 cm, oblong, corrugated on the flat surface, very tardily dehiscent along both sutures. Sepals 5, c.13 × 5 mm, elliptic. Petals 5, yellow, with prominent darker veins particularly when dry, c.20 × 10 mm, broadly elliptic to obovate. Stamens 10, seven of them probably fertile, two of these with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.10 mm long, five with filaments c.2 mm long and anthers c.5 mm long; three probably infertile with filaments c.2 mm long and reduced anthers. Ovary c.12 mm long, densely pubescent; stipe c.5 mm long; style c.12 mm long, glabrous. Rather soft-wooded shrub, 2–4 m or more tall, unpleasant-smelling when fresh. Branchlets dark brown, sparsely pubescent. Leaves paripinnate; stipules 10–15 × 8–11 mm, broadly ovate, cordate at base, acuminate at apex, persistent; petioles 1.7–3.5(8.5) cm long, pubescent; rachis 10–25 cm long, pubescent; leaflets in 6–16 pairs, opposite, 21–55 × 6–20 mm, oblong, asymmetrically cuneate at base, acute and mucronate at apex, pubescent above and beneath. Inflorescence an axillary raceme, axis 22–34 cm long; bracts present in bud, falling before anthesis, 10–16 × 8–13 mm, broadly ovate, base cordate, apex acute, apiculate.

Arbusto o árbol, 1–5 m, las ramitas estriadas o surcadas, diminutamente blanquecino-híspidas; estípulas reflexas cuando jóvenes, foliáceas, 0.6–1.7 cm, simétricamente ovado-cordadas. Hojas con el pecíolo 1.5–4.5 cm, sin nectarios glandulares; raquis 7–40 cm, sin nectarios glandulares; folíolos 9–16(–18) pares, 2–5.5 X 0.8–2 cm, elíptico-oblongos, agudos a mucronatos en el ápice, diminutamente blanquecino-híspidos en ambas caras o (raramente) glabros en el haz. Infls. racemosas, hasta ca. 40 cm, de numerosas fls., con brácteas (8–)10–17 mm, deciduas. Fls. amarillo intenso, el pedicelo 4–10 mm; sépalos más largos 10–14 mm; pétalos más largos 17–25 mm; estambres fértiles 2. Frs. ascendentes u horizontales, verdosos a negros (cuando secos), 7–12 X 1.7–2.3 cm, linear-oblongos, aplanados, corrugados entre las semillas y con nervios transversales; semillas uniseriadas, café muy pálido, 6–8.2 X 3–4.6 mm, oblongas, comprimidas, areoladas.

Shrubs, 2.5-3 m tall. Young branches and leaves puberu­lent, glabrescent when old. Leaves to 35(-50) cm; stipules tardily deciduous, ovate-cordate, 6-17 mm, acuminate; petiole and rachis without glands, puberulent; petiolules very short; leaflets 8-16 pairs, abaxially farina-white, ovate-oblong or lan­ceolate-oblong, 3-5.5 × 1-2 cm, base rounded and oblique, apex obtuse or subacute, mucronate. Racemes in axils of leaves in upper part of branches, 10-35 cm, sometimes several arranged in a terminal leafy panicle; bracts caducous, imbricate, broadly ovate, apex subacute or acuminate. Sepals oblong-obo­vate. Petals yellow, oblong or obovate, shortly clawed. Stamens 10, among them functionally 2 extra large, curved, ca. 12 mm. Ovary densely yellowish or pallid pilosulose. Legume com­pressed, ligulate-oblong, 8-10 × 1.6-1.8 cm, leathery, bicari­nate by sutures, apex with a long and slender awn, stipe 1-1.2 cm; fruiting pedicel ca. 1 cm. Seeds 9-16, obovoid-oblong, compressed. 2n = 28.