Macrotyloma ellipticum (R.E. Fr.) Verdc.

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Habit
Miombo woodland
Chingola District
Jun 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman

Leaf
Miombo woodland
Chingola District
Jun 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman

Inflorescence
Miombo woodland
Chingola District
Jun 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman

Flower
Miombo woodland
Chingola District
Jun 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman

Pods
Miombo woodland
Chingola District
Jun 2025
Photo: Nick Wightman

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Dolichos ellipticus R.E.Fr. Dolichos eriocaulos Harms
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Erect perennial, somewhat shrubby herb up to 1 m tall, arising from a taproot. Stems freely branched, some branch tips sometimes twining, young stems golden velvety, older stems glabrescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 1.6–5.7 × 0.8–3 cm, elliptic to oblong-elliptic, obtuse to subacute at the apex, apiculate or not, narrowed to a shortly rounded base, pubescent on the upper surface, velvety pubescent beneath; petiole 1.6–3.2 cm long; rhachis 2–3 mm long; stipules 7–9 × 2–3 mm, acute, striate; stipels 2–3 mm long. Flowers axillary, solitary, in pairs or in 3–4-flowered fascicles; pedicels 2.5–3.5 mm long; bracts 2–3 × 1 mm, lanceolate, striate; bracteoles 3–4 mm long, lanceolate. Calyx densely golden villous; tube 2.5 mm long; lobes 3–4 mm long, linear-triangular, the upper two connate along almost all their length. Standard greenish-yellow, 10–11 × 6–8 mm, obovate, emarginate at the apex or not, with linear appendages 3–4 mm long; wings 8–12 × 1–2 mm; keel 10–14 × 3–5 mm. Ovary 6–8 mm long, linear, tomentose, 6–8-ovuled. Pod golden, 4–5.5 cm × 4–5 mm, linear, compressed, glabrous or puberulous though margins always puberulous, 6–8-seeded. Seeds reddish-brown, 3–4 × 2 × 1 mm, smooth; hilum small, central.
Type location:	Zambia
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	ellipticum: elliptic, referring to the shape of the leaflets
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Mar - Jun
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, DRC, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania
Growth form(s):	Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Mackinder, B. et al. (2001). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(5) Pages 105 - 107. (Includes a picture). Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 128.

Other sources of information about Macrotyloma ellipticum:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Macrotyloma ellipticum
Flora of Zambia: Macrotyloma ellipticum

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Macrotyloma ellipticum
African Plant Database: Macrotyloma ellipticum
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Macrotyloma ellipticum
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Macrotyloma ellipticum
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Macrotyloma ellipticum
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Macrotyloma ellipticum
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Macrotyloma ellipticum
JSTOR Plant Science: Macrotyloma ellipticum
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Macrotyloma ellipticum
Plants of the World Online: Macrotyloma ellipticum
Tropicos: Macrotyloma ellipticum
Wikipedia: Macrotyloma ellipticum