Volume 4 > Part 3 > Year 2020 > Page 461 > Leguminosae-Papilionoideae > Afgekia

2. Afgekia sericea Craibwfo-0000185940

Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927(9): 376. 1927 & Fl. Siam. 1(3): 395. 1928; Lock & Heald, Legumes Indo-Chine: 86. 1994; L.K.Phan & J.E.Vidal in Morat, Fl. Cambodge, Laos & Vietnam 30: 14. 2001; J.Compton et al., Phytokeys 125: 80. 2019. Plate Plate XLV: 4.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Description : Woody climber, climbing up to 20 m long; twigs densely pubescent. Stipules large, showy, falcate with asymmetrical rounded base and acuminate apex, 1.5–3 by 0.3–1 cm, upper and lower surface sericeous, persistent. Leaves chartaceous; petiole 2.5–5 cm long, sericeous; rachis 10.5–25 cm long, grooved above, sericeous; pulvinus 0.5–1 cm long, sericeous. Leaflets 13–19; petiolules 2–4 mm long; stipels acicular, 3–5 mm long; terminal leaflet elliptic, 4–7 by 2–2.5 cm, base cuneate or obtuse, apex mucronate, upper surface thinly sericeous, lower surface sericeous, midrib slightly raised above, sericeous, raised below, veins slightly raised above, raised below, lateral veins 7–8 pairs, 3–15 mm apart; lateral leaflets mostly like terminal one, narrowly elliptic to ovate, 3.5–8 by 2–2.7 cm, base rounded, sometimes slightly asymmetrical, apex mucronate; pulvinus 1–3 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescences up to 80 cm long; peduncle 10–20 cm long; bracts subtending inflorescences pale green or with pinkish hue, large, ovate with cordate base and acuminate apex, 1–2.5 by 1–2 cm, sericeous; floral bracts showy, deep pinkish, longer but not broader than the corresponding flower buds, lanceolate, base cuneate, apex attenuate, 30–45 by 5–7 mm, both sides pubescent; pedicels 1–2 cm long, sericeous; bracteoles absent. Calyx ivory with pinkish or purplish lobes, cup-shaped, 5–7 mm long, outside sericeous, inside glabrous, upper lip narrowly triangular, long, acuminate, 6–8 by ca 1 mm; lower lip acuminate, the middle lobe longest, 16–17 by 1–1.3 mm, lateral lobes equal in length, 8–9 by 1–1.3 mm. Corolla cream and pinkish; standard cream with pinkish hue and central yellow patch, ovate or elliptic, 25–28 by 22–25 mm, apex slightly acute, outside sericeous, inside glabrous, basal callosities distinct, claw 3.5–4.5 mm long; wings deep pinkish, narrowly elliptic, slightly falcate, 23–25 by 5–7 mm, apex rounded, both sides glabrous but with some hairs near apex, upper auricle 3–3.5 mm long, lower auricle 1–1.5 mm long, lateral pocket indistinct, claw 3–3.5 mm long; keel white, broadly falcate, 23–25 by 10–15 mm, apex rounded, outside sericeous, inside glabrous, upper and lower auricles indistinct, lateral pocket indistinct, claw 3–5 mm long. Stamens: staminal tube 27–35 mm long, free part 8–10 mm long, glabrous throughout; anthers 1.3–2 by 0.4–0.6 mm, with basal and apical tufted hairs. Disc cylindrical, 1–1.5 mm long, glabrous or sparsely hairy. Ovary 15–17 mm long, 2–3-ovuled; stipe indistinct, sericeous; style up to 20 mm long, glabrous. Pods narrowly elliptic or strap-shaped, valves thick, leatherly, 7–15 by 3–4 by 1.5–2.5 cm, sericeous. Seeds 2–3, lenticular, 1.9–2.5 by 1.8–2.3 by ca 1 cm; hilum ca 3 cm long.

Thailand : EASTERN: Chaiyaphum (Thep Sathit), Nakhon Ratchasima (Chan Thuek, Pak Chong – type: Anuwat 4 -K), Buri Ram (Phanom Rung Historical Park); CENTRAL: Saraburi (Muak Lek); SOUTH-EASTERN: Prachin Buri (Nadi).

Distribution : Endemic, also cultivated as an ornamental plant in the country.

Ecology : Dry evergreen or dipterocarp forests, 200–400 m alt. Flowering: June–October; fruiting: October–December.

Vernacular : Kan phai (กันภัย)(Saraburi); thua paep chang (ถั่วแปบช้าง)(Nakhon Ratchasima).