PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Genus Vigna Family Fabaceae
Subfamily Faboideae

Description: Annual and perennial herbs with twining stems, rarely erect.

Leaves alternate, pinnately 3-foliolate; lateral leaflets asymmetric; stipules and stipels present.

Inflorescences racemose, axillary; peduncles long; bracts and bracteoles deciduous. Calyx 5-lobed, upper 2 often united. Standard broader than long; keel truncate, obtuse or beaked. Stamens diadelphous; anthers uniform. Ovary with several ovules; style narrowing at base, bearded; stigma terminal.

Pod ± cylindrical, dehiscent, straight or curved; seeds without obvious aril.


Distribution and occurrence: World: 100–150 species, mainly tropical, chiefly Africa & Asia. Australia: c. 10 species (c. 5 species native, other species introduced), all mainland States.

Text by C. Gardner & T. A. James
Taxon concept:

Taxa not yet included in identification key
Vigna racemosa

 Key to the species 
1Leaflets linear to narrow-lanceolate or narrow-ovate, to 15 mm wide2
Leaflets elliptic to ovate, rhombic or more or less circular, more than 15 mm wide3
2Stems sparsely to densely hairy with spreading to appressed, more or less bristly rusty-brown hairs; flowers mostly 20–30 mm long; pod 4–14 cm long with spreading bristly hairsVigna vexillata
Stems glabrous or sparsely hairy with appressed, whitish hairs; flowers 7–10 mm long; pod 2–5 cm long, glabrous or with a few, appressed hairs
                       Back to 1
Vigna lanceolata
3Leaflets wide-elliptic to more or less circular, apex emarginate or obtuse; confined to coastal dunes and headlandsVigna marina
Leaflets elliptic to rhombic or ovate, apex acute to acuminate (often obtuse in Vigna lanceolata); not confined to coastal dunes and headlands
                       Back to 1
4
4Stipules peltate, ovate, rhombic or obovate, mostly 8–15 mm long; stem hairs conspicuously spreading, yellow-brown, mostly 1–1.5 mm longVigna radiata
Stipules not peltate, more or less ovate to lanceolate 2–3 mm long; stems glabrous or with appressed to more or less spreading whitish hairs c. 1 mm long
                       Back to 3
5
5Apex of leaflets acute to acuminate, base rounded to cuneate; flowers 12–25 mm longVigna luteola
Apex of leaflets acute to obtuse, base usually wedge-shaped; flowers 7–10 mm long
                       Back to 4
Vigna lanceolata

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET