43 
2. Sesbania speciosa, Taub., ex Engl. in Abh. Preuss. Akad. Wiss., 1894, 21, 42, et in 
Engl. Pflanzenw. Ost-Afr. C. 213 (1895); S. Hildebrantii Taub., Lc. 
Branchlets fiexuose, obtusely angular, shortly pubescent. Leaves about as long as 
the inflorescence up to 15 cm. long; rachis and leaflets on both sides fairly densely 
pubescent ; leaflets about 15 pairs, stalked, narrowly oblong, slightly narrowed and almost 
equal-sided at the base, acutely mucronate at the apex, 2-2-5 cm. long, 6-8 mm. broad; 
stipules persistent, obliquely lanceolate, very acutely acuminate, 1-1-3 cm. long, about 
4 mm. broad at the base, adpressed-pubescent on both sides; stipels minute. Inflorescence 
6-10 flowered, axillary; peduncle stout towards the base, pubescent; pedicels about 
1-5 cm. long, nearly glabrous; bracts persistent, linear, about 6 mm. long, pubescent, 
margins membranous towards the base; bracteoles deciduous. Flower buds not seen. 
Calyx widely campanulate from an acute turbinate base, about 8 mm. long, with five 
subulate acute teeth about 1-5 mm. long, glabrous outside. Vezsllum (probably yellow) 
finely mottled with purple, rather broadly elliptic, shortly clawed, 3 cm. long, 2 cm. broad, 
with two linear free appendages at the base. Alae 3-5 cm. long, 8 mm. broad. Carina 
3 cm. long, the boat-shaped limb a little longer than the claw. Staminal-sheath 2-5 cm. 
long. Ovary slightly hairy. Fruit up to nearly 33 cm. long, about 8 mm. broad, rather 
thick, with undulate edges, nearly glabrous. Seeds somewhat kidney-shaped, dark brown. 
TROPTOAL AFRICA: East African Protectorate, Usambara; Maschena, in meadows, 
July, 1893, C. Holst, 3508 ; banks of the Kingani, 6 ft. high, fl. and fr., Hildebrandt, 960 
(Herb. Mus. Brit.). 
3. Sesbania punctata D.C. Prodr., ii, 265 (1825); Baker in Oliv. Fl. Trop. Afr., ii, 188 
(1871), partly. 
A shrub or slender tree, growing on banks of streams; branches pale straw-coloured 
when dry, slightly flexuous, sometimes slightly muricate below the leaves, otherwise 
glabrous. Leaves shorter than the inflorescence, 7-10 cm. long; rachis pubescent on 
the upper side, soon becoming neaily glabious, not prickly; leaflets 12-22 
pairs, shortly stalked, oblong-linear, a little narrowed and sub-equal-sided at 
the base, shortly and acutely mucronate at the apex, 1-2-2 cm. long, 3-5 mm. broad, 
glabrous or sbghtly pubescent on the thickened mid-rib and margins, stipules deciduous, 
recurved, about 3 mm. long, slightly pubescent ; stipels very minute. Inflorescence mostly 
branched, longer than the leaves, up to 20-flowered, often about 12-flowered ; peduncle 
glabrous or very slightly pubescent, especially at the base, not prickly ; pedicels slender, 
up to 2 cm. long, glabrous, with two small caducous bracteoles towards the apex ; bracts 
small and early caducous. Flower buds broadly ellipsoid, obtuse, glabrous. Calyx 
broadly campanulate from a turbinate base, about 6 mm. long, with five rather short 
broadly triangular lobes slightly puberulous on the margins. Vezallum finely mottled 
with purple, about 2-5 cm. long, rather shortly clawed, with two large free acuminate 
appendages about 5 mm. long at the base. Alae 2-3 cm. long, about 6 mm. broad. Carina 
more or less broadly spoon-shaped, 2-5 cm. long, the claw slightly longer than the limb. 
Staminal sheath 2 cm. long, free part of the filaments about 5 mm. long. Ovary and style 
glabrous. Fruits up to 24 cm. long, slender, at first torulose, but sometimes becoming 
nearly straight when ripe, beaked for some time by the persistent style. Seeds dark brown, 
about 4-5 mm. long. 
Tropica, AFRICA: Senegambia: Without definite locality, Perrottet 231 (type): 
1839, -Guillemin (H.K.) Hendelot (H.K.). Roger in Herb. Gay (H.K.); Richard-tol, 26th 
January, 1823, Dollinger (H.K.). Northern Nigeria. Sokoto Province, shrub or slender 
tree overhanging rivers, December, 1910, J. M. Dalziel 324; Abinsi and vicinity, banks of 
streams, common, 15th December, 1912, J. M. Dalzel 618; Katagum District, banks or 
streams, J. M. Dalael 7, Benne River, October, 1907, C. A. Parsons 154, Nupe, sand 
banks, small shrub with yellow flowers, 1858, C. Barter, 970. 
Vernacular; “ Alambo ” (Dalzel 324, 618). 
