|
Leguminosae
Synonyms
V. suberecta Benth.
Common names
Maloga bean (Australia).
Description
A twining or occasionally erect perennial legume. Taproot conspicuous,
up to 40 cm deep. Stems glabrous or with few hairs. Stipules narrow, 2
to 3 mm long. Leaves trifoliate. Leaflets lanceolate, narrowly ovate, apex
acute or somewhat obtuse, base entire or lobed, lateral leaflets usually
lobed on one side only, 3 to 7 x 0.4 to 1.5 cm. Inflorescence up to 13
cm long; flowers greenish yellow in few clusters at the ends of the peduncle.
Calyx short, about 2 to 2.5 mm long, the two upper lobes united into one
very short and broad one, the lowest not as long as the tube. Standard
7 to 8 mm long. Keel broad, curved inwards, rather acute, not beaked. Pod
2 to 4 x 0.5 to 0.8 cm, glabrous or a few appressed hairs, nearly terete
(Bailey, 1900; Stanley and Ross, 1984).
Distribution
V. lanceolata is native to tropical Australia and widespread
south to western New South Wales, northern South Australia and Western
Australia. It is particularly found on the fertile clay soils of such areas
as the Darling Downs of southern Queensland.
General features
Together with several of the Glycine spp. and Rhynchosia minima,
V. lanceolata is a legume of the fertile black soil downs, on which it
can be quite prominent in favourable seasons. It is highly palatable and
valued as forage in native pastures but can be a nuisance in cultivations
on black soils. It nodulates under good conditions but the nodules are
absent in exceptionally wet or dry conditions and after frosting in winter (Diatloff, 1967b).
Links for the genus:
- Vigna
germplasm: Current status and future needs (report prepared by the Vigna
Crop Germplasm Committee)
|
