blygonocarpus is a monotypic genus of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae. Its single species, Amblygonocarpus andongensis, is a tree native to sub-Saharan Africa.[1] The genus belongs to the mimosoid clade of the subfamily Caesalpinioideae.[2]

Scotsman's rattle
Twice pinnate compound leaf
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Clade: Mimosoid clade
Genus: Amblygonocarpus
Harms (1897)
Species:
A. andongensis
Binomial name
Amblygonocarpus andongensis
(Welw. ex Oliv.) Exell & Torre (1955)
Synonyms[1]
  • Amblygonocarpus obtusangulus (Welw. ex Oliv.) Harms (1899)
  • Amblygonocarpus schweinfurthii Harms (1899)
  • Tetrapleura andongensis Welw. ex Oliv. (1871)
  • Tetrapleura andongensis var. schweinfurthii (Harms) Aubrév. (1950)
  • Tetrapleura obtusangula Welw. ex Oliv. (1871)

Description

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The species grows up to 25 m tall but often shorter and it is largely hairless, the bark is grey black to brownish, shedding irregularly scales and leaving reddish scars.[3] Leaves are bipinnately compound, up to 2 - 5 opposite pinnae each having 12 - 18 alternate or sub-opposite leaflets.[3] Leaflets are broadly obovate to elliptic in shape up tp 25 mm long nad 15 mm wide. Inflorescence is arranged in axillary racemes, with the creamy yellow to whitish flowers fragrant.[3]

The fruit is a 4-sided pod that is glossy brown and up to 17 cm long.[3]

Distribution

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Native to Tropical Africa, in Ghana eastwards to Sudan and Uganda and southwards to Botswana and Tanzania. Can be found in deciduous woodlands and in savannas.[3]

Uses

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Its wood is used in carpentry work for furniture making.[3]

 
Seedpods and seeds

References

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  1. ^ a b Amblygonocarpus andongensis (Welw. ex Oliv.) Exell & Torre. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  2. ^ The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). (2017). "A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny". Taxon. 66 (1): 44–77. doi:10.12705/661.3. hdl:10568/90658.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Louppe, Dominique, ed. (2008). Plant resources of tropical Africa. 7,1: Timbers: 1 / ed.: D. Louppe; A. A. Oteng-Amoako. General ed.: R. H. M. J. Lemmens. Weikersheim: Margraf. p. 71. ISBN 978-3-8236-1541-5.