Perennial climbing herb up to 4 m. long.. Stems adpressed pubescent, finally glabrescent.. Leaflets 3, ovate to ovate-triangular, 5–15 cm. long, 4–12 cm. wide, acute to acuminate, rounded to truncate at the base, sparsely pubescent along the nerves on both sides but mainly beneath; petiole 2·5–16 cm. long; rhachis 1–3·5 cm. long; petiolules 3–7 mm. long; stipules ovate-oblong, spurred, together with the spur 1·4–1·8 cm. long, ± 5 mm. wide.. Racemes: rhachis 3–25 cm. long; peduncle 4–23 cm. long; pedicels 1–2 cm. long; bracts deciduous, ovate-lanceolate, ± 7 mm. long; bracteoles ovate, 7–10 mm. long, 5–7 mm. wide, acute, puberulous.. Calyx puberulous; tube 5–8 mm. long; lateral lobes triangular, 3–5 mm. long; lower lobe lanceolate, 7 mm. long; upper lobes joined to form a bifid lip.. Standard purple or pale blue, rounded-oblong, 2·5–3·5 cm. long, 2–2·5 cm. wide, emarginate, minutely papillate on the outside.. Pods oblong, square in cross-section, 4–9 cm. long, 0·7–1·2 cm. wide, prominently winged, the wings 3 mm. wide, crinkly, puberulous or pubescent.. Seeds cylindrical, longest dimension 7–9 mm., shorter dimensions 7 mm.; aril not developed.
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A herb. It is a climbing plant that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 5 m long. It may have tuberous roots. The stems have flattened hairs. The leaves have 3 broad leaflets. The flowers are large and purple or pale blue. The pods have wings. The seeds are large.
Upland bushland, forest and grassland; edges of marshy areas, in steep valleys with small streams in Pennisetum associations and twining on Cyperus trees; at elevations from 1,600-2,300 metres.
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It is a tropical plant. In Congo it grows between 1,600-2,300 m altitude.
Can be grown by seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.
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