Aeschynomene

Scientific name

Aeschynomene L.

Common names

jointvetch

Family

Fabaceae

Similar genera

Mimosa, Neptunia

Native distribution

tropical to subtropical regions worldwide

Species cultivated

Aeschynomene americana L.

A. evenia C. Wright

A. fluitans Peter

Adventive distribution

some species introduced into the United States

Weed status

Some of the non-cultivated aquatic members of the genus are considered noxious weeds.

Habit

floating, emergentemergent:
(adj) (syn. emersed) with parts raised out of the water; extending up out of the water
or seasonally submergedsubmerged:
(adj) (syn. submersed) under water; submerged below the water surface
herb or shrub

Brief description

Annual or perennialperennial:
(adj) (of a plant) having a life cycle of more than two years
. Stems erect, creeping or floating; emergentemergent:
(adj) (syn. emersed) with parts raised out of the water; extending up out of the water
or seasonally submerged/floating stems often pithy and swollen when in water. Stipules usually persistentpersistent:
(adj) (of leaves etc,) remaining attached; not being dropped or falling off
. Leaves alternatealternate:
(adj) (of leaves) bearing one leaf per node; placed singly on the stem at different heights
, compoundcompound:
(adj) with two or more like parts, as in a compound leaf; divided into two or more subsidiary parts or orders, as in a compound inflorescence
(paripinnate), oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
; apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
round to notched; base round to cordatecordate:
(adj) heart-shaped; in the form of two rounded lobes
. Leaflets numerous, usually oppositeopposite:
(adj) (of leaves) two leaves per node; in pairs on opposite sides of an axis
, subsessile; leafletleaflet:
(n) one of the leaf-like units of a compound leaf
bladeblade:
(n) (syn. lamina) the flat, expanded part of a leaf, frond, or petal (excluding, e.g., the petiole)
narrowly oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
; apexapex:
(n) the point farthest from the point of attachment; the tip (often pointed)
round; base round, asymmetric; marginmargin:
(n) edge; rim
entireentire:
(adj) having a continuous margin that is not toothed or lobed
to minutely toothed; venationvenation:
(n) the arrangement of veins in a leaf
palmatepalmate:
(adj) (of leaves or venation) with lobes, leaflets, divisions or veins originating from the same point
or prominent midribmidrib:
(n) the main or central vein, line or rib in a leaf or perianth segment
. Inflorescenceinflorescence:
(n) the arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
axillaryaxillary:
(adj) in, of, or produced from an axil
or terminalterminal:
(adj) at the apex
, solitary flower. Flowers bisexualbisexual:
(adj) having both male and female sexual reproductive structures on one individual or in one flower
, zygomorphiczygomorphic:
(adj) bilaterally symmetrical; symmetrical along only one plane
; bracteoles present; calyxcalyx:
(n) the outer whorl of the perianth; all the sepals of a flower
2 lipped, upper lip 2-lobed, lower lip 3-lobed; posterior petalpetal:
(n) one segment of the corolla
orbicularorbicular:
(adj) circular in outline
, laterallateral:
(adj) on or pertaining to the side of an organ or structure
obovate-oblong, keelkeel:
(n) a sharp crease or ridge
obovate or incurved, typically yellow. Pods transversely jointed, breaking apart at maturity.

Natural habitat

riparian, wet to flooded soils

Additional comments

Aeschynomene consists of 150 species, most of which are in Central and South America and Africa. About 70 species in the genus are aquatic.