Bignoniaceae

Kigelia DC.

First published in Biblioth. Universelle Genève, n.s., 17: 135 (1838)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropical & S. Africa.

Descriptions

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Tree with a rounded crown
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite or ternate, imparipinnate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers in terminal lax pendulous panicles
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx campanulate to almost tubular, leathery, irregularly 2–5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla large, widely campanulate, 2-lipped, upper lip shortly 2-lobed, lower lip deeply 3-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, 2 long and 2 short, adnate to the top of the cylindrical part of the corolla-tube; staminode 1
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk large, ring-shaped
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1-celled, with 2 parietal much intruded placentas
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit large, cylindrical, indehiscent, pendulous from a long peduncle, with a thick wall enclosing a fibrous pulp in which the seeds are embedded
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds without wing.
Distribution
Genus of a single species in tropical Africa.
[FSOM]

Bignoniaceae, Sally Bidgood, Bernard Verdcourt, Kaj Vollesen. Cobaeaceae, Bernard Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2006

Morphology General Habit
Tree.
Morphology Branches
Young branches with gland fields often present at the nodes.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite or ternate, imparipinnate.
Morphology Leaves Leaflets
Leaflets (2–)4–6(–7) pairs.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a pendulous raceme with spreading branches.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel
Pedicels bent upwards.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubular, 2-lipped.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla large, broadly campanulate, tube cylindrical at base, 5-lobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, in two unequal pairs, thecae free for most of their length, staminode present.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk large, annular.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary terete, one-celled with 2 parietal placentas.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary Ovules
Ovules numerous, multiseriate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma bilobed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit large, cylindrical (sausage-shaped), indehiscent with thick walls.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, inserted in a tough fibrous pulp, not winged.
Note
A single very variable species across tropical Africa. Widely cultivated elsewhere in the tropics.
[FTEA]

Bignoniaceae, M. A. Diniz. Flora Zambesiaca 8:3. 1988

Morphology General Habit
Medium or large tree with a rounded crown.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves imparipinnate, opposite or ternate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a terminal, lax, pendulous panicle, longly pedunculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx campanulate to almost tubular, irregularly lobed, coriaceous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla large, widely campanulate; limb bilabiate and 5-lobed; corolla tube cylindrical at the base, widening and uncurving upwards.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium
Stamens 4, didynamous, adnate to the top of the cylindrical part of the corolla tube; staminode 1, rather large.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc
Disk annular, thick.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary terete, unilocular, placenta parietal 2, widely intruded; ovules numerous, pluriseriate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit large, cylindrical, pendulous, wood-walled, indehiscent, with a fibrous pulp.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds numerous, thick; wingless, testa coriaceous.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0