Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.
var. nubica Chiov.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (13)

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambian side - walk to 2nd embarcation point, Katombora, Zambezi

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambian side - walk to 2nd embarcation point, Katombora, Zambezi

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Panga panga – Chitengo road at Nhacapanda Bridge, Gorongosa National Park

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Panga panga – Chitengo road at Nhacapanda Bridge, Gorongosa National Park

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Panga panga – Chitengo road at Nhacapanda Bridge, Gorongosa National Park

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Panga panga – Chitengo road at Nhacapanda Bridge, Gorongosa National Park

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Panga panga – Chitengo road at Nhacapanda Bridge, Gorongosa National Park

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Panga panga – Chitengo road at Nhacapanda Bridge, Gorongosa National Park

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Photo: Bart Wursten
Panga panga – Chitengo road at Nhacapanda Bridge, Gorongosa National Park

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Habit
Lakeside ruderal
Mpulungu Harbour, Mpulungu, Mpulungu Distr.
Aug 2022
Photo: Nick Wightman

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Flower
Lakeside ruderal
Mpulungu Harbour, Mpulungu, Mpulungu Distr.
Aug 2022
Photo: Nick Wightman

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Pods
Lakeside ruderal
Mpulungu Harbour, Mpulungu, Mpulungu Distr.
Aug 2022
Photo: Nick Wightman

Sesbania sesban var. nubica

Pods & Seeds
Lakeside ruderal
Mpulungu Harbour, Mpulungu, Mpulungu Distr.
Aug 2022
Photo: Nick Wightman

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: var. zambesiaca J.B. Gillett
Sesbania pubescens sensu R.E. Fries, non DC.
Sesbania punctata sensu Taubert, p.p. non DC.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Soft-wooded, short-lived shrub or small tree.Stems, leaf rhachis, petioles and margins with sparse hairs but without prickles. Leaves paripinnate with 10-25 pairs of opposite leaflets. Flowers in many-flowered pendulous sprays, bright yellow. Pods cylindric, very slender, up to 30 cm long. Flowers and fruits often together on the same tree.
Type location:
Somalia
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat: Along streams and rivers, always near water.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Mar - Sep
Worldwide distribution: Yemen, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, Namibia, Eswatini and South Africa.
FZ divisions: N
Growth form(s): Tree, annual, shrub over 2 m.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Brummitt, R.K., Harder, D.K., Lewis, G.P., Lock, J.M., Polhill, R.M. & Verdcourt, B. (2007). Leguminosae Subfamily Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(3) Pages 227 - 229.

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 169.

Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 334. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 33.

Curtis, B.A. & Mannheimer, C.A. (2005). Tree Atlas of Namibia National Botanic Research Institute, Windhoek Page 234. as Sesbania sesban

Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 226.

Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 245. As Sesbania sesban subsp. sesban

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 51.

Meerts, P. & Hasson, M. (2016). Arbres et arbustes du Haut-Katanga Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Page 301. as Sesbania sesban (Includes a picture).

Roodt, V. (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta Shell Field Guide Series: Part I Shell Oil Botswana, Gaberone. Pages 154 - 155. (Includes a picture).

Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 72.

Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 213. as Sesbania sesban


Other sources of information about Sesbania sesban var. nubica:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Sesbania sesban var. nubica
Flora of the DRC: Sesbania sesban var. nubica
Flora of Malawi: Sesbania sesban var. nubica
Flora of Mozambique: Sesbania sesban var. nubica
Flora of Zambia: Sesbania sesban var. nubica
Flora of Zimbabwe: Sesbania sesban var. nubica

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Sesbania sesban
African Plant Database: Sesbania sesban
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Sesbania sesban
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Sesbania sesban
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Sesbania sesban
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Sesbania sesban
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Sesbania sesban
JSTOR Plant Science: Sesbania sesban
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Sesbania sesban
Plants of the World Online: Sesbania sesban
Tropicos: Sesbania sesban
Wikipedia: Sesbania sesban


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-25

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2025). Flora of Botswana: Species information: Sesbania sesban var. nubica.
https://www.botswanaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=130260, retrieved 15 June 2025

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