Entada Adans.

First published in Fam. Pl. 2: 318 (1763)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Tropics & Subtropics.

Descriptions

Leguminosae, J.P.M. Brenan. Flora Zambesiaca 3:1. 1970

Morphology General Habit
Trees, shrubs, suffrutices or lianes; prickles absent or sometimes present.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 2-pinnate; pinnae each with one to many pairs of leaflets.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences of spiciform racemes or spikes, which are axillary or supra-axillary, solitary or clustered and often ± aggregated.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite or male.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx gamosepalous, with 5 teeth.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, free or nearly so (or ± connate in species not occurring in our area), separated from the ovary-base by a very short perigynous zone composed of stamens adnate to an apparent corolla-tube.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, fertile; anthers with a usually very caducous apical gland.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods straight or curved, flat or rarely spirally twisted, sometimes very large; at maturity the valves (but not the margins) splitting transversely into 1-seeded segments from which the outer layer (exocarp) of the pod-wall often peels off, the inner layer (endocarp) persisting as a closed envelope round the seed; the segments falling away from the margins, which persist as a continuous but empty frame.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds (in the African species at least) ± compressed, mostly elliptic or subcircular in outline, deep brown, smooth.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Trees, shrubs or lianes, unarmed
Morphology Leaves
Leaves bipinnate; leaflets obtuse, sometimes mucronate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowers in spiciform racemes or spikes, bisexual or polygamous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, free or nearly so
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, free; anthers with a deciduous apical gland
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod straight or curved, flat, with thickened sutures; at maturity the valves splitting transversely into 1-seeded segments with the inner layer (endocarp) persisting round the seed and separating from the outer layer (exocarp); the sutures persisting as a continuous but empty frame.
Distribution
Some 30 species, mainly in the Old World tropics.
[FSOM]

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit
Trees, shrubs, suffrutices or lianes; prickles absent or sometimes present
Morphology Leaves
Leaves bipinnate; pinnae each with one to many pairs of leaflets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences of spiciform racemes or spikes, which are axillary or supra-axillary, solitary or clustered and often ± aggregated
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite or ♂
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx gamosepalous, with 5 teeth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, free or nearly so (or ± connate in species not occurring in our area), separated from ovary-base by a very short perigynous zone composed of stamens adnate to an apparent corolla-tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, fertile; anthers with a usually very caducous apical gland
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods straight or curved, flat or rarely spirally twisted, sometimes very large; at maturity the valves (but not the sutures) splitting transversely into 1-seeded segments from which the outer layer (exocarp) of the pod-wall normally peels off, the inner layer (endocarp) persisting as a closed envelope round the seed; the segments falling away from the sutures, which persist as a continuous but empty frame
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds (in the African species at least) ± compressed, mostly elliptic or subcircular, deep brown, smooth.
[FTEA]

Legumes of the World. Edited by G. Lewis, B. Schrire, B. MacKinder & M. Lock. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (2005)

Vernacular
drinking vine, matchbox bean, sea hearts, St. Thomas bean
Habit
Trees, shrubs and lianas
Ecology
Tropical lowland and riverine rain forest, seasonally dry forest, woodland and wooded grassland, bushland, thicket and dry scrub
Distribution
pantropical: Africa with 16 spp., predominantly in Sudanian and Zambezian regions, two extending to Madagascar; 3 spp. endemic to Madagascar; 5 spp. endemic to Indo-China and Malesia; 1 sp. in Neotropics; 3 spp. widespread and dispersed by ocean currents (E. rheedii Spreng. throughout the Palaeotropics; E. phaseoloides (L.) Merr. in Asia, Australasia and Pacific and E. gigas (L.) Fawcett & Rendle in Africa to Neotropics)
Note
Strongly supported as grouping with Elephantorrhiza in the Entada group (Luckow et al., 2003); the genus is much in need of revision as it is highly diverse in habit, fruit size, inflorescence architecture, presence or absence of tendrils and armature; anther glands occur in all species except those in Madagascar

The tribe Mimoseae (sensu Bentham, 1875) is retained here simply as a matter of convenience. All recent phylogenetic analyses indicate that Ingeae and Acacieae are derived from within Mimoseae (Chappill & Maslin, 1995; Käss & Wink, 1996; Luckow et al., 2000; Bruneau et al., 2001; Luckow et al., 2003; Herendeen et al., 2003a), making it a paraphyletic group at best. The most recent studies indicate that it may not even be monophyletic with respect to the Caesalpinioideae (Luckow et al., 2000; Bruneau et al., 2001; Luckow et al., 2003).

Although the outline of a new tribal classification of the mimosoids is emerging, we await better-supported phylogenies (based on more extensive data) before formalising new stable and useful groups. Some parts of the classification proposed here are better supported than others. Notably, the basal branches in Fig. 24 are poorly supported in most analyses and the relationships among the groups are likely to change as we acquire more data. As presently indicated (Luckow et al., 2003), the type genus Mimosa falls within the derived Piptadenia group which is in turn sister, and basally branching, to elements of Acacia and Ingeae (Fig. 24). A more narrowly circumscribed Mimoseae sens. strict. will thus leave the bulk of Mimoseae sens. lat. (i.e., as treated here) in need of new tribal allocation. The most conspicuous difference between the classification presented here and that of Lewis & Elias (1981) is the inclusion of tribe Parkieae within Mimoseae. The former was circumscribed based on imbricate aestivation of the calyx, and was considered the basal tribe within the Mimosoideae (Elias, 1981a). Recent phylogenetic analyses (Chappill & Maslin, 1995; Luckow et al., 2000; Bruneau et al., 2001; Luckow et al., 2003; Herendeen et al., 2003a), indicate that the two genera in the Parkieae, Parkia and Pentaclethra, are not sister taxa (Fig. 24). Pentaclethra is nested within Mimoseae in Luckow et al. (2000), but is either sister to caesalpinioid taxa in Bruneau et al. (2001) and Herendeen et al. (2003a), or part of a basal polytomy with Mimoseae and caesalpinioid taxa (Luckow et al., 2003). Both Parkia and Pentaclethra are included in the tribe Mimoseae pending additional data and tribal recircumscription.

Recent work (Luckow et al., submitted a) also indicates that the monospecific tribe Mimozygantheae should be subsumed in the Mimoseae near Piptadeniopsis and Prosopidastrum, currently in the Prosopis group. Otherwise, the informal groups within the Mimoseae recognised by Lewis & Elias (1981) are relatively well-supported by current phylogenies and only a few departures have been made from their system. Where relationships are either poorly supported or unresolved, the classification of Lewis & Elias (1981) is retained. The Xylia group is dismantled and the Adenanthera group recircumscribed to include Calpocalyx and Xylia . Desmanthus has been removed from the Dichrostachys group, as has Neptunia, in agreement with recent molecular and morphological phylogenetic studies (Harris et al., 1994; Hughes, 1998; Luckow, 1995, 1997). A new group is erected to accommodate Piptadeniastrum which is well separated from Newtonia in the most recent phylogeny (Luckow et al., 2000; 2003), and another to accommodate Cylicodiscus, which is more closely related to the clade containing the Prosopis, Leucaena, Dichrostachys, and Piptadenia groups than it is to the Newtonia group. Neptunia is well supported as sister to Prosopidastrum in recent analyses (Luckow et al., 2003) and is included in the Prosopis group here. Relationships of genera in the Prosopis group are not resolved, but the group is retained here as there is no evidence that it is not monophyletic. Genera newly described since 1981 include Alantsilodendron, Calliandropsis, Kanaloa, and Lemurodendron. Alantsilodendron and Calliandropsis are placed in the Dichrostachys group, and Kanaloa in the Leucaena group based on phylogenetic analyses (Hughes, 1998; Luckow, 1997; Luckow et al., 2000). Lemurodendron is tentatively included in the Newtonia group as suggested by Villiers & Guinet (1989). As treated here the Mimoseae comprises 40 genera and from (859)– 869–(879) species.

[LOWO]

Legumes of the World. Edited by G. Lewis, B. Schrire, B. MacKinder & M. Lock. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. (2005)

Vernacular
elands bean, intolwane
Habit
Trees, shrubs and suffrutices
Ecology
Tropical and subtropical woodland, bushland and thicket, shrubland and grassland; often in open rocky areas
Distribution
Africa S of the equator (Zambezian and Kalahari-Highveld Regional Centres of Endemism; centre of diversity in southern Africa)
Note
Well supported in a clade with Entada (Luckow et al., 2003), in the Entada group

The tribe Mimoseae (sensu Bentham, 1875) is retained here simply as a matter of convenience. All recent phylogenetic analyses indicate that Ingeae and Acacieae are derived from within Mimoseae (Chappill & Maslin, 1995; Käss & Wink, 1996; Luckow et al., 2000; Bruneau et al., 2001; Luckow et al., 2003; Herendeen et al., 2003a), making it a paraphyletic group at best. The most recent studies indicate that it may not even be monophyletic with respect to the Caesalpinioideae (Luckow et al., 2000; Bruneau et al., 2001; Luckow et al., 2003).

Although the outline of a new tribal classification of the mimosoids is emerging, we await better-supported phylogenies (based on more extensive data) before formalising new stable and useful groups. Some parts of the classification proposed here are better supported than others. Notably, the basal branches in Fig. 24 are poorly supported in most analyses and the relationships among the groups are likely to change as we acquire more data. As presently indicated (Luckow et al., 2003), the type genus Mimosa falls within the derived Piptadenia group which is in turn sister, and basally branching, to elements of Acacia and Ingeae (Fig. 24). A more narrowly circumscribed Mimoseae sens. strict. will thus leave the bulk of Mimoseae sens. lat. (i.e., as treated here) in need of new tribal allocation. The most conspicuous difference between the classification presented here and that of Lewis & Elias (1981) is the inclusion of tribe Parkieae within Mimoseae. The former was circumscribed based on imbricate aestivation of the calyx, and was considered the basal tribe within the Mimosoideae (Elias, 1981a). Recent phylogenetic analyses (Chappill & Maslin, 1995; Luckow et al., 2000; Bruneau et al., 2001; Luckow et al., 2003; Herendeen et al., 2003a), indicate that the two genera in the Parkieae, Parkia and Pentaclethra, are not sister taxa (Fig. 24). Pentaclethra is nested within Mimoseae in Luckow et al. (2000), but is either sister to caesalpinioid taxa in Bruneau et al. (2001) and Herendeen et al. (2003a), or part of a basal polytomy with Mimoseae and caesalpinioid taxa (Luckow et al., 2003). Both Parkia and Pentaclethra are included in the tribe Mimoseae pending additional data and tribal recircumscription.

Recent work (Luckow et al., submitted a) also indicates that the monospecific tribe Mimozygantheae should be subsumed in the Mimoseae near Piptadeniopsis and Prosopidastrum, currently in the Prosopis group. Otherwise, the informal groups within the Mimoseae recognised by Lewis & Elias (1981) are relatively well-supported by current phylogenies and only a few departures have been made from their system. Where relationships are either poorly supported or unresolved, the classification of Lewis & Elias (1981) is retained. The Xylia group is dismantled and the Adenanthera group recircumscribed to include Calpocalyx and Xylia . Desmanthus has been removed from the Dichrostachys group, as has Neptunia, in agreement with recent molecular and morphological phylogenetic studies (Harris et al., 1994; Hughes, 1998; Luckow, 1995, 1997). A new group is erected to accommodate Piptadeniastrum which is well separated from Newtonia in the most recent phylogeny (Luckow et al., 2000; 2003), and another to accommodate Cylicodiscus, which is more closely related to the clade containing the Prosopis, Leucaena, Dichrostachys, and Piptadenia groups than it is to the Newtonia group. Neptunia is well supported as sister to Prosopidastrum in recent analyses (Luckow et al., 2003) and is included in the Prosopis group here. Relationships of genera in the Prosopis group are not resolved, but the group is retained here as there is no evidence that it is not monophyletic. Genera newly described since 1981 include Alantsilodendron, Calliandropsis, Kanaloa, and Lemurodendron. Alantsilodendron and Calliandropsis are placed in the Dichrostachys group, and Kanaloa in the Leucaena group based on phylogenetic analyses (Hughes, 1998; Luckow, 1997; Luckow et al., 2000). Lemurodendron is tentatively included in the Newtonia group as suggested by Villiers & Guinet (1989). As treated here the Mimoseae comprises 40 genera and from (859)– 869–(879) species.

[LOWO]

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit
Small trees, shrubs or suffrutices, unarmed
Morphology Leaves
Leaves bipinnate, pinnae mostly with many pairs of leaflets
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences of spiciform racemes which are axillary, solitary or clustered, often ± aggregated
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers normally hermaphrodite
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx gamosepalous, with 5 teeth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, connate below, free above
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, fertile, free, not adnate to corolla; anthers with a usually very caducous apical gland
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods straight or somewhat curved, not spirally twisted; at maturity the valves separating from the persistent sutures, but not splitting into segments; the outer layer (exocarp) of the pod-wall often peeling off the inner layer (endocarp), the layers remaining intact or breaking irregularly
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ± compressed.
[FTEA]

Leguminosae, J.P.M. Brenan. Flora Zambesiaca 3:1. 1970

Morphology General Habit
Small trees, shrubs or suffrutices, unarmed.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 2-pinnate, pinnae mostly with many pairs of leaflets.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences of spiciform racemes which are axillary, solitary or clustered, often ± aggregated; pedicels c. 1-2 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers normally hermaphrodite.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx gamosepalous, small, c. 1-2·5 mm. long, with 5 teeth.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 5, free.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, fertile, free among themselves, slightly adnate to the corolla; filaments c. 4-7·5 mm. long; anthers with a usually very caducous apical gland.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pods straight or somewhat curved, not spirally twisted; at maturity the valves separating from the persistent margins, but not splitting into segments; the outer layer (exocarp) of the pod-wall often peeling off the inner layer (endocarp), the layers remaining intact or breaking irregularly.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds ± compressed.
[FZ]

Uses

Use
Various species ( St. Thomas bean, matchbox bean, drinking vine ) used as livestock fodder, ground cover, green manure, fibre (in rope and storage bins), medicine, fish poisons, soap substitutes, firewood, charcoal and in traditional ceremonies; the large round drift seeds of the species listed above emerge from some of the biggest pods in the Leguminosae (over one metre in length) and are often used to make jewellery (' sea hearts ')
[LOWO]

Use
The roots of various species ( elands bean, intolwane ) are a major source of tannins for tanning leather, and dyes; also used for medicine
[LOWO]

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

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. 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 2024. 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
  • Legumes of the World Online

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