Abstract:
Taxonomic investigation of Vigna Savi in southern Africa indicated the diagnostic
importance of ridging of stems, pubescence type, stipule shape, presence or
absence of heterophylly, extrafloral nectaries, structure of standard callosities and
legume size/shape. Micromorphology focused on style prolongations, wing
morphology and pollen sculpture. Taxa recognized: subgenus Vigna, with sections
Vigna (V. luteola, V. marina, V. oblongifolia [varieties oblongifolia and parviflora]);
Comosae ( V. comosa subsp. comosa var. comosa); Macrodontae ( V. friesiorum
var. friesiorum); Reticulatae ( V. pygmaea) and Liebrechtsia ( V. frutescens subsp.
frutescens var. frutescens); subgenus Catjang, with species, V. nervosa and V.
unguiculata, the latter comprising subspp. protracta, stenophylla, dekindtiana
(varieties dekindtiana and huillensis), tenuis (varieties tenuis and ovata); subgenus
Haydonia, with sections Haydonia and Microspermae, comprising two undescribed
species, V. mudenia and V. sp. nov. A.; subgenus Plectrotropis including sections
Plectrotropis, with V. vexillata having new combinations varieties ovata and davyi
(previously V. davyi), and section Pseudoliebrechtsia with V. lobatifolia.
