Vigna vexillata flower inspection

Various insects visit Vigna vexillata flowers. The often-small insects manipulate the floral parts for accessing food, causing pollination as unintended byproduct of their doings.

The Vigna genus of the Fabaceae family, well represented in South Africa, is related to the Sphenostylis genus of which there are only two local species. Sphenostylis flowers have broad flat stigmas, while Vigna flowers have stigmas obliquely positioned at the style tips, fringed down the inside of the about cylindrical styles (Manning, 2009; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Pooley, 1998; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982; Letty, 1962; iNaturalist).