http://isu.icrisat.org/Training/sds.16.pdf

Reproductive stage in chickpea

Flowers

Chickpea flowers are complete and bisexual, and have papilionaceous corolla. They are white, pink, purple or blue in color. In colored flowers, the peduncles may be of different colors, the floral part purplish and the racemal green. The axillary inflorescence is shorter than the subtending leaf.

 Calyx

The calyx is dorsally gibbous at the base. There are five sepals with deep lanceolate teeth. The teeth are longer (5-6 mm) than the tube (3-4 mm) and have prominent midribs. The five sepals are sub equal. The two dorsal (vexillar) sepals are closer to each other than they are to the two lateral ones in the ventral position. The fifth calyx tooth is separate from the others. The peduncles and the calyx are glabrous. The calyx tube is oblique.

 Corolla

Chickpea flowers have five petals which are generally celeste and purplish red or light pink in color. The petals are polypetalous i.e., consisting of standard (vexillum), wings, and keel. The vexillum is obovate, 8-11 mm long, 7-10 mm wide, and either glabrous or pubescent with no glandular hair on its external surface. The wings are also obovate with short pedicels (nails). They are 6-9 mm long and about 4 mm wide with an auriculate base. The auricula are over the pedicel and form a pocket in the basal upper part, which is covered by the vexillum. The keel is 6-8 mm long, rhomboid, with a pedicel 2-3 mm long. Two-thirds of the frontal side of its ventral face is adnate. The wings do not show concrescence with the keel.

 Androeclum

There are 10 stamens in diadelphous (9)+1 condition. The filaments of nine of the stamens are fused, forming an androecial sheath; the tenth stamen is free. The staminal column is persistent. The fused part of the filament is 4-5 mm long and the free part 2-3 mm, upturned, and dilated at the top. The apex of the sheath is oblique.The stamens facing the petals are a little longer than the others.

Gynoeclum

The ovary is monocarpellary, unilocular, and superior, with marginal placentation. It is ovate with a pubescent (glandular hairs predominate) surface. The ovary is 2-3 mm long and 1-15 mm wide. There are 1-3 ovules, rarely 4. The style is 3-4 mm long, linear, upturned, and glabrous except at the bottom. The stigma is globose and capitate.