Tephrosia chisumpae Brummitt

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Erect much branched shrub to 1.5 m tall, with numerous stems from a woody rootstock, upper parts herbaceous. Erect much branched shrub to 1.5 m tall, with numerous stems from a woody rootstock, upper parts herbaceous.

Morphology Stem

Stems slightly ribbed, densely pubescent, the hairs silvery and mostly appressed, but some longer spreading hairs. Stems slightly ribbed, densely pubescent, the hairs silvery and mostly appressed, but some longer spreading hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary tomentose; style pubescent.

Distribution

Also in Congo (Katanga) and S Angola.

Ecology

Woodland on Kalahari sands; c.1000 m.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves sessile, digitately (1)3–5-foliolate; leaflets 10–50 × 2–8 mm, linear-oblanceolate to oblanceolate, sometimes folded lengthwise, long-cuneate to the base, obtuse to rounded or emarginate at the apex, with a minute ± recurved mucro, inconspicuously puberulous above, densely pubescent to tomentose beneath with appressed silvery-white hairs; stipules 2–5 mm long, subulate to narrowly triangular, pubescent outside, brown. Leaves sessile, digitately (1)3–5-foliolate; leaflets 10–50 × 2–8 mm, linear-oblanceolate to oblanceolate, sometimes folded lengthwise, long-cuneate to the base, obtuse to rounded or emarginate at the apex, with a minute ± recurved mucro, inconspicuously puberulous above, densely pubescent to tomentose beneath with appressed silvery-white hairs; stipules 2–5 mm long, subulate to narrowly triangular, pubescent outside, brown.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in axillary clusters, but leaves lacking at uppermost nodes so inflorescences continued as a short pseudoraceme; bracts similar to the stipules; pedicels 3–4(8 in fruit) mm long. Flowers in axillary clusters, but leaves lacking at uppermost nodes so inflorescences continued as a short pseudoraceme; bracts similar to the stipules; pedicels 3–4(8 in fruit) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–5 mm long, densely covered with short white appressed hairs; teeth broadly triangular, shorter than the tube. Calyx 4–5 mm long, densely covered with short white appressed hairs; teeth broadly triangular, shorter than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 12–16 mm long; standard elliptic-obovate, yellow-green turning purple, with brown hairs on the back; wings purple; keel white. Petals 12–16 mm long; standard elliptic-obovate, yellow-green turning purple, with brown hairs on the back; wings purple; keel white.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament separate or only lightly attached to the staminal sheath. Upper filament separate or only lightly attached to the staminal sheath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary tomentose; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 30–40 × 6–8 mm, oblong, with a stipe 3–4 mm long, densely pubescent, somewhat glabrescent at maturity. Pod 30–40 × 6–8 mm, oblong, with a stipe 3–4 mm long, densely pubescent, somewhat glabrescent at maturity.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 6–9, 4–4.5 × 3–3.5 mm, ovoid-oblong, ± transversely elongate, with a small hilum on the narrower end. Seeds 6–9, 4–4.5 × 3–3.5 mm, ovoid-oblong, ± transversely elongate, with a small hilum on the narrower end.