Tephrosia dasyphylla Welw. ex Baker

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals (17)19–26(29) mm long (in other areas commonly 15–20 mm), pink to mauve or pale purple, rarely bluish, or the keel whitish, the standard brown pubescent outside. Petals (17)19–26(29) mm long (in other areas commonly 15–20 mm), pink to mauve or pale purple, rarely bluish, or the keel whitish, the standard brown pubescent outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal tube not fused above, the upper filament free. Staminal tube not fused above, the upper filament free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary tomentose; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 35–55 × 8–10 mm, oblong, brown tomentose to subvillous. Pods 35–55 × 8–10 mm, oblong, brown tomentose to subvillous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 8–10, lying transversely, c.5 × 3 × 2 mm. Seeds 8–10, lying transversely, c.5 × 3 × 2 mm.

Morphology General Habit

Suffrutex producing ± unbranched (except when damaged) herbaceous aerial stems up to 35(50) cm high. Suffrutex producing ± unbranched (except when damaged) herbaceous aerial stems up to 35(50) cm high.

Morphology Stem

Stems spreading or sometimes ascending brown or rarely grey tomentose (in other areas closely appressed-pubescent). Stems spreading or sometimes ascending brown or rarely grey tomentose (in other areas closely appressed-pubescent).

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 1–3-foliolate or rarely 5-foliolate; petiole and rachis (if present) together 0.6–2.5(3) cm long; leaflets variable (see subspecies); stipules (6)9–15 × 1–2 mm (in other areas often smaller, 5–9 × 0.5–1.2 mm), narrowly triangular to linear. Leaves 1–3-foliolate or rarely 5-foliolate; petiole and rachis (if present) together 0.6–2.5(3) cm long; leaflets variable (see subspecies); stipules (6)9–15 × 1–2 mm (in other areas often smaller, 5–9 × 0.5–1.2 mm), narrowly triangular to linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in dense terminal heads surrounded or exceeded by the uppermost leaves and often also in the axils of the uppermost leaves, altogether up to 15 in number; bracts resembling stipules; pedicels 5–10(13) mm long. Flowers in dense terminal heads surrounded or exceeded by the uppermost leaves and often also in the axils of the uppermost leaves, altogether up to 15 in number; bracts resembling stipules; pedicels 5–10(13) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (7)8–12(14) mm long (in other areas often 6–9 mm), appressed grey or brown villous, the teeth 2–4 times as long as the tube, subequal or the lower one longer than the others, the two upper teeth joined for ¼–½ their length, the lower teeth channelled and strongly curved. Calyx (7)8–12(14) mm long (in other areas often 6–9 mm), appressed grey or brown villous, the teeth 2–4 times as long as the tube, subequal or the lower one longer than the others, the two upper teeth joined for ¼–½ their length, the lower teeth channelled and strongly curved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary tomentose; style pubescent.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Afromontane grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial from a woody rootstock; stems densely fulvous tomentose, up to 40 cm. tall.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves (l–)3(–5)-foliolate; stipules narrowly triangular, up to 1 cm. long, becoming blackish; rhachis including petiole 6–25 mm. long, the petiole usually longer than the rest of the rhachis which may be almost absent; leaflets glabrous or almost so above; lateral nerves numerous, prominent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers purple in subsessile subcapitate fulvous tomentose pseudoracemes; bracts linear, up to 1 cm. long; pedicels ± 6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx brown tomentose; tube 3–4 mm. long; teeth triangular, long-acuminate, the lowest 5–9 mm. long, the upper pair 4–7 mm., united for 1–2 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard golden tomentose outside, 18–25 mm. long, ± 15 mm. wide; keel glabrous or slightly tomentose near the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament free, slightly dilated a little above the base; filament-sheath 12–15 mm., free parts 4–5 mm., anthers 1.1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Cup-shaped disc between ovary and filaments ±1.5 mm. deep.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Style pubescent, curved, 7–10 mm. long; stigma capitate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod almost straight, though the upper suture is more convex than the lower, ascending, densely brownish tomentose, up to 4.5 cm. long, ± 1 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 5–8, diagonally transverse, mottled, elliptic; hilum at one corner, hardly arillate; funicle thickened.