Tephrosia euprepes Brummitt

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian woodland, Zambezian bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

A slender annual with a long, thin taproot; stems simple or sparingly branched in the lower part only, 20–50(90) cm high. A slender annual with a long, thin taproot; stems simple or sparingly branched in the lower part only, 20–50(90) cm high.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals pink or pale purplish; standard 15–20 mm long. Petals pink or pale purplish; standard 15–20 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube joined above. Stamen tube joined above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 8–12(13). Seeds 8–12(13).

Distribution

Not known outside the Flora Zambesiaca area. The species appears to have a somewhat disjunct distribution, being found on Kalahari sands and on basalt (in grassland, mopane scrub, etc.) in W Zimbabwe, N Botswana and SW Zambia, and also in lowveld areas in NE Zimbabwe and adjacent Mozambique to the Luangwa; 600–1100 m. The two areas are somewhat similar climatically and edaphically.

Morphology Stem

Stems sparsely to fairly densely pubescent, with at least some hairs towards the base of the stem long and conspicuously spreading, usually brown, very rarely with all hairs appressed. Stems sparsely to fairly densely pubescent, with at least some hairs towards the base of the stem long and conspicuously spreading, usually brown, very rarely with all hairs appressed.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves often few in number and restricted to the lower part of the plant, with (1)2–4(5) pairs of leaflets; petiole (1.5)3–8 cm long, petiole and rachis together (2)3–15 cm long, with rather sparse long hairs and usually at least some of these conspicuously spreading; leaflets (1)2–5(7) × (0.2)0.4–0.9(1.3) cm, narrowly lanceolate or elliptic-oblong to linear, rounded to subcuneate at the base, rounded or often conspicuously truncate or emarginate at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface appressed-pubescent with longish hairs; stipules (3)5–11(15) × 0.3–0.8(1) mm, linear, usually conspicuously persistent towards the base of the plant after the fall of the leaves. Leaves often few in number and restricted to the lower part of the plant, with (1)2–4(5) pairs of leaflets; petiole (1.5)3–8 cm long, petiole and rachis together (2)3–15 cm long, with rather sparse long hairs and usually at least some of these conspicuously spreading; leaflets (1)2–5(7) × (0.2)0.4–0.9(1.3) cm, narrowly lanceolate or elliptic-oblong to linear, rounded to subcuneate at the base, rounded or often conspicuously truncate or emarginate at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface appressed-pubescent with longish hairs; stipules (3)5–11(15) × 0.3–0.8(1) mm, linear, usually conspicuously persistent towards the base of the plant after the fall of the leaves.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in simple, elongate, lax racemes up to 25 cm long; bracts up to 6 × 0.3 mm, linear, inconspicuous; pedicels 3–6 mm long. Flowers in simple, elongate, lax racemes up to 25 cm long; bracts up to 6 × 0.3 mm, linear, inconspicuous; pedicels 3–6 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (3.5)4.5–7 mm long, with long brown loosely appressed to spreading hairs; upper teeth about equalling the tube, connate for ½–⅔ length. Calyx (3.5)4.5–7 mm long, with long brown loosely appressed to spreading hairs; upper teeth about equalling the tube, connate for ½–? length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (42)58–72 × 4–5 mm, appressed-pubescent with usually long hairs overlying shorter ones, straw-coloured. Pods (42)58–72 × 4–5 mm, appressed-pubescent with usually long hairs overlying shorter ones, straw-coloured.