Tephrosia interrupta Hochst. & Steud. ex Engl.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

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

Morphology General Habit

Softly woody branching shrub up to 3 or 5 m. tall; young stems brown pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-rhachis up to 11 cm. long, including a petiole of 5–15 mm., prolonged up to 5 mm. beyond the lateral leaflets; stipules lanceolate -attenuate, up to 12 mm. long; leaflets 9–21 (rarely –27), elliptic-oblong, pointed at the base, rounded or acute and apiculate at the tip, up to 3 cm. long by 8 mm. wide, appressed pubescent beneath, usually glabrous above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers purple in terminal grey, rusty, brown or blackish tomentose pseudoracemes, sometimes condensed almost to an umbel; each node bearing several flowers, sometimes developed into a short branch, lower nodes very distant from one another; occasionally flowers in axils of reduced leaves; pedicels varying greatly in length up to 10 mm.; bracts lanceolate, broadly ovate, ± caducous; small linear to broadly ovate caducous bracteoles often present on upper part of pedicel or at base of calyx.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx brown or blackish tomentose, the teeth lanceolate or ovate-acuminate, rather shorter or longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard brownish tomentose outside, emarginate, 14–21 mm. long by 14–20 mm. wide; keel glabrous or somewhat pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament lightly attached, sharply widened, bent and callous 1 mm. above the base; filament-sheath 11–20 mm., free parts 3–4 mm., anthers 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style linear, not narrowing from the base upwards, ± 0.7 mm. wide, rounded at the tip, bent sharply through 90° near the base, pubescent within, glabrous or less often pubescent outside, 7–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod densely grey or brown tomentose, usually darker at the sutures, slightly upturned towards the tip, up to 9 cm. long, 5–6 mm. wide; style-base ± straight.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 7–11, smooth, blackish, rounded-oblong, longitudinal, ± 4.5 × 3 × 2 mm., elliptic in cross-section; hilum about one-third along the side, the aril minute, ± 0.7 mm. long.

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Virgate shrub 2–4(6) m high. Virgate shrub 2–4(6) m high.

Morphology Stem

Stems subglabrous and smooth to densely appressed- or spreading-pubescent. Stems subglabrous and smooth to densely appressed- or spreading-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with 3–13(15) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.3–2 cm long, petiole and rachis together (1)2–11(17) cm long, resembling the stem in pubescence; leaflets (1)1.5–4 × (0.2)0.4–0.8(1.2) cm, ± elliptic or oblanceolate, subcuneate at the base, obtuse or rounded at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface appressed-pubescent; stipules 4–17 × 1–2 mm, linear-triangular, often falling early. Leaves pinnate with 3–13(15) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.3–2 cm long, petiole and rachis together (1)2–11(17) cm long, resembling the stem in pubescence; leaflets (1)1.5–4 × (0.2)0.4–0.8(1.2) cm, ± elliptic or oblanceolate, subcuneate at the base, obtuse or rounded at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface appressed-pubescent; stipules 4–17 × 1–2 mm, linear-triangular, often falling early.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences various – see subspecies. Inflorescences various – see subspecies.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent on one or both sides.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (4)5–10(13) mm long, pubescent to tomentose or villous with brown or grey, appressed to usually spreading hairs; upper teeth connate for ½–¾ length. Calyx (4)5–10(13) mm long, pubescent to tomentose or villous with brown or grey, appressed to usually spreading hairs; upper teeth connate for ½–¾ length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 17–24(28) mm long, usually purple to deep violet, sometimes blue, greenish, red, pinkish or white tinged with purple. Petals 17–24(28) mm long, usually purple to deep violet, sometimes blue, greenish, red, pinkish or white tinged with purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube joined above. Stamen tube joined above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent on one or both sides.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (35)45–100(110) × 4.5–8 mm, brown loosely appressed-pubescent with straight or geniculate hairs. Pods (35)45–100(110) × 4.5–8 mm, brown loosely appressed-pubescent with straight or geniculate hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (6)8–14, 4–5 × 2–3 × 1.5 mm, oblongoid-ellipsoidal or rarely rhomboidal, with a white aril 0.8–1 mm long in the middle of one of the longer sides. Seeds (6)8–14, 4–5 × 2–3 × 1.5 mm, oblongoid-ellipsoidal or rarely rhomboidal, with a white aril 0.8–1 mm long in the middle of one of the longer sides.