Tephrosia kasikiensis Baker f.

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

Note

Closely related to T. sengaënsis with which it may well prove to be conspecific when more material is available.

Morphology General Habit

An erect plant up to 1 m. tall, perhaps annual or biennial.

Morphology General Indumentum

Hairs on stems and leaf-rhachides usually appressed, but not those on the calyx and pods.

Morphology Leaves

Leaflets up to 4 cm. long and 12 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Terminal pseudoracemes laxer with up to 12 separate nodes, axillary pseudoracemes condensed and subcapitate as in T. sengaënsis; pedicels up to 6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Upper calyx-teeth under 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard up to 11 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods up to 5 cm. long, up to 8-seeded.

Habitat

Forest margins; 1800–2100 m.; rainfall about 1100 mm.

Distribution

T4

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Afromontane(upland) bushland and thicket.

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal and axillary elongate racemes 8–16(24) cm long, or in dense heads (see subspecies); bracts 2–5 × 0.4–0.7 mm, ± linear, falling early; pedicels (3)4–7 mm long, grey pubescent to villous. Flowers in terminal and axillary elongate racemes 8–16(24) cm long, or in dense heads (see subspecies); bracts 2–5 × 0.4–0.7 mm, ± linear, falling early; pedicels (3)4–7 mm long, grey pubescent to villous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3.5–5(6) mm long, shortly ascending-pubescent to grey villous; the lateral teeth about or almost equalling the campanulate part, the two upper teeth very short and distinguishable only as a pair of ± subulate projections up to 0.5 mm long. Calyx 3.5–5(6) mm long, shortly ascending-pubescent to grey villous; the lateral teeth about or almost equalling the campanulate part, the two upper teeth very short and distinguishable only as a pair of ± subulate projections up to 0.5 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 8–12 mm long, purplish or the keel white, the standard brown pubescent outside, all, or at least the keel, with usually golden pellucid gland dots; standard ± reniform or laterally oblong, broader than long, rather strongly upwardly curved. Petals 8–12 mm long, purplish or the keel white, the standard brown pubescent outside, all, or at least the keel, with usually golden pellucid gland dots; standard ± reniform or laterally oblong, broader than long, rather strongly upwardly curved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube fused above. Stamen tube fused above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 40–55 × 4–5 mm, when immature with pale brown tomentum on the surfaces and darker on the sutures, at maturity with spreading darkish hairs over surfaces. Pods 40–55 × 4–5 mm, when immature with pale brown tomentum on the surfaces and darker on the sutures, at maturity with spreading darkish hairs over surfaces.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (6)7–8, c.4.5 × 2 × 1.5 mm, oblong and rounded at the ends. Seeds (6)7–8, c.4.5 × 2 × 1.5 mm, oblong and rounded at the ends.

Distribution

Also in eastern Congo (Katanga) and SW Tanzania.

Ecology

From margins of mountain and riverine forests; up to 2100 m.

Morphology General Habit

Annual or ?short-lived perennial with erect branched stems 1–2.3 m high. Annual or ?short-lived perennial with erect branched stems 1–2.3 m high.

Morphology Stem

Stems appressed to spreading-pubescent, hairs brown or grey. Stems appressed to spreading-pubescent, hairs brown or grey.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with 4–6 pairs of leaflets, or the upper leaves with 1–3 pairs; petiole 0.8–5 cm long, the petiole and rachis together 5–12.5 cm long, their pubescence resembling that of the stem; leaflets (1.5)2–5(7) × 0.4–1.5(2) cm, narrowly elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, subacute to slightly emarginate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base; upper surface glabrous, lower surface rather thinly appressed-pubescent or sometimes also with scattered ascending hairs; stipules 4–9 × 0.5–1 mm, linear. Leaves pinnate with 4–6 pairs of leaflets, or the upper leaves with 1–3 pairs; petiole 0.8–5 cm long, the petiole and rachis together 5–12.5 cm long, their pubescence resembling that of the stem; leaflets (1.5)2–5(7) × 0.4–1.5(2) cm, narrowly elliptic to obovate or oblanceolate, subacute to slightly emarginate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base; upper surface glabrous, lower surface rather thinly appressed-pubescent or sometimes also with scattered ascending hairs; stipules 4–9 × 0.5–1 mm, linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent.