Tephrosia linearis (Willd.) Pers.

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

An erect annual, 1–3 ft. or more high

Morphology Branches

Slender grey-pubescent branches

Morphology Leaves

Very narrow leaflets

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Pink or orange flowers

Ecology

In dry grassland.

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Annual with a slender taproot, or perennial with a vertical stock, with erect, branching stems (15)40–100(160) cm high. Annual with a slender taproot, or perennial with a vertical stock, with erect, branching stems (15)40–100(160) cm high.

Morphology Stem

Stems with appressed to spreading or occasionally deflexed hairs. Stems with appressed to spreading or occasionally deflexed hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with (1)3–6(8) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.1–0.4(0.6) cm long, petiole and rachis together (1)1.5–5(6.5) cm long, pubescent like the stem; leaflets (10)15–40(50) × (0.8)1–4 mm, linear-oblong to linear, ± cuneate at the base, narrowly rounded at the apex; upper surface glabrous or rarely shortly pubescent, lower surface appressed-pubescent with silvery, usually ± silky hairs contrasting rather markedly with the upper surface; stipules (2)3–6(7) × 0.1–0.7(0.8) mm. Leaves pinnate with (1)3–6(8) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.1–0.4(0.6) cm long, petiole and rachis together (1)1.5–5(6.5) cm long, pubescent like the stem; leaflets (10)15–40(50) × (0.8)1–4 mm, linear-oblong to linear, ± cuneate at the base, narrowly rounded at the apex; upper surface glabrous or rarely shortly pubescent, lower surface appressed-pubescent with silvery, usually ± silky hairs contrasting rather markedly with the upper surface; stipules (2)3–6(7) × 0.1–0.7(0.8) mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal and axillary, slender, lax racemes up to 12(20) cm long, and often also in the axils of the uppermost leaves; bracts 2–3 × 0.2 mm, linear; pedicels 2–4(5) mm long. Flowers in terminal and axillary, slender, lax racemes up to 12(20) cm long, and often also in the axils of the uppermost leaves; bracts 2–3 × 0.2 mm, linear; pedicels 2–4(5) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2–7 mm long (see varieties), appressed to ascending or rarely spreading-pubescent; lateral teeth equalling to 3(4) times longer than the tube, the two upper teeth joined for up to half their length or free to the base. Calyx 2–7 mm long (see varieties), appressed to ascending or rarely spreading-pubescent; lateral teeth equalling to 3(4) times longer than the tube, the two upper teeth joined for up to half their length or free to the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 6–11 mm long (see varieties), orange, yellow, red or pinkish. Petals 6–11 mm long (see varieties), orange, yellow, red or pinkish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament free or lightly attached, at least near the base, to the stamen tube. Upper filament free or lightly attached, at least near the base, to the stamen tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent; style glabrous, with pencillate tip.

Distribution

Widespread in tropical Africa (see varieties).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary pubescent; style glabrous, with pencillate tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 40–55(60) × 3–4(4.5) mm, brown, with fairly dense ± loosely appressed hairs. Pods 40–55(60) × 3–4(4.5) mm, brown, with fairly dense ± loosely appressed hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 9–13(15), brown to black, 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 × 0.8–1 mm, oblongoid-ovoid, with a conspicuous U-shaped aril obliquely placed towards one end of the seed and markedly thickened and elongated at the bottom of the U. Seeds 9–13(15), brown to black, 2.5–3 × 1.5–2 × 0.8–1 mm, oblongoid-ovoid, with a conspicuous U-shaped aril obliquely placed towards one end of the seed and markedly thickened and elongated at the bottom of the U.

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

Morphology General Habit

More or less erect annual or short-lived perennial herb up to 130 cm. tall; stems densely pubescent, the hairs appressed or, less often, spreading, white or yellowish.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-rhachis, including a petiole of 2–7 mm., up to 5 cm. long, prolonged 1–2 mm. beyond the lateral leaflets; stipules triangular-acuminate, 2–4 mm. long; leaflets 5–15, linear or, less often, oblanceolate, 2.5–4(rarely –7) cm. long, 1.5–4(rarely –6) mm. wide, glabrous or rarely pubescent above, densely silky beneath; lateral nerves usually obscure; margin thickened.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pink or orange in terminal and axillary stiff open pedunculate pseudoracemes with ± 6–10 nodes; bracts ± 1 mm. long, the lowest sometimes replaced by a 1–3-foliolate leaf; bracteoles present at base of calyx; pedicels 2–4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx brown silky; tube 1–1.5 mm. long; lobes triangular-acuminate, 1–5 mm. long, the upper pair free to the base, a little shorter than the others.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard golden brown or white silky outside, 5–12 mm. long; keel glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament free or lightly attached, widened but neither callous nor bent above the base; filament-sheath 4–5 mm., free parts 1–2 mm., anthers 0.3–0.6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style glabrous, curved, penicillate, 1.6–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods horizontal or ascending, upcurved near the tip but the style-base deflexed, ± 5 cm. long by 3 mm. wide, brownish pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 9–12, longitudinal, olive green or mottled, oblong-ellipsoid, ± 2.5 × 1.5 × 0.7 mm.; hilum at one corner, with a large dull yellow wedge-shaped aril cupping the seed.

Habitat

Grassland, rocky slopes, cultivation and fallows, often in seasonal swamps; 0–2400 m.; rainfall 800–1500 mm.

Distribution

Senegal to Ethiopia, Angola and South Africa (Natal)Madagascar K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian anthropic landscapes., Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Lake Victoria regional mosaic; anthropic landscapes., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; grassland., Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; anthro

Morphology General Habit

Annual/Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

Vernacular

Felatsifotra, Mandombafero, Sitiky, Vetsinakoho