Tephrosia micrantha J.B.Gillett

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent; style glabrous.

Distribution

Also in Burundi and S Tanzania.

Ecology

In open woodland (Brachystegia), bush or grassy places, sometimes a weed in disturbed ground, roadsides, etc.; 500–1500 m.

Morphology General Habit

Annual to biennial with a fairly stout taproot and usually tufted habit with several ascending, much branched stems arising from the base and 10–25 cm high, or sometimes mat-forming with more elongate ± procumbent branches up to 30 cm long. Annual to biennial with a fairly stout taproot and usually tufted habit with several ascending, much branched stems arising from the base and 10–25 cm high, or sometimes mat-forming with more elongate ± procumbent branches up to 30 cm long.

Morphology Stem

Stems pubescent with appressed to ascending or occasionally spreading hairs. Stems pubescent with appressed to ascending or occasionally spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with (2)3–6(9) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.1–1.8(3) cm long, varying from much shorter to much longer than the lower pair of leaflets, petiole and rachis together (1)2–6(8) cm long, pubescent like the stem; leaflets (5)8–20(25) × (1)2–5(6) mm, oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic to linear-elliptic, subcuneate at the base, subacute to rounded at the apex; upper surface glabrous or appressed-pubescent; lower surface appressed-pubescent, sometimes densely so and conspicuously greyish, rarely ± silky; stipules 3–7(8) × 0.1–0.5 mm, subulate, usually persistent and often conspicuous near the base of the stems above the hypocotyl. Leaves pinnate with (2)3–6(9) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.1–1.8(3) cm long, varying from much shorter to much longer than the lower pair of leaflets, petiole and rachis together (1)2–6(8) cm long, pubescent like the stem; leaflets (5)8–20(25) × (1)2–5(6) mm, oblanceolate or narrowly elliptic to linear-elliptic, subcuneate at the base, subacute to rounded at the apex; upper surface glabrous or appressed-pubescent; lower surface appressed-pubescent, sometimes densely so and conspicuously greyish, rarely ± silky; stipules 3–7(8) × 0.1–0.5 mm, subulate, usually persistent and often conspicuous near the base of the stems above the hypocotyl.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal and leaf-opposed or axillary racemes 1–6(11) cm long; bracts 2–5 × 0.2–0.5 mm, ± subulate; pedicels 2–3(4) mm long. Flowers in terminal and leaf-opposed or axillary racemes 1–6(11) cm long; bracts 2–5 × 0.2–0.5 mm, ± subulate; pedicels 2–3(4) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (1.5)2–3 mm long, shortly appressed-pubescent; teeth about equalling the tube, the two upper ones joined for up to half their length. Calyx (1.5)2–3 mm long, shortly appressed-pubescent; teeth about equalling the tube, the two upper ones joined for up to half their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–5(6) mm long, pink to purplish. Petals 4–5(6) mm long, pink to purplish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal tube connate above. Staminal tube connate above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary pubescent; style glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 20–37 × 3.5–4.5 mm, brown to straw-coloured, very shortly pubescent with often geniculate hairs. Pods 20–37 × 3.5–4.5 mm, brown to straw-coloured, very shortly pubescent with often geniculate hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (4)5–6(7), c.3 × 2 × 1.5 mm, subreniform-oblong. Seeds (4)5–6(7), c.3 × 2 × 1.5 mm, subreniform-oblong.