Tephrosia montana Brummitt

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Afromontane(upland) bushland and thicket., Afromontane grassland

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Indumentum

Young branches shortly brown tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 7–10. Seeds 7–10.

Distribution

Known only from the Nyanga/Mutare area of Zimbabwe and from Gorongosa 150 km further east.

Morphology General Habit

Shrub up to 3 m or more high. Shrub up to 3 m or more high.

Morphology Branches

Young branches shortly brown tomentose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with (8)10–17 pairs of leaflets; petiole and rachis shortly brown tomentose; leaflets up to 38(50) × 11 mm, elliptic to oblong, obtuse to rounded at the base, subacute to obtuse at the apex, usually fairly strongly mucronate, the margins incurved towards the upper surface, the upper surface glabrous, the lower surface rather thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules 6–12 × 1–2 mm, narrowly triangular to ± linear. Leaves with (8)10–17 pairs of leaflets; petiole and rachis shortly brown tomentose; leaflets up to 38(50) × 11 mm, elliptic to oblong, obtuse to rounded at the base, subacute to obtuse at the apex, usually fairly strongly mucronate, the margins incurved towards the upper surface, the upper surface glabrous, the lower surface rather thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules 6–12 × 1–2 mm, narrowly triangular to ± linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence compact in flower, exceeded by the upper leaves, elongating after flowering to 15 cm; bracts not conspicuous, falling early, 5–6 × 1–3 mm, ovate to lanceolate, acute, brown tomentose; pedicels 7–15 mm long, less shortly tomentose. Inflorescence compact in flower, exceeded by the upper leaves, elongating after flowering to 15 cm; bracts not conspicuous, falling early, 5–6 × 1–3 mm, ovate to lanceolate, acute, brown tomentose; pedicels 7–15 mm long, less shortly tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 7–10 mm long, densely shortly greyish or brownish pubescent, teeth about equalling the campanulate part, the two upper teeth joined for most of their length to form a broad triangle with only the terminal 1 mm free. Calyx 7–10 mm long, densely shortly greyish or brownish pubescent, teeth about equalling the campanulate part, the two upper teeth joined for most of their length to form a broad triangle with only the terminal 1 mm free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 20–24 mm long, purple; standard rounded to emarginate, truncate at the base; lower margin of keel curved through c.90°. Petals 20–24 mm long, purple; standard rounded to emarginate, truncate at the base; lower margin of keel curved through c.90°.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube c.16 mm long. Stamen tube c.16 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 70–80 × c.7 mm, densely brown tomentose when young, rather thinly tomentose when mature. Pods 70–80 × c.7 mm, densely brown tomentose when young, rather thinly tomentose when mature.