Tephrosia multijuga R.G.N.Young

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perhaps sometimes short-lived perennial, with an erect branching stem up to 60 cm high or sometimes with several procumbent trailing branching stems arising from a common base. Annual or perhaps sometimes short-lived perennial, with an erect branching stem up to 60 cm high or sometimes with several procumbent trailing branching stems arising from a common base.

Morphology Stem

Stems rather sparsely ± appressed-pubescent to subglabrous. Stems rather sparsely ± appressed-pubescent to subglabrous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with 3–9(10) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.1–1.4(2–3) cm long, petiole and rachis together (2)3–6.5(8.5) cm long, pubescent like the stem; leaflets (1)1.5–2.5(3) × 0.15 × 0.4(0.55) cm, narrowly elliptic to linear-elliptic, ± cuneate at the base and acute or subacute at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules 3–5(10) × 0.2–0.5 mm, linear. Leaves pinnate with 3–9(10) pairs of leaflets; petiole 0.1–1.4(2–3) cm long, petiole and rachis together (2)3–6.5(8.5) cm long, pubescent like the stem; leaflets (1)1.5–2.5(3) × 0.15 × 0.4(0.55) cm, narrowly elliptic to linear-elliptic, ± cuneate at the base and acute or subacute at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules 3–5(10) × 0.2–0.5 mm, linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal (appearing leaf-opposed), rather slender, lax, ascending racemes up to 18 cm long; bracts 1.5–3 mm long, linear; pedicels 2–7 mm long. Flowers in terminal (appearing leaf-opposed), rather slender, lax, ascending racemes up to 18 cm long; bracts 1.5–3 mm long, linear; pedicels 2–7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (1.5)2(3) mm long, ± funnel-shaped, shortly appressed-pubescent; teeth about equalling the tube. Calyx (1.5)2(3) mm long, ± funnel-shaped, shortly appressed-pubescent; teeth about equalling the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 4–6 mm long, pink to purple or perhaps occasionally whitish. Petals 4–6 mm long, pink to purple or perhaps occasionally whitish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal tube joined above. Staminal tube joined above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style glabrous.

Distribution

Also in South Africa (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Eastern Cape Provinces).

Ecology

Recorded in the Flora area from a deep ravine in Androstachys forest, mixed woodland with Afzelia, Combretum molle and Albizia adianthifolia andsecondary associations in rocky places; up to 250 m.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (27)30–40 × 3–4 mm, usually darkish brown, very shortly appressed-pubescent. Pods (27)30–40 × 3–4 mm, usually darkish brown, very shortly appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (5)6–7, c.2.8 × 1.2 × 1.2, subcylindric-oblong, with a white aril c.0.6 mm long towards one end. Seeds (5)6–7, c.2.8 × 1.2 × 1.2, subcylindric-oblong, with a white aril c.0.6 mm long towards one end.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb