Tephrosia paradoxa Brummitt

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19892478/20152134

Conservation

LC - least concern

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (14)16–19. Seeds (14)16–19.

Distribution

Also in Tanzania, Congo and Rwanda.

Ecology

In miombo woodland, grassland and on roadsides; 570–1740 m.

Morphology General Habit

Annual or short-lived perennial with erect, fairly stout, herbaceous, branched stems 60–140 cm high. Annual or short-lived perennial with erect, fairly stout, herbaceous, branched stems 60–140 cm high.

Morphology Stem

Stems glabrous to sparsely appressed-pubescent in the lower and middle parts, becoming increasingly more pubescent in the upper parts towards the peduncles and racemes. Stems glabrous to sparsely appressed-pubescent in the lower and middle parts, becoming increasingly more pubescent in the upper parts towards the peduncles and racemes.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with (1)2–6 pairs of leaflets; petiole 5–13 cm long, petiole and rachis together 8–26 cm long, subglabrous to rather thinly appressed-pubescent; leaflets 9–14(18) × 0.2–0.6(0.9) cm, linear, (sometimes, in Mozambique, the lowermost leaves with leaflets up to 1.6 cm broad and linear-oblong), leaflet apex acute to obtuse; upper surface glabrous, lower surface thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules (8)13–18(24) × 1–2 mm, linear, sometimes falcate. Leaves with (1)2–6 pairs of leaflets; petiole 5–13 cm long, petiole and rachis together 8–26 cm long, subglabrous to rather thinly appressed-pubescent; leaflets 9–14(18) × 0.2–0.6(0.9) cm, linear, (sometimes, in Mozambique, the lowermost leaves with leaflets up to 1.6 cm broad and linear-oblong), leaflet apex acute to obtuse; upper surface glabrous, lower surface thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules (8)13–18(24) × 1–2 mm, linear, sometimes falcate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in lax terminal and axillary racemes up to 30 cm long, the axillary ones always subtended by a foliage leaf (not a bract) and forming a narrow angle of about 30°, their axis rather stout (1–2 mm diameter) and stiffly erect, densely pubescent to tomentose; bracts 5–8(11) × 0.7–1.5(2) mm, linear-triangular, fairly conspicuous, slow to fall; pedicels (4)5–8 mm long. Flowers in lax terminal and axillary racemes up to 30 cm long, the axillary ones always subtended by a foliage leaf (not a bract) and forming a narrow angle of about 30°, their axis rather stout (1–2 mm diameter) and stiffly erect, densely pubescent to tomentose; bracts 5–8(11) × 0.7–1.5(2) mm, linear-triangular, fairly conspicuous, slow to fall; pedicels (4)5–8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (4)5–8(10) mm long, densely pubescent to villous with usually long whitish hairs interspersed among shorter brown hairs; two upper teeth free for ½–¾ their length, the lateral teeth approximately equalling the tube. Calyx (4)5–8(10) mm long, densely pubescent to villous with usually long whitish hairs interspersed among shorter brown hairs; two upper teeth free for ½–¾ their length, the lateral teeth approximately equalling the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals purple or reddish or brownish-purple, or the keel usually much paler; standard (14)15–19 mm long. Petals purple or reddish or brownish-purple, or the keel usually much paler; standard (14)15–19 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube joined above. Stamen tube joined above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 52–75 × 4.5–5 mm, shortly pubescent with usually irregular geniculate hairs. Pods 52–75 × 4.5–5 mm, shortly pubescent with usually irregular geniculate hairs.