Tephrosia punctata J.B.Gillett

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or short-lived perennial 50–140 cm. tall; stems closely appressed strigulose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-rhachis, including a petiole of 5–13 mm., up to 10 cm. long, not prolonged beyond the lateral leaflets; petiolules densely pubescent, the terminal up to 2.5 mm. long; stipules subulate, up to 8 mm. long; leaflets 5–17, elliptic-oblong or cuneate-oblong, up to 6 cm. long and 14 mm. wide, glabrous above, sparsely whitish strigulose beneath, the midrib yellowish; lateral nerves closely spaced, parallel, with pellucid dots between them.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in long lax, sometimes branched, appressed pubescent pseudoracemes, sometimes a few in upper leaf-axils also; bracts subulate, persistent, 2–4 mm. long; pedicels brown, up to 4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx golden-brown, gland-dotted, appressed strigulose; tube ± 2 mm. long; upper teeth connate almost to the tip, lateral triangular, 1.3 mm. long, lowest subulate, 2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard golden silky outside, usually mauve within, kidney-shaped, 8–9 mm. long, ± 11 mm. wide; wings mauve; keel often white, glabrous; all petals gland-dotted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament lightly attached, callous near the base; filament-sheath 5–7 mm., free parts 2–4 mm., anthers ± 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style linear, pubescent on both sides, curved through 90° near the base, then straight, ± 5 mm. long and 0.3–0.4 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Young pod ascending, greenish-white with appressed hairs, slightly upcurved, the beak more or less straight, ± 5 cm. long and 3.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 8–9, longitudinal, dark olive-green, 4 mm. × 2 mm. × 1.6 mm.; aril 2 mm. by 0.5 mm., extending from the middle to one end of the seed and having a thin transparent wing which covers about one-third of the seed on each side.

Habitat

In coarse grass and among rocks in deciduous woodland; 1500–1700 m.; rainfall 700–800 mm.

Distribution

T4 T7

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Zambezian woodland

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with 4–6 pairs of leaflets, or the upper ones reduced to 1–3 pairs; petiole (0.3)0.8–2.2(3) cm long, the petiole and rachis together 3–7(9) cm long, appressed-pubescent; leaflets (1.3)1.7–3.6 × (0.2)0.5–1(1.3) cm, elliptic to oblong, rounded to slightly emarginate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base, the upper surface glabrous, the lower surface shortly appressed-pubescent, both surfaces with minute blackish gland dots between the veins; stipules 6–10 × 0.5–1 mm, linear-subulate. Leaves pinnate with 4–6 pairs of leaflets, or the upper ones reduced to 1–3 pairs; petiole (0.3)0.8–2.2(3) cm long, the petiole and rachis together 3–7(9) cm long, appressed-pubescent; leaflets (1.3)1.7–3.6 × (0.2)0.5–1(1.3) cm, elliptic to oblong, rounded to slightly emarginate at the apex, cuneate to rounded at the base, the upper surface glabrous, the lower surface shortly appressed-pubescent, both surfaces with minute blackish gland dots between the veins; stipules 6–10 × 0.5–1 mm, linear-subulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal and axillary elongate racemes (6)12–32 cm long; bracts (1)2–4(5) mm long, linear-subulate, falling early; pedicels 2–4(5) mm long, shortly appressed-pubescent. Flowers in terminal and axillary elongate racemes (6)12–32 cm long; bracts (1)2–4(5) mm long, linear-subulate, falling early; pedicels 2–4(5) mm long, shortly appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2–3 mm long (to tip of lower tooth), the campanulate part 1–1.5 mm, shortly and closely appressed-pubescent and with golden pellucid gland dots, the lateral teeth about equalling the campanulate part, the two upper teeth very short and distinguishable only as a pair of more or less subulate projections c.0.3 mm long. Calyx 2–3 mm long (to tip of lower tooth), the campanulate part 1–1.5 mm, shortly and closely appressed-pubescent and with golden pellucid gland dots, the lateral teeth about equalling the campanulate part, the two upper teeth very short and distinguishable only as a pair of more or less subulate projections c.0.3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 8–11 mm long, purplish or pinkish or the keel whitish, the standard brown pubescent outside; all with golden pellucid gland dots; standard ± reniform to suborbicular, ± cordate at the base, rather strongly upwardly curved. Petals 8–11 mm long, purplish or pinkish or the keel whitish, the standard brown pubescent outside; all with golden pellucid gland dots; standard ± reniform to suborbicular, ± cordate at the base, rather strongly upwardly curved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube fused above. Stamen tube fused above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent; style usually pubescent on both surfaces.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 40–65 × 3–4.5(5) mm, with whitish hairs on the surfaces and darker hairs on the sutures when very immature, at maturity covered with light, closely appressed hairs. Pods 40–65 × 3–4.5(5) mm, with whitish hairs on the surfaces and darker hairs on the sutures when very immature, at maturity covered with light, closely appressed hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 8–10, mature ones known only in subsp. redheadii, almost oblong, slightly narrower at the radicular end, rounded at both ends, with a conspicuous elongate aril covering the hilum and extended about half the length of the seed. Seeds 8–10, mature ones known only in subsp. redheadii, almost oblong, slightly narrower at the radicular end, rounded at both ends, with a conspicuous elongate aril covering the hilum and extended about half the length of the seed.

Morphology General Habit

Annual, or perhaps sometimes biennial herb, with erect or perhaps sometimes decumbent-ascending stems 0.5–1.5 m high, sparingly to profusely branched; branches (inflorescences) exceeding the subtending leaves. Annual, or perhaps sometimes biennial herb, with erect or perhaps sometimes decumbent-ascending stems 0.5–1.5 m high, sparingly to profusely branched; branches (inflorescences) exceeding the subtending leaves.

Morphology Stem

Stems shortly appressed-pubescent. Stems shortly appressed-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary pubescent; style usually pubescent on both surfaces.