Tephrosia radicans Welw. ex Baker

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with a stout woody taproot; stems prostrate, often forming a mat; hairs spreading, up to 1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-rhachis up to 4.5 cm. long, including a petiole of 3–12 mm., usually not prolonged beyond lateral leaflets; stipules ovate-lanceolate, up to 5 by 3 mm.; leaflets 5–11, cuneate-elliptic or cuneate-obovate, up to 26 by 17 mm., rounded or truncate at the tip, apiculate, glabrous or very sparsely pilose above, pilose beneath; chief nerves ± 7 on each side.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pinkish-purple in short lax pseudoracemes and sometimes in upper leaf-axils; bracts persistent, ovate-acuminate or lanceolate, ± 3 mm. long; pedicels up to 8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx white pubescent; tube ± 3 mm. long; teeth acuminate, 4–5 mm. long, the upper pair half united.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard white pubescent, ± 9 by 9 mm.; keel glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament free, somewhat widened, but not callous or bent, just above the base; filament-sheath ± 8 mm., free parts 3–5 mm., anthers 0.8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style pubescent, bent through 80° near the base, ± 7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod white pubescent, perhaps indehiscent, 10–20 by 6 mm., the beak ± central, down-curved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1–5, oblong-elliptic, longitudinal, ± 5 by 3 by 1.5 mm.; hilum almost central, the aril minute.

Habitat

Grassland, especially on sand; 1200–1800 m.; rainfall 600–900 mm.

Distribution

T2 T4 T5 T7

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Sudanian grasslands

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

An annual herb with prostrate branches 1–3 ft. long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pink

Ecology

On rocks and bare soil.

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary whitish pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod (7)12–22 × 6–8 mm, oblong, shortly pubescent, or glabrescent at maturity. Pod (7)12–22 × 6–8 mm, oblong, shortly pubescent, or glabrescent at maturity.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (1)2–4(5), 3–4 mm long, reniform to suborbicular-lenticular, greyish- or reddish-brown. Seeds (1)2–4(5), 3–4 mm long, reniform to suborbicular-lenticular, greyish- or reddish-brown.

Distribution

Also in Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, Angola, Namibia and South Africa (Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces).

Ecology

Open ground and grassy places, particularly on sandy soil, often a weed of roadsides or disturbed ground; 450–1700 m.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, with numerous prostrate branches up to 160 cm long, the older parts often woody, arising from a woody vertical rootstock, the whole usually forming a dense mat. Perennial, with numerous prostrate branches up to 160 cm long, the older parts often woody, arising from a woody vertical rootstock, the whole usually forming a dense mat.

Morphology Stem

Stems usually conspicuously spreading-pubescent. Stems usually conspicuously spreading-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with (2)3–4(5) pairs of leaflets; rachis and petiole together up to 3.5(5) cm long, the petiole up to 1.3(1.7) cm long, rather conspicuously spreading-pubescent; leaflets up to 22(33) × 12(17) mm, often becoming smaller towards the leaf base, obovate to obtriangular, rounded to truncate or emarginate at the apex, cuneate at the base, the upper surface glabrous, the lower surface appressed-pubescent; stipules 3–5(6) × 2–3 mm, ovate-acuminate to lanceolate. Leaves pinnate with (2)3–4(5) pairs of leaflets; rachis and petiole together up to 3.5(5) cm long, the petiole up to 1.3(1.7) cm long, rather conspicuously spreading-pubescent; leaflets up to 22(33) × 12(17) mm, often becoming smaller towards the leaf base, obovate to obtriangular, rounded to truncate or emarginate at the apex, cuneate at the base, the upper surface glabrous, the lower surface appressed-pubescent; stipules 3–5(6) × 2–3 mm, ovate-acuminate to lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal racemes up to 5(7) cm long, subsessile or with a peduncle up to 4 cm, rarely the lowermost flower in the axil of a foliage leaf; bracts ovate-lanceolate; pedicels (3)4–7(8) mm long. Flowers in terminal racemes up to 5(7) cm long, subsessile or with a peduncle up to 4 cm, rarely the lowermost flower in the axil of a foliage leaf; bracts ovate-lanceolate; pedicels (3)4–7(8) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–6 mm long, appressed or spreading-pubescent, teeth about equalling the tube or the lower one somewhat longer, the two upper ones joined for about ½–¾ their length. Calyx 4–6 mm long, appressed or spreading-pubescent, teeth about equalling the tube or the lower one somewhat longer, the two upper ones joined for about ½–¾ their length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals (7)10–14 mm long, mauve or pink; standard broadly rounded, cuneate or truncate at the base. Petals (7)10–14 mm long, mauve or pink; standard broadly rounded, cuneate or truncate at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube open above, the upper stamen free. Stamen tube open above, the upper stamen free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary whitish pubescent; style pubescent.