Tephrosia rupicola J.B.Gillett

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Insufficiently known

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Shrub

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Shrub up to 1 m high. Shrub up to 1 m high.

Morphology General Indumentum

Young stem densely pubescent to villous with grey or brown, spreading or deflexed hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary densely villous along the sutures but the sides glabrous; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 27–35 × 8–9 mm, the margins pubescent but the sides glabrous. Pod 27–35 × 8–9 mm, the margins pubescent but the sides glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 7–9, transversely elongate, nearly oblong in outline, rounded at the ends, slightly broader at the lower end, with a small hilum near the upper narrower end with a small white rim aril. Seeds 7–9, transversely elongate, nearly oblong in outline, rounded at the ends, slightly broader at the lower end, with a small hilum near the upper narrower end with a small white rim aril.

Distribution

Known only from Zimbabwe.

Ecology

On granite rocks in upland areas.

Morphology Stem

Young stem densely pubescent to villous with grey or brown, spreading or deflexed hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with (3)5–8 pairs of leaflets; petiole c.5 mm long, petiole and rachis brownish-pubescent or villous, hairs spreading or some appressed and others spreading; leaflets to 30(34) × 11(13) mm, oblanceolate to oblong-cuneate, obtuse to truncate at apex, shortly mucronate, margins flat, the upper surface appressed-pubescent or glabrous, the lower surface appressed-pubescent; stipules 2–4 mm broad, ovate-acuminate. Leaves with (3)5–8 pairs of leaflets; petiole c.5 mm long, petiole and rachis brownish-pubescent or villous, hairs spreading or some appressed and others spreading; leaflets to 30(34) × 11(13) mm, oblanceolate to oblong-cuneate, obtuse to truncate at apex, shortly mucronate, margins flat, the upper surface appressed-pubescent or glabrous, the lower surface appressed-pubescent; stipules 2–4 mm broad, ovate-acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence rather lax, up to 15(20) cm long, sometimes the lower flowers subtended by foliage leaves; bracts up to 11 × 4 mm, narrowly triangular to ovate-acuminate; pedicels 4–7(10 in fruit) mm long, brown or grey, pubescent or villous. Inflorescence rather lax, up to 15(20) cm long, sometimes the lower flowers subtended by foliage leaves; bracts up to 11 × 4 mm, narrowly triangular to ovate-acuminate; pedicels 4–7(10 in fruit) mm long, brown or grey, pubescent or villous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 7–11 mm long, of which the campanulate part is only 2–3 mm long, the two upper teeth joined in the lower ⅓, the whole grey or brown villous. Calyx 7–11 mm long, of which the campanulate part is only 2–3 mm long, the two upper teeth joined in the lower ?, the whole grey or brown villous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 12–22 mm long, purple; standard suborbicular-cuneate. Petals 12–22 mm long, purple; standard suborbicular-cuneate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary densely villous along the sutures but the sides glabrous; style pubescent.