Tephrosia subtriflora Hochst. ex Baker

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai anthropic landscapes, Zambezian woodland

Morphology General Habit

Annual/Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Prostrate or ascending annual or short-lived perennial varying greatly in its indumentum, which may be sparse and appressed or dense and spreading.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-rhachis up to 7 cm. long, including a petiole which may be up to 2.5 cm. in the lower leaves but is shorter in later leaves, prolonged 2–8 mm. beyond the lateral leaflets; stipules linear-subulate, up to 8 mm. long, not above 0.5 mm. wide at the base; leaflets 5–13 or, in seedlings, 1–3, narrowly oblong, oblanceolate or broadly linear, up to 4 cm. long and 7 mm. wide, glabrous above, appressed silky beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pale pinkish-purple, 2–6 together in the leaf-axils; pedicel 2–4 mm. long, shortly hispid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx more or less hispid; tube 1–1.5 mm. long; lobes triangular-acuminate with filiform tips, 2–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pubescent outside, 5–8 mm. long; keel glabrous, the claw more than half as long as the blade.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper filament lightly attached, widened but not callous one-third above the base; filament-sheath 3–5 mm., free parts 1–2 mm., anthers ± 0.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 1.5–2.5 mm. long, ribbon-shaped, glabrous, up to 0.3 mm. wide, with a few short hairs at the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod curved, up to 4.5 cm. long, about 4 mm. wide, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 5–10, mottled, often corrugated, rounded-oblong, longitudinal, ± 2.7 × 1.8 × 1.0 mm.; hilum almost central; aril minute.

Habitat

Acacia, Commiphora bushland and as a weed in cultivation; 400–1500 m.; rainfall 350–700 mm.

Distribution

K1 K4 K6 K7 T2 T3 T5 T7

M. Thulin. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1–4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Distribution

Scattered in some other dry parts of tropical Africa

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial-Leaf-rhachis up to 7 cm long, including a petiole of up to 2.5 cm

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets (1–)3–13, narrowly oblong, oblanceolate or linear, up to 65 x 7 mm, glabrous or pubescent above, pubescent beneath

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers pale pinkish-purple to purple or almost white, 2–6 together in the leaf-axils

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx pubescent, 3–6.5 mm long with triangular-acuminate lobes, 2–5 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pubescent, 5–8 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style glabrous, 1.5–2.5 mm long, up to 0.3 mm wide, not twisted, penicillate at the tip

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod curved, up to 4.5 x 0.4 cm, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 5–10, mottled, c. 2.7 x 1.8 x 1 mm.