Tephrosia vogelii Hook.f.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 1200 - 2600 m.; Andes.

Morphology General Habit

Arbusto

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Shrub 1–3(4) m high, usually much branched and bushy. Shrub 1–3(4) m high, usually much branched and bushy.

Morphology Stem

Stems brown tomentose with long flexuous hairs intermixed among shorter and denser spreading hairs. Stems brown tomentose with long flexuous hairs intermixed among shorter and denser spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with (6)8–13(15) pairs of leaflets; petiole 9–28 mm long, petiole and rachis together (9)11–22(27) cm long, tomentose like the stem; leaflets 2.5–5.5(7.5) × (0.6)0.9–1.7(2.3) cm, elliptic-oblong to oblanceolate, rounded to cuneate at the base, rounded to emarginate at the apex, slightly mucronate, the upper surface rather thinly appressed-pubescent, the lower surface densely appressed-pubescent; stipules 11–20 × 2.5–4.5 mm, narrowly triangular or sometimes markedly falcate, soon falling. Leaves with (6)8–13(15) pairs of leaflets; petiole 9–28 mm long, petiole and rachis together (9)11–22(27) cm long, tomentose like the stem; leaflets 2.5–5.5(7.5) × (0.6)0.9–1.7(2.3) cm, elliptic-oblong to oblanceolate, rounded to cuneate at the base, rounded to emarginate at the apex, slightly mucronate, the upper surface rather thinly appressed-pubescent, the lower surface densely appressed-pubescent; stipules 11–20 × 2.5–4.5 mm, narrowly triangular or sometimes markedly falcate, soon falling.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in dense heads up to 10(20 in fruit) cm, or the lowermost sometimes somewhat remote; bracts up to 16 × 13 mm, broadly ovate-acuminate to suborbicular-acuminate, brown or greyish tomentose, conspicuous at bud stage but soon falling as flowers open; pedicels 14–26 mm long, brown tomentose. Flowers in dense heads up to 10(20 in fruit) cm, or the lowermost sometimes somewhat remote; bracts up to 16 × 13 mm, broadly ovate-acuminate to suborbicular-acuminate, brown or greyish tomentose, conspicuous at bud stage but soon falling as flowers open; pedicels 14–26 mm long, brown tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary tomentose; style pubescent.

Distribution

Probably introduced. Widespread in tropical Africa from Sierra Leone and Ethiopia southwards to Angola, the Flora Zambesiaca area and the Comoro Islands; also from Assam to Indonesia.

Ecology

The species has been extensively cultivated for use as a fish poison and is clearly introduced in many of its present localities so that the extent of its native area is now obscured. It is probably not native anywhere in the Flora area. Usually found in or near cultivated land.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 14–20(24) mm long, brown or greyish tomentose; upper and lateral teeth about twice as long as the tube, oblong, ± truncate at the apex, the lower tooth about 1.5 times as long as the lateral, strongly grooved and upwardly curved distally into a keel-like shape. Calyx 14–20(24) mm long, brown or greyish tomentose; upper and lateral teeth about twice as long as the tube, oblong, ± truncate at the apex, the lower tooth about 1.5 times as long as the lateral, strongly grooved and upwardly curved distally into a keel-like shape.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals white, rarely the standard purple; standard 24–30(34) mm long, truncate to strongly cordate at the base, the wings and keel petals somewhat shorter. Petals white, rarely the standard purple; standard 24–30(34) mm long, truncate to strongly cordate at the base, the wings and keel petals somewhat shorter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Upper stamen loosely attached to, and easily detachable from, the adjacent stamens about the middle of the filament. Upper stamen loosely attached to, and easily detachable from, the adjacent stamens about the middle of the filament.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary tomentose; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 9–14.5 × 1.3–1.7 cm, light brown lanate-tomentose. Pods 9–14.5 × 1.3–1.7 cm, light brown lanate-tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds numerous (more than 15), 6–8 × 4–4.5 × 2–2.5 mm, black, smooth, with a well developed white U-shaped aril c.2 mm long. Seeds numerous (more than 15), 6–8 × 4–4.5 × 2–2.5 mm, black, smooth, with a well developed white U-shaped aril c.2 mm long.

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

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Cultivated, Zambezian grassland, Zambezian anthropic landscapes., Sudanian grasslands, Sudanian anthropic landscapes

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub/Tree

Vernacular

Fish-Poison Bean

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

43.00% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Barclay & Earle, 1974)

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146197294/146197296

Conservation

LC - least concern

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 1200–2600 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Bogotá DC, Cundinamarca, Quindío, Santander.

Habit

Shrub.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: shrubland, artificial - terrestrial.

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

Morphology General Habit

An erect shrub 6–10 ft. high

Morphology General Indumentum

Clothed with dense yellowish or rusty tomentum

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers conspicuous, red or red-purple, in dense racemes

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Fuel

Used for fuels.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.

Use Social

Social uses.

Use

Frequently cultivated as a fish-poison.