Tephrosia whyteana Baker f.

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: low confidence

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Shrub up to 4 m high. Shrub up to 4 m high.

Morphology General Indumentum

Young stem with short light coloured spreading or appressed hairs interspersed with conspicuous long spreading or upwardly curved (rarely appressed) brown hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with (6)8–10(11) pairs of leaflets; pubescence of petiole and rachis as for young stem; leaflets up to 55(62) × 18 mm, narrowly elliptic to oblong, ± obtuse to rounded at base and apex, mucronate at apex, margins flat or slightly inrolled towards lower surface, the upper surface rather sparsely appressed-pubescent (rarely glabrous), the lower surface regularly but somewhat thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules 3–5 mm broad, triangular to ovate, soon falling. Leaves with (6)8–10(11) pairs of leaflets; pubescence of petiole and rachis as for young stem; leaflets up to 55(62) × 18 mm, narrowly elliptic to oblong, ± obtuse to rounded at base and apex, mucronate at apex, margins flat or slightly inrolled towards lower surface, the upper surface rather sparsely appressed-pubescent (rarely glabrous), the lower surface regularly but somewhat thinly appressed-pubescent; stipules 3–5 mm broad, triangular to ovate, soon falling.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence lax to fairly dense, the bracts falling before the opening of the subtended flower; bracts ovate-acuminate to linear-lanceolate; pedicels (7)10–20 mm long, indumentum as for young stem (longer hairs rarely absent). Inflorescence lax to fairly dense, the bracts falling before the opening of the subtended flower; bracts ovate-acuminate to linear-lanceolate; pedicels (7)10–20 mm long, indumentum as for young stem (longer hairs rarely absent).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 6–13 mm long, appressed or ascending-pubescent, with or without conspicuously longer spreading hairs; teeth very variable, from 2 mm long and shorter than the tube to 7 mm and exceeding the tube, the upper two variously joined. Calyx 6–13 mm long, appressed or ascending-pubescent, with or without conspicuously longer spreading hairs; teeth very variable, from 2 mm long and shorter than the tube to 7 mm and exceeding the tube, the upper two variously joined.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 16–24 mm long, purple; standard broadly cuneate at the base. Petals 16–24 mm long, purple; standard broadly cuneate at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary ± appressed-tomentose or villous; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 4–6 × c.0.6 cm, variously brown or greyish villous (see subspecies). Pods 4–6 × c.0.6 cm, variously brown or greyish villous (see subspecies).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c.8, blackish, 6 × 3.2 mm, oblong with rounded ends, with a low rim aril in the middle of a long side. Seeds c.8, blackish, 6 × 3.2 mm, oblong with rounded ends, with a low rim aril in the middle of a long side.

Distribution

Known only from Mt. Mulanje in Malawi and the Namuli Mtns some 130 km away in Mozambique.

Morphology Stem

Young stem with short light coloured spreading or appressed hairs interspersed with conspicuous long spreading or upwardly curved (rarely appressed) brown hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary ± appressed-tomentose or villous; style pubescent.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/108619334/108620242

Conservation

EN - endangered