Tephrosia brummittii Schrire

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb with a woody rootstock, up to 60 cm tall. Perennial herb with a woody rootstock, up to 60 cm tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems 1–many, prostrate to ascending, branching from near the base, glabrous or sparsely pubescent to ascending-pilose. Stems 1–many, prostrate to ascending, branching from near the base, glabrous or sparsely pubescent to ascending-pilose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with 3–5(6) pairs of leaflets; petiole (1.5)2.5–5.5(7) cm long, petiole and rachis together 2.5–10 cm long; leaflets (1.2)1.8–3.5 × 0.3–0.7(1.2) cm, narrowly oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, cuneate to rounded at the base, emarginate, obtuse or acute at the apex, the upper surface glabrous to puberulous, the lower surface moderately appressed to spreading greyish pubescent; stipules (6)7–17 × 3–11 mm, broadly ovate, base often cordate, apex acuminate, maturing conspicuously red or brown. Leaves pinnate with 3–5(6) pairs of leaflets; petiole (1.5)2.5–5.5(7) cm long, petiole and rachis together 2.5–10 cm long; leaflets (1.2)1.8–3.5 × 0.3–0.7(1.2) cm, narrowly oblong-elliptic to oblanceolate, cuneate to rounded at the base, emarginate, obtuse or acute at the apex, the upper surface glabrous to puberulous, the lower surface moderately appressed to spreading greyish pubescent; stipules (6)7–17 × 3–11 mm, broadly ovate, base often cordate, apex acuminate, maturing conspicuously red or brown.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary glabrous; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods only known immature, glabrous, with 10–16 seeds set transversely. Pods only known immature, glabrous, with 10–16 seeds set transversely.

Distribution

Also in South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal) and Swaziland.

Ecology

In South Africa known from streambanks and forest margins in the Lebombo Mts. and in grassland and dunes down to the coast; 10–450 m.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in short dense pseudoracemes 1–3 cm long above a peduncle 7–17 cm long; bracts 5–15 × 4–10 mm, broadly ovate-acuminate, concave and enfolding the young buds, chestnut-brown, glabrous; pedicels 3–6 mm long in flower, elongating to 10 mm in fruit. Flowers in short dense pseudoracemes 1–3 cm long above a peduncle 7–17 cm long; bracts 5–15 × 4–10 mm, broadly ovate-acuminate, concave and enfolding the young buds, chestnut-brown, glabrous; pedicels 3–6 mm long in flower, elongating to 10 mm in fruit.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 10 mm long, the campanulate part 4 mm long, sparsely to moderately pubescent, the teeth longer than the tube, lanceolate at the base, attenuate above and with long spreading hairs. Calyx 10 mm long, the campanulate part 4 mm long, sparsely to moderately pubescent, the teeth longer than the tube, lanceolate at the base, attenuate above and with long spreading hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 11–21 mm long, pink to mauve-purple; standard broadly obovate to suborbicular, narrowing to the claw at the base. Petals 11–21 mm long, pink to mauve-purple; standard broadly obovate to suborbicular, narrowing to the claw at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Staminal sheath open with the upper filament free. Staminal sheath open with the upper filament free.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary glabrous; style pubescent.

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: threatened. Confidence: low confidence