Tephrosia linearis (Willd.) Pers.

Global description

Tephrosia linearis is a sub-woody erect plant that bears alternate composite leaves, imparipinnate, with many linear leaflets. The base of the petiole is framed by 2 linear stipules. The branches and the underside of the leaflets are covered with fine silvery pubescence, made of stiff applied hairs. The flowers are few, solitary or grouped in pairs along a very loose axillary cluster. The fruit is a flat linear pod, containing a dozen of yellow quadrangular seed tinged with red.
 
Cotyledons
 
The cotyledons are kidney-shaped, elongated. They are 12 mm long and 2 mm wide. The lamina is held by a short petiole of 1 mm.
 
First leaves
 
The first leaves are simple and alternate, oblong to linear. The lamina is 15 to 30 mm long and 4 mm wide, it is held by a petiole of 1 mm. The apex is rounded and mucronate. At the base of the petiole, there are two filiform stipules, 0.5 mm long. The fifth leaf is trifoliate. The leaflets are similar to the first two leaves. This fifth leaf has stalk, 1 cm. The subsequent leaves are imparipinnate, comprising of 2 to 5 pairs of leaflets.

General habit
 
The plant is erect. It forms a small bush, woody at the base, abundantly branched. It is 30 to 90 cm high.
 
Underground system
 
The plant has a taproot system.
 
Stem
 
The stem is slender, cylindrical and solid. It is covered with fine longitudinal wrinkles. It is covered with short and applied hairs.
 
Leaf
 
The leaves are compound and alternate. They are imparipinnate, including 4 to 9 pairs of lateral leaflets and a terminal leaflet. The rachis is 3 to 5 cm long. The petiole is 3 to 10 mm long. It is framed at the base by two linear stipules, 6 mm long. Leaflets are linear to oblong, with a rounded mucronate top, an acute base and entire margin. They are of increasing length towards the top of the rachis and are 15 to 40 mm long and 2 to 4 mm wide. They are sub-sessile. The upper side is smooth, marked with secondary pinnate veins while the underside is covered with a silvery pubescence, consisting of stiff applied hairs.
 
Inflorescence
 
The flowers are arranged in very loose clusters at the axils of the leaves. They are very few (2 to 5) and widely separated from each other along the inflorescence, 10 to 15 cm long. They are sometimes inserted by two but the second flower flourishes only when the first has borne fruit.
 
 Flower
 
The flowers are held by a short pedicel, 1 to 2 mm. The calyx is 2.5 mm long, forming a cut with 5 long tines. It is covered with a short pubescence. The corolla is red orange, 6 to 7 mm long. The outer side of the petals is finely pubescent. The lateral petals (wings) and the lower petal (keel) are directed to the front, enclosing the column of the stamens. These are all fused into a tube by the filaments.
 
Fruit
 
The fruits are linear pods, spreading and dehiscent. They are flat and are 4 to 5 cm long and 3 to 4 mm wide. The top ends with a sharp beak. The walls are covered with short silvery applied hairs. The valves curl into corkscrew after opening. Each pod contains a dozen of seeds.
 
Seed
 
The seeds are quadrangular and measure3 mm long. They are yellowish and finely tinged with red.

Origine

Tephrosia linearis is native to tropical Africa.

Worldwide distribution

 
This species is common throughout tropical and austral Africa, and Madagascar

https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/5342046