Tephrosia caerulea Baker f.

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology Stem

Stems conspicuously covered with long, spreading, often geniculate brown hairs 1–2.5 mm long or with greyish-white appressed hairs. Stems conspicuously covered with long, spreading, often geniculate brown hairs 1–2.5 mm long or with greyish-white appressed hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves with 5–9 pairs of leaflets; petiole (1.2)2.5–5 cm long, petiole and rachis together (7)12–18(23) cm long, with hairs similar to those on the stem; leaflets (3)4–7.4 × (0.3)0.5–1.2(1.4) cm, linear-oblong or linear-elliptic to linear, rounded to subcuneate at the base, truncate to emarginate at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface covered with appressed hairs; stipules (9)12–15(19) × (0.8)1–1.2(1.5) mm, linear or somewhat falcate, ± persistent. Leaves with 5–9 pairs of leaflets; petiole (1.2)2.5–5 cm long, petiole and rachis together (7)12–18(23) cm long, with hairs similar to those on the stem; leaflets (3)4–7.4 × (0.3)0.5–1.2(1.4) cm, linear-oblong or linear-elliptic to linear, rounded to subcuneate at the base, truncate to emarginate at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface covered with appressed hairs; stipules (9)12–15(19) × (0.8)1–1.2(1.5) mm, linear or somewhat falcate, ± persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in mostly terminal racemes (8)12–26(32) cm long; bracts 3–6 × 0.2–0.6 mm, ± linear; pedicels 3–4 (6 in fruit) mm long. Flowers in mostly terminal racemes (8)12–26(32) cm long; bracts 3–6 × 0.2–0.6 mm, ± linear; pedicels 3–4 (6 in fruit) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology General Habit

Perennial with a vertical woody basal stock and herbaceous, robust, rather sparingly branched, erect stems up to 1.4 m high, or an annual up to 1 m with a taproot. Perennial with a vertical woody basal stock and herbaceous, robust, rather sparingly branched, erect stems up to 1.4 m high, or an annual up to 1 m with a taproot.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 5–6(7) mm long, with long, brown, ascending to spreading villous hairs, the tube 2–2.5 mm long, equalling or exceeding the lateral teeth; upper teeth joined for ⅓–⅔ the length. Calyx 5–6(7) mm long, with long, brown, ascending to spreading villous hairs, the tube 2–2.5 mm long, equalling or exceeding the lateral teeth; upper teeth joined for ?–? the length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals pink to pale purplish or bluish, the keel very pale, the standard brown pubescent outside; standard 13–18 mm long, the other petals somewhat shorter. Petals pink to pale purplish or bluish, the keel very pale, the standard brown pubescent outside; standard 13–18 mm long, the other petals somewhat shorter.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube joined above. Stamen tube joined above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary appressed-pubescent; style pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods 55–70(90) × 4.5–5.5 mm, rather thinly covered with long appressed hairs overlying much shorter appressed hairs, ± straw-coloured. Pods 55–70(90) × 4.5–5.5 mm, rather thinly covered with long appressed hairs overlying much shorter appressed hairs, ± straw-coloured.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (13)14–17(19). Seeds (13)14–17(19).