Tephrosia elata Deflers

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Note

Closely related to T. heckmanniana, differing as follows.

Morphology Leaves

Petiolules not above 2 mm. long. Stipules lanceolate, up to ± 12 mm. long and usually more than one-tenth as wide. Leaflets rather narrower, commonly 5 times as long as wide, more definitely cuneate at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels rarely over 7 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Filaments

Filament-sheath 9–12 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods more definitely ascending, usually 9–11-seeded, up to 55 mm. long, densely covered with tawny spreading hairs up to 0.8 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

Flora Zambesiaca Leguminosae subfamily Papillionoideae by R.K. Brummitt

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perhaps sometimes biennial, with a taproot usually branching horizontally. Annual or perhaps sometimes biennial, with a taproot usually branching horizontally.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers in terminal and axillary racemes (7)14–30(35) cm long; bracts (4)6–11 × 0.2–1(2) mm, linear to linear-triangular, or narrowly lanceolate, falling early; pedicels 3–8(10) mm long. Flowers in terminal and axillary racemes (7)14–30(35) cm long; bracts (4)6–11 × 0.2–1(2) mm, linear to linear-triangular, or narrowly lanceolate, falling early; pedicels 3–8(10) mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent on the upper surface.

Morphology Stem

Stems erect, sometimes slightly woody towards the base, ± branched above, 0.5–1.5(2) m high, minutely closely appressed-pubescent to (subsp. elata) spreading-pubescent. Stems erect, sometimes slightly woody towards the base, ± branched above, 0.5–1.5(2) m high, minutely closely appressed-pubescent to (subsp. elata) spreading-pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves pinnate with (5)6–10(14) pairs of leaflets; petiole (0.5)1.0–2.6(4.5) cm long, petiole and rachis together (5)8–15(24) cm long, minutely appressed-pubescent; leaflets (2.5)3–6(8.5) × (0.6)0.8–1.7(2.5) cm, oblanceolate or elliptic to linear-elliptic, cuneate to rounded at the base, rounded to emarginate at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface shortly and closely appressed-pubescent; stipules (6)9–16 × (0.5)0.8–1.4(2.5) mm, linear, often falcate. Leaves pinnate with (5)6–10(14) pairs of leaflets; petiole (0.5)1.0–2.6(4.5) cm long, petiole and rachis together (5)8–15(24) cm long, minutely appressed-pubescent; leaflets (2.5)3–6(8.5) × (0.6)0.8–1.7(2.5) cm, oblanceolate or elliptic to linear-elliptic, cuneate to rounded at the base, rounded to emarginate at the apex; upper surface glabrous, lower surface shortly and closely appressed-pubescent; stipules (6)9–16 × (0.5)0.8–1.4(2.5) mm, linear, often falcate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (3.5)4–6(8) mm long, densely and shortly appressed-pubescent, the lateral teeth shorter than to scarcely longer than the tube, the lower tooth equalling or slightly exceeding the tube, the two upper teeth joined, shorter than the lateral and joined for most of their length to form a broad triangle with only 0.2–1 mm free at the apex. Calyx (3.5)4–6(8) mm long, densely and shortly appressed-pubescent, the lateral teeth shorter than to scarcely longer than the tube, the lower tooth equalling or slightly exceeding the tube, the two upper teeth joined, shorter than the lateral and joined for most of their length to form a broad triangle with only 0.2–1 mm free at the apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals (10)12–15(18) mm long, purple or reddish; standard truncate to cordate at the base. Petals (10)12–15(18) mm long, purple or reddish; standard truncate to cordate at the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamen tube joined above. Stamen tube joined above.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary pubescent; style pubescent on the upper surface.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods (35)55–70(80) × 4–5.5 mm, pale straw-coloured or (subsp. >i>elata) with brownish hairs, glabrescent to densely spreading-pubescent. Pods (35)55–70(80) × 4–5.5 mm, pale straw-coloured or (subsp. elata) with brownish hairs, glabrescent to densely spreading-pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds (9)10–12(13). Seeds (9)10–12(13).