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Indigofera colutea (Burm.f.) Merr.
Sticky Indigo

Reference
Philipp.J.Sci. 19:355 (1921)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Prostrate, spreading or erect annual or perennial (short-lived), herb, 0.05-0.5 m high. Fl. pink-red, Jan to Oct. Sand, sandy loam, alluvium. Riverine floodplains, roadsides, sandplains.

Grazyna Paczkowska, Descriptive Catalogue, 20 June 1996
Image

Scientific Description

Genus Indigofera. Form twining or climbing plants. Habit herb. Stems Indumentum hairy, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) not striate, Cross section terete, Spiny on any part of plant not spiny. Leaves or phylloclades Presence clearly present, Position alternate, Leaves compound, Leaves or phylloclade continuous with stem not continuous with stem, Cross section of leaf or leaflet flat with flat margins, Margins of leaf or leaflet entire, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 15-35. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width NaN (?). Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Leaflets Number more than three, Number of leaflets (if more than three) 7-15, Arrangement pinnately arranged. Terminal leaflet Presence present, Stalk stalked. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type gland-tipped. Stipules Presence present and persistent to older leaves, Glands without glands, Ribs ribless. Length Stipule length 3. Bracteoles Presence present but early deciduous, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present (?) or absent (flowers sessile) (?), Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?). Length Pedicel length NaN (?). Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 1.5-2.5. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning multicoloured, Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) pink or red, Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) pink or red, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present (?) or absent (?). Length Corolla length 3.5-5. Indumentum Presence absent (?) or present (?). Standard Indumentum hairy at least in part (?) or glabrous (?), Auricles auriculate (?) or not auriculate (?). Length Standard length NaN (?). Wings Auricles auriculate (?) or not auriculate (?). Length Wing length NaN (?). Keel Auricles auriculate (?) or not auriculate (?), Indumentum hairy at least in part (?) or glabrous (?), Beak beaked (?) or not beaked (?). Length Keel length NaN (?). Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length NaN (?), Position all at the same level (filaments all the same loength) (?) or at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short) (?). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath with one free stamen. Length Filament length NaN (?). Ovary Placement stipitate (?) or sessile or subsessile (?). Indumentum Presence hairy or glandular (?) or glabrous (?). Style Indumentum hairy or glandular towards the base (?) or glabrous (?), Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) bearded (with a tuft of hairs at apex) (?) or not bearded (?), Apex terete (?) or flattened at apex (?). Length Style length NaN (?). Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction not constricted between the seeds, Compression round in cross-section, Placement sessile or subsessile, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length 15-25. Width Fruit width 1.7-2. Indumentum Presence hairy, Indumentum type with glandular hairs. Flowering time January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September or October. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, Eremaean or South-West, IBRA Bioregion Pilbara, Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert, Central Ranges, Murchison, Northern Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain, Tanami, Dampierland or Swan Coastal Plain.

C. Hollister and K.R. Thiele, 17 April 2024

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Carnarvon, Central Kimberley, Central Ranges, Dampierland, Gascoyne, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain, Pilbara, Swan Coastal Plain, Tanami, Victoria Bonaparte.
IBRA Subregions
Ashburton, Augustus, Cape Range, Carnegie, Chichester, Fitzroy Trough, Fortescue, Hamersley, Hart, Keep, Lateritic Plain, Mackay, Mann-Musgrave Block, McLarty, Mitchell, Mount Eliza, Pentecost, Perth, Pindanland, Purnululu, Roebourne, Rudall, South Kimberley Interzone, Tanami Desert, Trainor, Western Murchison, Wooramel.
IMCRA Regions
Canning, Kimberley, Pilbara (nearshore).
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Ashburton, Broome, Carnarvon, Derby-West Kimberley, East Pilbara, Exmouth, Halls Creek, Karratha, Meekatharra, Murchison, Ngaanyatjarraku, Port Hedland, Swan, Upper Gascoyne, Wiluna, Wyndham-East Kimberley.