Indigofera linnaei Ali
Birdsville Indigo

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 10-35. 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) 5-9, Arrangement pinnately arranged. Terminal leaflet Presence present, Stalk stalked. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple. Stipules Presence present and persistent to older leaves, Glands without glands, Ribs ribless. Length Stipule length 4-4.5. Bracteoles Presence present but early deciduous, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 1.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 3-4.5. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning multicoloured, Colour (when uniformly coloured) red, Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) yellow or red, Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) yellow or red, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals absent. Length Corolla length 3-4. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 6-6.5. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 5-6. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 6.5-7.5. 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. Style Indumentum hairy or glandular towards the base, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) bearded (with a tuft of hairs at apex), Apex terete. Length Style length 3-4. 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 7.2. Width Fruit width 2.6. Indumentum Presence hairy, Indumentum type with simple hairs. Flowering time January, February, March, April or May. Distribution Botanical Province Northern or Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara, Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert, Central Ranges, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain or Dampierland.