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The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system and census were set to read-only mode on 1 October 2025. Taxonomic updates published since this time are not being reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or Western Australia’s taxonomic names census (Nomos). Conservation listings displayed on Florabase may also be out of date. Please refer to DBCA’s Threatened species and communities webpage for the most recent Threatened and Priority Flora List, noting that recent taxonomic updates are similarly not included. Our database migration is moving to a staging phase. We thank you for your patience as we ensure the integrity of our biodiversity data, develop new workflows, and train staff to use the new systems. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.

The notice period started at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Friday, 1 January 2027 +08:00.

Tephrosia sphaerospora F.Muell.

Reference
S.Sci.Rec. 3:128 (1883)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Prostrate or erect herb or shrub, 0.2-1 m high. Fl. orange, Jul. Red sand. Dunes.

Amanda Spooner, Descriptive Catalogue, 20 September 1999

Scientific Description

Genus Tephrosia. Form erect or prostrate,spreading or scrambling. Habit shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). 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 tuberculate (?) or tubercles absent (?), Pustules or glands present (?) or absent (?). Length Leaf length 60-100. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width NaN (?). Leaflets Number three or more than three, Number of leaflets (if more than three) 3-5, Arrangement pinnately arranged. Terminal leaflet Presence present, Stalk stalked. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple (?) or gland-tipped (?). Stipules Presence apparently absent even from the youngest leaves (?), present and persistent to older leaves (?) or present but early deciduous ( only visible on youngest leaves ) (?), Glands with glands (?) or without glands (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?). Length Stipule length NaN (?). Bracteoles Presence present and persistent (?), absent (?) or 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 present (?) or absent (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?), Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 3-4. Indumentum Presence hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Type with simple hairs (?) or with glandular hairs (?). Corolla Colour patterning uniformly coloured, Colour (when uniformly coloured) pink or orange, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present (?) or absent (?). Length Corolla length 5-7. Indumentum Presence absent. 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 (?). 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 constricted between the seeds, Compression flat or compressed, Placement sessile or subsessile, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length 20-40. Width Fruit width 4(-5). Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time February. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Great Sandy Desert, Gibson Desert or Central Ranges.

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

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Carnarvon, Central Ranges, Gibson Desert, Great Sandy Desert.
IBRA Subregions
Lateritic Plain, Mackay, Mann-Musgrave Block, Wooramel.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
East Pilbara, Ngaanyatjarraku, Upper Gascoyne.