Tephrosia sp. deserts (J.R. Maconochie 1403)

Scientific Description

Genus Tephrosia. Form prostrate,spreading or scrambling. 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 continuous with stem, Cross section of leaf or leaflet flat with recurved margins, Margins of leaf or leaflet entire, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 35-95. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width NaN (?). Leaflets Number more than three, Number of leaflets (if more than three) 5-7, Arrangement pinnately arranged or palmately 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 2-3.6. Bracteoles Presence present and persistent, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 5.5-8. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 6.3-8. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning uniformly coloured (?) or multicoloured (?), Colour (when uniformly coloured) yellow (?), pink (?), purple (?), white (?), mauve (?), blue (?), green (?), red (?) or orange (?), Colour (when multicoloured - choose one colour) yellow (?), pink (?), red (?), orange (?), green (?), brown (?), black (?), purple (?), white (?), blue (?) or cream (?), Colour (when multicoloured - choose a second colour) yellow (?), pink (?), red (?), orange (?), green (?), brown (?), black (?), purple (?), white (?), blue (?) or cream (?), Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present. Length Corolla length 8-10.2. Indumentum Presence present. Standard Indumentum hairy at least in part, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 6-7.5. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 5.2-7. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak not beaked. Length Keel length 5-7. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 0.4, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath with one free stamen. Length Filament length 4-6. Ovary Placement sessile or subsessile. Indumentum Presence hairy or glandular. Style Indumentum hairy or glandular towards the base, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) not bearded, Apex flattened at apex. Length Style length 5.5-7.2. 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 25-32. Width Fruit width 3-4. Indumentum Presence hairy, Indumentum type with simple hairs. Flowering time May or September. Distribution Botanical Province Eremaean, IBRA Bioregion Great Sandy Desert, Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert or Central Ranges.