Tephrosia densa (Benth.) R.Butcher

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, continuous with stem, 90-155 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, leaflets 9-11, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 6-10 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 3-4.5 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent. Calyx 5.5-6.5 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 6.5-12 mm long, uniformly coloured, orange; claws present; standard 5.5-11.5 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 5-10 mm long, not auriculate, keel 5.5-8 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.4-0.6 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath with one free stamen, 5-7 mm long. Ovary sessile or subsessile, hairy or glandular; style 7-9 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 40-56 mm long, 4-6 mm wide, sessile or subsessile, constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, hairy, with simple hairs, not beaked. Occurs in the Northern and Eremaean Botanical Province, in the Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara, Carnarvon, Gascoyne, Little Sandy Desert, Murchison and Dampierland IBRA regions.