Tephrosia sp. Dunes (J.R. Maconochie 938)

Scientific Description

Erect, shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, not spiny, glabrous; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, continuous with stem, 75-190 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 3 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 5-6.5 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent. Calyx 5-6.5 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 8-8.6 mm long, multicoloured, mostly yellow or orange, with some yellow or orange spots, streaks or blotches; claws present; standard 7-8 mm long, hairy at least in part, not auriculate, wings 6.5-7 mm long, not auriculate, keel 6-7 mm long, not beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.7-1.2 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath with one free stamen, 6-7.5 mm long. Ovary sessile or subsessile, hairy or glandular; style 7-8.5 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, flattened at apex. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 30-35 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, sessile or subsessile, constricted between the seeds, flat or compressed, hairy, with simple hairs, not beaked. Flowers in May, July, August, September and November. Occurs in the Eremaean Botanical Province, in the Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara, Little Sandy Desert and Gibson Desert IBRA regions.