Tephrosia conspicua W.Fitzg.

Scientific Description

Erect, tree or shrub, spindly shrub (broom-like). Stems terete, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, continuous with stem, 175-200 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, leaflets 5-7, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves, 10-13 mm long, without glands, ribless. Pedicel present, 5 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent. Calyx 8-10 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla multicoloured, mostly red or orange, with some red or orange spots, streaks or blotches. Stamens ten. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 55-100 mm long, 4-5 mm wide, stipitate, constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, hairy, with simple hairs, not beaked. Flowers in March and October. Occurs in the Northern Botanical Province, in the Victoria Bonaparte and Central Kimberley IBRA regions.