Family:
Fabaceae Lindl.
Genus:
Indigofera L.

Indigofera arrecta Hochst. ex A.Rich.

This species is accepted, and its native range is Tropical & S. Africa, Arabian Peninsula.

[FTEA]

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit
Stout rather woody herb 1–2 or rarely up to 3 m. tall; stems somewhat ridged, rather densely strigulose, the hairs white or brown.
Morphology Leaves
Stipules subulate-setaceous, 2–9 mm. long; rhachis strigulose, up to 6 cm. long, including a petiole of up to 15 mm., prolonged 1–3 mm. beyond lateral leaflets; stipellae subulate, under 1 mm. long; petiolules ± 1 mm. long; leaflets 7–17, narrowly elliptic-oblong, up to 2 cm. long and ± 7 mm. wide, strigulose beneath, usually glabrous above.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes many-flowered, sessile, up to 5 cm. long but usually much shorter; bracts lanceolate, ± 1 mm. long, caducous; pedicels ± 1 mm. long, strongly reflexed in fruit.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx brown strigulose, ± 1.5 mm. long; lobes triangular, as long as the tube.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla brown strigulose outside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3–4 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod brown, straight, slightly tetragonal, somewhat torulose, but not in the plane of the sutures, 12–17 mm. long, ± 2.2 mm. wide, up to 2.8 mm. thick; endocarp ± spotted.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 4–6, shortly oblong, rhombic in cross-section.
Figures
Fig. 43/4, p. 293.
Habitat
Deciduous and upland evergreen bushland, areas of cultivation and secondary growth, forest margins; 300–2700 m.; rainfall 400–1800 mm.
Distribution
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 throughout tropical Africa

[ILDIS]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zambezian bushland and thicket, Zambezian anthropic landscapes., Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai anthropic landscapes, Sudanian bushland and thicket, Sudanian anthropic landscapes
Morphology General Habit
Annual/Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub
Vernacular
Aika, Aikialahy, Bengal Indigo, Engitra, Haika, Java Indigo, Natal Indigo, Nil

[FWTA]

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit
Erect, branched, softly woody plant, up to 8 ft. high
Note
Much cultivated.

[FSOM]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Shrub or woody herb 0.4–2(–3) m tall; stems white and brown strigulose
Morphology Leaves
Leaf-rhachis up to 6 cm long including a petiole of up to 1.5 cm
Morphology Leaves Leaflets
Leaflets 7–17, opposite, elliptic-oblong, up to 22 x 10 mm, strigulose beneath, usually glabrous above
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes many-flowered, subsessile, up to 5 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx c. 1.5 mm long with triangular lobes about as long as the tube
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard brown strigulose outside
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 3–4(–6.5) mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod 12–20 x 2.5 mm, straight, deflexed, somewhat torulose, strigulose, 4–6-seeded.
Distribution
N1; S1–3 throughout tropical Africa, Transvaal, Natal; S Arabia, Madagascar
Ecology
Altitude range 200–1350 m.
Vernacular
Dharjo (Somali).

[ILDIS]
Use
Chemical products, Domestic, Environmental, Medicine, Miscellaneous

Native to:

Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Zaïre, Zimbabwe

Introduced into:

Andaman Is., Bangladesh, Central African Repu, East Himalaya, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Philippines, Queensland, Sri Lanka, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam

Indigofera arrecta Hochst. ex A.Rich. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status Has image?
Oct 1, 2008 Cheek, M. [13512], Cameroon K000580030 No
Mar 1, 2002 Etuge, M. [4738], Cameroon K000746618 No
Dec 1, 2000 Pollard, B.J. [365], Cameroon K000337810 No
Dec 1, 2000 Cheek, M. [9910], Cameroon K000337804 No
Aug 1, 1998 Onana, J.-M. [533 A], Cameroon K000337824 No
Apr 1, 1997 Munyenyembe, P. [741], Cameroon K000337825 No
Schrire, B.D. [2397], South Africa 59330.000 No
Schimper [1923b], Ethiopia K000392803 Yes
Schimper [1923b], Ethiopia K000392804 Yes
Schimper [349], Ethiopia K000392805 Yes

First published in Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 184 (1847)

Accepted by

  • Adema, F. (2011). Notes on Malesian Fabaceae (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) 15. Notes on Indigofera Blumea 56: 270-272.
  • Akoègninou, A., van der Burg, W.J. & van der Maesen, L.J.G. (eds.) (2006). Flore Analytique du Bénin: 1-1034. Backhuys Publishers.
  • Balslav, H. & Chantaranothai, P. (2018). Flora of Thailand 4(3.1): 221-371. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.
  • Berhaut, J. (1976). Flore illustrée du Sénégal 5: 1-658. Gouvernement du Sénégal, Ministère du développement rural direction des eaux et forêta, Dakar.
  • Boudet, G., Lebrun, J.P. & Demange, R. (1986). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Mali: 1-465. Etudes d'Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux.
  • Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(1): 1-85. ORSTROM, Bangui.
  • Choudhary, R.K., Srivastava, R.C., Das, A.K. & Lee, J. (2012). Floristic diversity assessment and vegetation analysis of Upper Siang district of eastern Himalaya in North East India Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy 42: 222-246.
  • Darbyshire, I., Kordofani, M., Farag, I., Candiga, R. & Pickering, H. (eds.) (2015). The Plants of Sudan and South Sudan: 1-400. Kew publishing, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. (2012). Index synonymique de la flore d'Afrique du nord 4: 1-431. Éditions des conservatoire et jardin botaniques, Genève.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Fischer, E., Rembold, K., Althof, A. & Obholzer, J. (2010). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Kakamega forest, Western province, Kenya Journal of East African Natural History 99: 129-226.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Hedberg, I. & Edwards, S. (eds.) (1989 publ. 1990). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea 3: 1-659. The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia & The Department of Systematic Botany, Upps.
  • Kumar, S. & Sane, P.V. (2003). Legumes of South Asia. A Checklist: 1-536. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo) Taxonomania 30: 1-307.
  • Lepschi, B. & Monro, A. (Project Coordinators) (2014). Australian Plant Census (APC) Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria. http://www.anbg.gov.au/chah/apc/index.html.
  • Lock, J.M. & Ford, C.S. (2004). Legumes of Malesia a Check-List: 1-295. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lock, J.M. & Heald, J. (1994). Legumes of Indo-China a checck-list: 1-164. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lock, J.M. (1989). Legumes of Africa a check-list: 1-619. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Mostaph, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Peyre de Fabregues, B. & Lebrun, J.-P. (1976). Catalogue des Plantes Vascularies du Niger: 1-433. Institut d' Elevage et de Médecine Vétérinaire des Pays Tropicaux, Maisons Alfort.
  • Schrire, B.D. (2012). Flora Zambesiaca 3(4): 1-245. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.
  • Troupin, G. (ed.) (1983). Flora du Rwanda 2: 1-603. Musee Royal de l'Afrique Centrale.
  • Wood, J.R.I. (1997). A handbook of the Yemen Flora: 1-434. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Literature

Flora of West Tropical Africa

  • Bak. f. Leg. Trop. Afr. 1: 155
  • Cronq. in Fl. Congo Belge 5: 162, t. 12.
  • F.T.A. 2: 97
  • Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 184 (1847)
  • Tiss. in Bull. Mus. Hist. Nat., sér. 2, 3: 271

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Balslav, H. & Chantaranothai, P. (2018). Flora of Thailand 4(3.1): 221-371. The Forest Herbarium, Royal Forest Department.
  • Boulvert, Y. (1977). Catalogue de la Flore de Centrafrique 2(1): 1-85. ORSTROM, Bangui.
  • Choudhary, R.K., Srivastava, R.C., Das, A.K. & Lee, J. (2012). Floristic diversity assessment and vegetation analysis of Upper Siang district of eastern Himalaya in North East India Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy 42: 222-246.
  • Figueiredo, E. & Smith, G.F. (2008). Plants of Angola Strelitzia 22: 1-279. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Fischer, E., Rembold, K., Althof, A. & Obholzer, J. (2010). Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Kakamega forest, Western province, Kenya Journal of East African Natural History 99: 129-226.
  • Germishuizen, G. & Meyer, N.L. (eds.) (2003). Plants of Southern Africa an annotated checklist Strelitzia 14: 1-1231. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
  • Kumar, S. & Sane, P.V. (2003). Legumes of South Asia. A Checklist: 1-536. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lejoy, J., Ndjele, M.-B. & Geerinck, D. (2010). Catalogue-flore des plantes vasculaires des districts de Kisangani et de la Tshopo (RD Congo) Taxonomania 30: 1-307.
  • Lepschi, B. & Monro, A. (Project Coordinators) (2014). Australian Plant Census (APC) Council of Heads of Australian Herbaria. http://www.anbg.gov.au/chah/apc/index.html.
  • Lock, J.M. & Ford, C.S. (2004). Legumes of Malesia a Check-List: 1-295. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Lock, J.M. & Heald, J. (1994). Legumes of Indo-China a checck-list: 1-164. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Mostaph, M.K. & Uddin, S.B. (2013). Dictionary of plant names of Bangladesh, Vasc. Pl.: 1-434. Janokalyan Prokashani, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
  • Pandey, R.P. & Dilwakar, P.G. (2008). An integrated check-list flora of Andaman and Nicobar islands, India Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 32: 403-500.
  • Quézel, P. (1958). Mission Botanique au Tibesti: 1-357. Université d'Alger.
  • Schrire, B.D. (2012). Flora Zambesiaca 3(4): 1-245. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  • Sita, P. & Moutsambote, J.-M. (2005). Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du Congo, ed. sept. 2005: 1-158. ORSTOM, Centre de Brazzaville.

Flora of Somalia

  • Flora Somalia, Vol 1, (1993) Author: by M. Thulin [updated by M. Thulin 2008]

Flora of Tropical East Africa

  • A. Rich., Tent. Fl. Abyss. 1: 184 (1847).
  • Cronquist in Flore du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi, 5: 162, t. 12 (1954).
  • Dale & Greenway, Kenya Trees and Shrubs p. 366 (1961).
  • F. White, Forest Flora of Northern Rhodesia p. 155 (1962).
  • Gillett in Flora of West Tropical Africa, ed. 2, 1: 541 (1958)
  • Gillett in Kew Bulletin, Add. Ser. 1: 105 (1958).
  • Hutch. & Dalz., Flora of West Tropical Africa, App.: 245 (1937).
  • J.P.M. Brenan, Check-lists of the Forest Trees and Shrubs of the British Empire no. 5, part II, Tanganyika Territory p. 428 (1949).
  • Torre in Consp. Fl. Angol. 3: 124 (1962).

International Legume Database and Information Service

  • De Kort, I. & Thijsse, G. (1984). Blumea 30 (1) : 89-151. A rev. of Indigofera in S. E. Asia
  • Du Puy, D. J. et al. (2002). The Leguminosae of Madagascar. RBG Kew.
  • Gillett, J. B. (1958). Kew Bull. Addnl. ser. 1:1-166. Indigofera.. in Tropical Africa.
  • Gillett, J. B. et al. (1971). Papilionoideae. In: Fl. Trop. E. Africa, Milne-Redhead & Polhill
  • Kumar, S. & Sane PV (2003). Legumes of South Asia: a check-list. RBG Kew.
  • Rudd, V. E. (1991). A Revised Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon 7: 108-381.
  • Sanjappa, M. (1995). In Hajra, PK et al. (eds). Fascicles of Fl. of Ind. 21:123. Indig
  • Saxena, H. O. & Brahman, M. (1994). The Flora of Orissa (Ranunculaceae to Fabaceae)

  • Flora of Somalia

    Flora of Somalia
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    Flora of Tropical East Africa
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    Flora of West Tropical Africa
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2022. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
    © Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0