- Family:
- Fabaceae Lindl.
- Genus:
- Indigofera L.
Indigofera arrecta Hochst. ex A.Rich.

[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).
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)
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Flora of Somalia
Flora of Somalia
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Flora of Tropical East Africa
Flora of Tropical East Africa
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Flora of West Tropical Africa
Flora of West Tropical Africa
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Herbarium Catalogue Specimens
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
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International Legume Database and Information Service
International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
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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
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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