Herbs. Stems prostrate, 20–60 cm, densely hirsute, hairs tawny. Leaves: petiole 1–2(–3) mm; leaflets (5 or)7–11(or 13), blades concolorous, elliptic to oblong- or obovate-elliptic, (8–)14–18(–25) × (6–)8–12(–16) mm, length 1.6–2.2 times width, apex trun­cate to slightly retuse, abaxial surface moderately to densely strigose-sericeous, hairs relatively long and overlapping, venation greenish, adaxial dull, light olive green to brownish, usually hirtellous, becoming glabrate or glabrescent. Racemes axillary, 2–6-flowered, evident (flowers well above level of leaves), (5–)10–16(–20) cm; floral bracts persistent, linear-lanceolate. Flowers: corolla white to pinkish, aging red to deep maroon, 8–12 mm; stamens dia­delphous; style bearded. Legumes 40–55 × 4–5 mm, minutely and closely strigulose.

Phenology: Flowering Mar–Oct(–Nov).
Habitat: Sandhills, sand ridges, within and along edges of turkey oak and hickory scrub woodlands, less commonly in high pineland and pine flatwoods.
Elevation: 50–100 m.

Distribution

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Fla.

Discussion

Tephrosia mysteriosa is known from two major ridge systems, the Lake Wales Ridge and the Mount Dora Ridge, in the northern half of peninsular Florida. The species had previously been identified as T. chrysophylla; variant populations of T. mysteriosa found in dis­turbed sites on the periphery of its range probably reflect hybridization with T. chrysophylla. Tephrosia × varioforma DeLaney is a hybrid of T. florida and T. mysteriosa and is apparently formed sporadically.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.