Tephrosia virginiana

Herbs. Stems erect, 30–70 cm, densely villous or sericeous to sparsely strigulose or glabrate. Leaves: petiole 1–5(–10) mm; leaflets (9–)13–23(–35), blades elliptic to oblong, 10–25(–30) × (3–)4–7 mm, length 2–5(–6) times width, apex obtuse or rounded to truncate, surfaces strigose to sericeous. Racemes 10–40-flowered, 2–8 cm, mostly above level of leaves; floral bracts caducous, setaceous. Flowers: corolla yellow and pink (banner yellow, wings pink, keel yellow-pink striped), 15–20 mm; stamens monadelphous; style bearded. Legumes 30–55 × 4–5 mm, strigose to villous. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering May–Jun(–Aug).
Habitat: Sandhills, pinelands, dry, sandy oak-pine savannas, xeric and/or rocky woodlands and forests, outcrops, barrens, dry roadbanks.
Elevation: 50–700 m.

Ont., Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Discussion

Tephrosia virginiana is the only member of the genus that occurs in Canada, where it is known only from the vicinity of Turkey Point in southern Ontario.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa