Tephrosia spicata

Herbs. Stems erect to ascending or decumbent-ascending, 30–60 cm, strigose to hirsute or glabrate. Leaves: petiole (2–)5–15 mm; leaflets (7 or)9–13(–17), blades concolorous, oblanceolate to obovate, elliptic-obovate, or oblong-obovate, 8–28(–40) × 6–16 mm, length 1.5–3.5(–5) times width, apex rounded to truncate, abaxial surface moderately to densely strigose to strigose-hirsute, hairs relatively long and overlapping, venation greenish, adaxial glabrous or strigose-hirsute, venation raised. Racemes (3–)5–15(–20)-flowered, evident (flowers well above level of leaves), 10–20(–40) cm; floral bracts persistent, lanceolate. Flowers: corolla yellowish white, becoming pink to red, drying purple, 13–18 mm; stamens diadelphous; style bearded. Legumes 20–40 × 3.5–4.5 mm, hirsute-villous, glabrescent. 2n = 22.

Phenology: Flowering Jun–Aug.
Habitat: Dry or wet, open pine or mixed woods, pine-palmetto scrub, pineland bogs, pine savan­nas, clearings, field margins, roadsides.
Elevation: 10–200 m.

Distribution

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Ala., Del., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Md., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tenn., Va.

Discussion

Tephrosia spicata is recognized by its numerous leaf­lets with raised adaxial venation and long, ebracteate peduncles with long racemes.

Cracca flexuosa (Vail) A. Heller is a later homonym that pertains here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.