Contains 9 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Classification
Citation
INDIGOFERA Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 751. 1753.
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TYPE: Indigofera tinctoria Linnaeus Lectotypified by Britton & A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S., ed. 2. 2: 371. 1913.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indigofera caroliniana | CAROLINA INDIGO | Native | ||
| Indigofera colutea | RUSTY INDIGO | Not Native | ||
| Indigofera hirsuta | HAIRY INDIGO | Not Native | ||
| Indigofera miniata | COASTAL INDIGO | Native | ||
| Indigofera pilosa | SOFTHAIRY INDIGO | Not Native | ||
| Indigofera spicata | TRAILING INDIGO | Not Native FACU (NWPL) | ||
| Indigofera suffruticosa | ANIL DE PASTO | Not Native FACU (NWPL) | ||
| Indigofera tinctoria | TRUE INDIGO | Not Native | ||
| Indigofera trita subsp. scabra | FLORIDA KEYS INDIGO | Native Rare-State |
Identification Key
1. Leaves 3-foliolate
1. Leaves mostly 5- or more foliolate
2
2. Leaflets mostly alternate on the rachis
3
2. Leaflets mostly opposite on the rachis
4
3. Stipules subulate; leaflets mostly <4 mm wide; inflorescence of 3-10 flowers, at least the lower internodes easily visible
3. Stipules deltoid to lanceolate; larger leaflets >4 mm wide; inflorescence of 5-40 flowers, the internodes nearly concealed
4. Plant with glandular trichomes; leaflets <4 mm wide, <7 mm long
4. Plant lacking glandular trichomes; larger leaflets >5 mm wide or >8 mm long
5
5. Plant hirsute to pilose
5. Plant mostly strigose to glabrate
6
6. Stems decumbent to prostrate; leaves mostly 5-foliolate
6. Stems erect to spreading; at least some leaves more than 5-foliolate
7
7. Inflorescence pedunculate, the peduncle (distance to first flower) 2.5-15 cm long; fruit indehiscent, <12 mm long, seeds 1-3
7. Inflorescence subsessile or with a peduncle to 1 cm long; fruit dehiscent, >13 mm long, seeds >3
8
8. Shrubs 1-2.5 m tall, with ascending to erect stems; leaflets elliptic, broadly elliptic, to broadly obovate along fertile portions of the stem; upper petal rounded-mucronate at the tip; fruit <1.8 cm long, strongly curved
8. Shrubs to 1 m tall, with spreading to ascending stems; leaflets narrowly elliptic along fertile portions of the stem; upper petal acute at the tip; fruit >2 cm long, straight to curved
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acanthonotus | Acanthonotus Bentham, in Hooker, Niger Fl. 293. 1849. | TYPE: Acanthonotus echinatus (Willdenow) Bentham (Indigofera echinata Willdenow) | |
| Anil | Anil Miller, Gard. Dict. Abr., ed. 4. 1754. | TYPE: = Indigofera Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Anila | Anila Ludwig ex Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1: 159; 2: 938. 1891. | TYPE: = Indigofera Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Bremontiera | Bremontiera de Candolle, Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 4: 93. 1825. | TYPE: Bremontiera ammoxylum de Candolle | |
| Eilemanthus | Eilemanthus Hochstetter, Flora 29: 593. 1846. | TYPE: Eilemanthus strobilifer Hochstetter | |
| Hemispadon | Hemispadon Endlicher, Flora 15: 385. 1832. | TYPE: Hemispadon pilosus Endlicher | |
| Indigastrum | Indigastrum Jaubert & Spach, Ill. Pl. Orient. 5: 101, t. 492. 1857. | TYPE: Indigastrum deflexum (A. Richard) Jaubert & Spach (Indigofera deflexa A. Richard) | |
| Indigo | Indigo Adanson, Fam. Pl. 2: 326, 566. 1763. | TYPE: = Indigofera Linnaeus 1753. | |
| Microcharis | Microcharis Bentham, in Bentham & Hooker f., Gen. Pl. 1: 501. 1865. | TYPE: Microcharis tenella Bentham Lectotypified by E. P. Phillips, Gen. S. African Pl., ed. 2. 415. 1951. | |
| Oustropis | Oustropis G. Don, Gen. Hist. 2: 97, 214. 1832. | TYPE: Oustropis microphyllus (Hooker) G. Don (Lotus microphyllus Hooker) | |
| Sphaeridiophorum | Sphaeridiophorum Desvaux, J. Bot. Agric. 1: 125, t. 6(35). 1813. | TYPE: Sphaeridiophorum linifolium (Retzius) Desvaux (Indigofera linifolia Retzius) | |
| Tricoilendus | Tricoilendus Rafinesque, Fl. Tellur. 2: 97. 1837 ("1836"). | TYPE: Tricoilendus microphyllus (Hooker) Rafinesque (Lotus microphyllus Hooker) = Oustropis G. Don 1832. | |
| Vaughania | Vaughania S. Moore, J. Bot. 58: 188. 1920. | TYPE: Vaughania dionaeifolia S. Moore |