Common name: Creeping Indigo
Indigofera spicata Forssk. APNI* Description: Prostrate perennial herb, up to 0.5 m high, with woody rootstock.
Leaves up to 4 cm long; leaflets alternate, mostly 5 to 7, obovate, 4–11(-16) mm long, 2.5–8(-10) mm wide, apex obtuse with a short mucro; stipules triangular 3–5 mm long with scarious margins.
Inflorescences 3–6.5(-8) cm long. Calyx covered with white appressed hairs, teeth ± equal to the tube. Petals reddish.
Pod descending, terete, 10–18 mm long, with a a short point at apex; sparsely hairy, glabrescent; seeds 4–8; endocarp not spotted.
Distribution and occurrence: Native of Africa. Recorded as naturalised in Queensland, northern New South Wales, and in Katherine, Northern Territory. Occurs in open, disturbed areas; often as a lawn weed.
NSW subdivisions: *NC
Text by Peter G. Wilson
Taxon concept: Wilson & Rowe, Telopea 12 (2) 2008.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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