bastard false indigo

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bastard false indigo
• desert false indigo
• false indigo
• shrubby false indigo
• tall indigo-bush
• bastard indigo-bush
• bastard-indigo
• indigo-bush

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Amorpha fruticosa var. pendula
• Amorpha occidentalis var. arizonica
• Amorpha fruticosa f. pendula
• Amorpha discolor
• Amorpha angustifolia
• Amorpha fruticosa var. tenesseensis
• Amorpha perforata
• Amorpha macrophylla
• Amorpha pendula
• Amorpha fruticosa f. albiflora
• Monosemeion obliquatum
• Amorpha fruticosa var. ornata
• Amorpha humilis
• Amorpha lewisii
• Amorpha ludwigii
• Amorpha mimosifolia
• Amorpha occidentalis
• Amorpha occidentalis var. emarginata
• Amorpha ornata
• Amorpha nonperforata
• Amorpha tenesseensis
• Amorpha sensitiva
• Amorpha verrucosa
• Amorpha virgata
• Amorpha croceolanata
• Amorpha curtisii
• Amorpha bushii
• Amorpha caroliniana
• Amorpha coerulea
• Amorpha colorata
• Amorpha arizonica
• Amorpha fruticosa var. angustifolia
• Amorpha fruticosa f. aureovariegata
• Amorpha fruticosa var. caroliniana
• Amorpha fruticosa var. coerulea
• Amorpha fruticosa f. coerulea
• Amorpha fruticosa var. crispa
• Amorpha fruticosa f. crispa
• Amorpha fruticosa var. croceolanata
• Amorpha fruticosa var. emarginata
• Amorpha fruticosa var. fragrans
• Amorpha fruticosa f. glabrata
• Amorpha fruticosa var. humilis
• Amorpha fruticosa f. humilis
• Amorpha fruticosa f. latior
• Amorpha fruticosa var. lewisii
• Amorpha fruticosa var. oblongifolia
• Amorpha fruticosa var. occidentalis
• Amorpha dewinkeleri
• Amorpha elata
• Amorpha emarginata
• Amorpha flexuosa
• Amorpha fruticosa var. vulgaris
• Amorpha gaertneri
• Amorpha gardneri
• Amorpha fragrans
• Amorpha glauca

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Amorpha fruticosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling under the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and the genus Amorpha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Great Britain. Its distribution extends into Middle Europe, where it is documented in Austria and Belgium. Furthermore, the species is established throughout the central territories of Germany. Finally, it continues its reach across the central landscapes of Czechia-Slovakia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Amorpha fruticosa is characterized by its ability to thrive across a wide range of environments, primarily occurring at low to moderate altitudes. Its elevational range spans from sea level up to a maximum of 500 m AMSL. This species demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, frequently establishing itself in diverse habitats such as wetlands, open areas, and roadside environments. Additionally, it is commonly found in managed landscapes and along roadsides, where it can adapt to various levels of disturbance.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

open, roadsideopen, managed, wetland, roadside

Life history

The life history of Amorpha fruticosa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a robust presence in its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its life form and survival strategy. This phanerophyte classification is consistent across its developmental stages, ensuring that its primary growing points are protected and elevated, facilitating its long-term growth and structural complexity within its habitat.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Amorpha fruticosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is terrestrial in its ecological habit, not exhibiting aquatic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 2 meters, with an observed mean plant height of approximately 3.55 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

3.55 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Amorpha fruticosa is characterized by its efficient metabolic processes and structural adaptations suited for diverse riparian and wetland environments. As a deciduous shrub, its primary metabolic driver is a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the Calvin cycle to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide through the enzyme RuBisCO. This C3 mechanism allows the plant to thrive in temperate regions where moisture is relatively available, though it necessitates specific stomatal regulations to balance gas exchange with transpiration rates. The plant's physiological vigor is further supported by a robust root system capable of managing varying water tables, facilitating nutrient uptake and hydraulic conductance even in fluctuating hydrologic conditions. Additionally, its metabolic profile supports the synthesis of various secondary metabolites, including flavonoids and tannins, which serve physiological roles in defense against herbivory and environmental stressors.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Amorpha fruticosa is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and a diverse range of seed characteristics. The plant typically begins its flowering cycle in May and concludes by June. Its seeds exhibit significant variation in size, with a minimum mass of 0.0038 g, a maximum mass of 0.021 g, and a calculated mean seed mass of approximately 0.0068364545 g. Regarding its dispersal mechanisms, the species employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, utilizing a combination of methods including anemochory, zoochory, autochory, and hydrochory, while also being subject to anthropochorous dispersal.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Seed mass max:

0.021 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0068364545 g

Seed mass min:

0.0038 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Amorpha fruticosa has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Chemicals

Amorpha fruticosa has 14 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 11-Hydroxytephrosin, Afrormosin, Amoradicin, Amorfrutin 1, Amorfrutin B.

11-Hydroxytephrosin

1. Journal of natural products

Afrormosin

1. Journal of natural products

Amoradicin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Amorfrutin 1

1. Biochemical pharmacology

Amorfrutin B

1. Biochemical pharmacology

Amorphastilbol

1. Biochemical pharmacology

Amorphigenin

1. Journal of natural products

Deguelin

1. Journal of natural products

EAF

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Amorpha fruticosa has 4 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic, Antihypertensive, Antioxidant, Cytotoxic.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Antihypertensive

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Antioxidant

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Cytotoxic

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Amorpha fruticosa has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include metabolic disease, metabolic syndrome, systolic pressure.

Metabolic disease

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Metabolic syndrome

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Systolic pressure

1. Current issues in molecular biology

Preparations

Amorpha fruticosa has 5 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include CHCl3 extract, extract of Amorpha fruticosa, mix powder, n-hexane-soluble fraction of a methanol extract, purified extract of A. fruticosa (EAF).

Chcl3 extract

1. Journal of natural products

Extract of amorpha fruticosa

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mix powder

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

N-hexane-soluble fraction of a methanol extract

1. Journal of natural products

Purified extract of a. fruticosa (eaf)

1. Current issues in molecular biology