Wild Indigo

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Wild Indigo
• anil indigo
• Shrubby Indigo
• Tropical Indigo
• anil de pasto

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Indigofera guatimala
• Indigofera tinctoria var. brachycarpa
• Indigofera guatimalensis
• Indigofera micrantha
• Indigofera anil var. canescens
• Indigofera anil
• Indigofera anil var. polyphylla
• Indigofera angolensis
• Anil tinctoria var. vera
• Anil divaricata
• Indigofera suffruticosa subsp. guatimalensis
• Anil tinctoria var. brachycarpa
• Indigofera uncinata
• Indigofera cornezuelo
• Indigofera divaricata
• Indigofera suffruticosa var. uncinata
• Indigofera suffruticosa var. canescens
• Indigofera anil var. drepanocarpa
• Indigofera suffruticosa f. obtusifolia
• Indigofera suffruticosa var. polyphylla
• Ononis anil

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Indigofera suffruticosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, following the order Fabales. Finally, it is a member of the family Fabaceae and falls under the genus Indigofera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution spanning across the Macaronesian islands and West Tropical Africa. Within the Macaronesian region, it can be found in Cape Verde. Its presence extends into West Tropical Africa, where it is documented in Benin and Burkina. Furthermore, the species is located within the territories of Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Together, these locations define the regional range of Indigofera suffruticosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Indigofera suffruticosa is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a broad altitudinal distribution. It thrives across an elevational range spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. This species exhibits a wide ecological plasticity, colonizing various distinct habitats including anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (stricto sensu), open grasslands (Campo Limpo), the diverse Cerrado biome (latu sensu), and coastal Restinga ecosystems. This ability to persist in both disturbed human-altered landscapes and specialized natural formations highlights its resilience across different soil types and microclimates.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo Limpo, Cerrado (lato sensu), Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Indigofera suffruticosa are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations and varying levels of genomic complexity. The species exhibits a diverse range of chromosome numbers, documented at 12, 16, and 32, which suggests a potential for polyploid evolution or chromosomal rearrangements within different populations. Despite this variation in total count, the primary ploidy level observed is 2, indicating a diploid nature in its foundational genetic state. This combination of varying chromosome numbers and a standard diploid base provides a complex cytogenetic framework for the species.

Chromosome number :

12, 16, 32

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Indigofera suffruticosa is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategies, the species exhibits distinct life forms depending on its environmental context and developmental stage, categorized as both a phanerophyte and a chamaephyte. As a phanerophyte, it possesses buds located well above the ground, facilitating robust vertical growth, while its chamaephyte characteristics indicate the ability to maintain low-growing, woody stems near the soil surface, providing resilience against varying climatic conditions.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Indigofera suffruticosa is characterized by a growth form that ranges from a subshrub to a shrub, maintaining a non-woody structure. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits an erect shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than acting as a vine or liana. In terms of stature, it reaches a minimum height of 2 m, with a mean height of approximately 1.5 m, and can attain a maximum height of up to 2.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Indigofera suffruticosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-succulent morphology, lacking specialized water-storing tissues. Its foliar architecture is defined by relatively small, slender leaves, with lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3.8 cm, and widths spanning from 0.3 cm to 1.5 cm. Furthermore, the species functions as a nitrogen fixer, a critical physiological trait that allows it to enhance soil fertility through symbiotic associations, facilitating the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms.

Leaf length max:

3.8 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Indigofera suffruticosa is characterized by its distinctive flowering and fruiting structures. The plant produces pink flowers arranged in inflorescences that typically range from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.04 m in length. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod, which measures between 1.5 cm and 2 cm in length, with a width ranging from 0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. These pods are dehiscence-type, meaning they split open to release their contents. Each fruit contains a relatively small number of seeds, typically ranging from 1 to 10 per pod. The individual seeds are quite small, possessing a length between 1.7 mm and 2 mm and a width between 1.2 mm and 1.5 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds are lightweight, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00304 g, falling within a range of 0.0026 g to 0.00356 g. The dispersal syndrome for this species is identified as anthropochorous, suggesting that its seed distribution is influenced by human activity.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.3 cm

Fruit width min:

0.2 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.04 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.02 m

Seed length max:

2 mm

Seed length min:

1.7 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00356 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00304 g

Seed mass min:

0.0026 g

Seed width max:

1.5 mm

Seed width min:

1.2 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Indigofera suffruticosa has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, glutathione.

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

glutathione

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Activities

Indigofera suffruticosa has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antipyretic.

Antipyretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Indigofera suffruticosa has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fever, formalin test, inflammation, pain, peritonitis.

Fever

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Formalin test

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pain

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Peritonitis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology