Wild indigo

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• purple tephrosia
• wild indigo
• Purple Hoarypea
• Hawaiian Fish Poisoning Plant
• fishpoison

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Galega purpurea
• Cracca purpurea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions in Africa and its surrounding islands. In Northern Africa, it can be found growing in the countries of Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco. Its range also extends to the Macaronesian region, specifically within the archipelago of Cape Verde. Furthermore, the species is documented in West Tropical Africa, particularly in Benin. Together, these locations highlight the plant's presence in both arid and tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tephrosia purpurea is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse environmental conditions and varied ecosystems. This species thrives in a wide range of habitats, including anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), the semi-arid Caatinga (strictu sensu), the expansive Cerrado (lato sensu), and even within humid environments such as Ombrophilous Forests (Floresta Ombrófila/Pluvial). Its altitudinal distribution is extensive, spanning from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1518 m AMSL, demonstrating a significant capacity to occupy both lowland and montane landscapes.

Elevational range max:

1518 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Genetics

The genetics of Tephrosia purpurea are characterized by a varied chromosomal profile and specific ploidy levels. Cytogenetic analysis of this species reveals a complex range of chromosome numbers, specifically documented at 16, 22, 24, and 44. Despite this numerical variation within the species, the observed ploidy level is identified as 2, indicating a diploid state.

Chromosome number :

16, 22, 24, 44

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Tephrosia purpurea is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and growth habit, it functions as a chamaephyte, maintaining its buds close to the soil surface to withstand environmental stressors. Additionally, its life form can be categorized as a therophyte, reflecting its specific survival strategies and ecological adaptations within its habitat.

Life form :

therophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tephrosia purpurea is characterized by a woody, subshrub to shrub growth form that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is an independent species, not acting as a parasite or an epiphyte, and is strictly terrestrial in its habitat rather than aquatic or semiaquatic. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant height variability, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 3 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 0.6 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

0.6 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tephrosia purpurea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. Morphologically, the plant exhibits significant variation in its foliage, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 7.5 cm, while leaf widths fluctuate between 0.5 cm and 5.5 cm. It does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a standard leaf structure rather than specialized water-storing tissues. Furthermore, the plant plays a critical role in soil nutrient cycling through its capacity as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing symbiotic relationships to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a bioavailable form.

Leaf length max:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tephrosia purpurea is characterized by the production of pink flowers arranged in inflorescences that can reach a maximum length of 0.25 m. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod, which is a dehiscent structure designed to release its contents. These pods vary in size, typically measuring between 2 cm and 4.5 cm in length, with a width ranging from 0.3 cm to 0.5 cm. Each fruit contains a relatively small number of seeds, generally ranging from 1 to 10 seeds per fruit. The seeds themselves are small and vary in dimensions, with lengths between 2.5 mm and 5 mm and widths between 1.8 mm and 3 mm. In terms of mass, individual seeds are quite light, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0097 g, though they can range from a minimum of 0.00451 g to a maximum of 0.0216 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where the seeds are dispersed via the internal passage through animals.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

pink

Fruit length max:

4.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

0.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.3 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.25 m

Seed length max:

5 mm

Seed length min:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0216 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00972833333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00451 g

Seed width max:

3 mm

Seed width min:

1.8 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Tephrosia purpurea has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo ying yong sheng li xue za zhi = Zhongguo yingyong shenglixue zazhi = Chinese journal of applied physiology
2. Journal of environmental biology

Root

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Chemicals

Tephrosia purpurea has 36 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Deguelin, Lupeol, RUTIN, Tephrosin, rotenone.

Deguelin

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Lupeol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Tephrosin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant disease

rotenone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

(+)-Purpurin

1. Journal of natural products

(+)-Tephropurpurin

1. Journal of natural products

(+)-Tephrorin B

1. Journal of biomolecular structure & dynamics

(+)-Tephrosone

1. Organic letters

(-)-Maackiain

1. Journal of natural products

Activities

Tephrosia purpurea has 211 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic, Antioxidant, 5-HT-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of environmental biology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiogenic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Tephrosia purpurea has 21 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, Ascaris lumbricoides, Coronavirus infection, Diabetes mellitus, SARS-CoV-2.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations