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Indigofera spicata

Forssk. (1775)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Indigofera

creeping indigo

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Prostrate to weakly ascending perennial herbs.

Stems: Stems 3–7.5 dm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Leaflets (3–)5–11, 3–30 mm long, 2–12 mm wide, increasing in size toward apex of rachis, obovate to oblong–cuneate, sometimes some of them elliptic, alternate to subopposite. Surfaces strigose, more densely so on lower surface. Leaflet margins entire. Petiolate.

Flowers: Flowers in racemes 5–17 cm long, bracts caducous. Flowers papilionaceous; bracteoles absent. Calyx 2–3 mm long, campanulate, 5-toothed, teeth narrowly deltate, ciliate. Corolla salmon, 4–6 mm long, caducous, standard longer than broad, keel petals erect. Stamens 10; upper stamen distinct, the other 9 connate into a tube; anthers usually with explosive pollen release, apiculate. Ovary superior; style 1, apical.

Fruit: Pods straight; reflexed; linear; somewhat quadrangular; 15–35 mm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; sparsely strigillose; septate between the seeds. Seeds 7–9; pale brown; quadrangular to quadrangular–ellipsoid; 1.3–2 mm long; ca. 1 mm wide.

Ploidy: 2n = 16; 32; 36

Habitat: Low elevation; dry; disturbed areas.

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) Naturalized
Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Rafael Domingo
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • also known as creeping indigo
  • low elevation
  • not mentioned

Bibliography

Name Published In: Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 138 (1775)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:675 (K, O, M [as I. spicata]); Du Puy et al. 1993:727 (KEY), 731/Herbst & Wagner 1999:21 (I. spicata misapplied = I. hendecaphylla); Starr et al. 2002:20 (H); Oppenheimer 2003:13 (Mo); Herbst et al. 2004:7 (L); Starr et al. 2010:64 (Mi); Wagner et al. 2012:39 (I. hendecaphylla misapplied = I. spicata)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Indigofera spicata Waialae-iki Park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Shinbara, B. s.n. Oahu BISH 11/4/1971
2 Indigofera spicata lihue. peleke st. lihue industrial park ii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. Kauai BISH 10/9/1986
3 Indigofera spicata Captain Cook, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 000409-5 Hawaii BISH 4/9/2000
4 Indigofera spicata Kaunakakai Harbor Along the road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H70107 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
5 Indigofera spicata Captain Cook, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. Martz, K. Collector Number: 000409-5 Hawaii BISH 4/9/2000
6 Indigofera spicata sand island, nimitz ave., near incinerator under projecting rock PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. starr, k. collector number: 080605-01 Oahu BISH 6/5/2008
7 Indigofera spicata Kahului along Kaahumanu Avenue PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hobdy, R.W. 2826 Maui BISH 6/3/1987
8 Indigofera spicata Sand Island, Nimitz Ave., near incinerator roadside; Verbesina encelioides, Chloris virgata PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 080605-01 Midway Atoll BISH 6/5/2008
9 Indigofera spicata hoomaluhia state pake, kahua nui campground, kaneohe In lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN walker, r. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 4/2/1981
10 Indigofera spicata Manoa Campus, University of Hawaii, Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Swarbrick, J.T. H-20 Oahu BISH 1/4/1976
11 Indigofera spicata wahiawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN godfrey, g.h. Oahu BISH 2/1/1932
12 Indigofera spicata Lihue. Peleke St. Lihue Industrial Park II PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. s.n. Kauai BISH 10/9/1986
13 Indigofera spicata kahului along kaahumanu avenue PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hobdy, r.w. collector number: 2826 Maui BISH 6/3/1987
14 Indigofera spicata Lanai City, mauka of Castle & Cooke Conservation headquarters Groundcover growing out of asphalt crack in weedy waste area, with Digitaria. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Imada, C.T. Collector Number: 2002-42 Lanai BISH 7/22/2002
15 Indigofera spicata lanai city, mauka of castle & cooke conservation headquarters Groundcover growing out of asphalt crack in weedy waste area, with Digitaria. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN imada, c.t. collector number: 2002-42 Lanai BISH 7/22/2002
16 Indigofera spicata Kailua Elementary School playground. Seal level PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hughes, E. s.n. Oahu BISH 8/28/1990
17 Indigofera spicata Poipu, Waiohai ~25 acre vacant lot PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Dunn, L. 304 Kauai BISH 10/17/2003
18 Indigofera spicata captain cook, amy greenwell ethnobotanical garden PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. martz, k. collector number: 000409-5 Hawaii BISH 4/9/2000
19 Indigofera spicata ala moana state recreation area grassy area behind beach PRESERVED_SPECIMEN pollack, g.h.; tetteris, a. 28 CM 11/17/1989
20 Indigofera spicata university of hawaii manoa campus, honolulu, lawn at sakamaki hall PRESERVED_SPECIMEN k. nagata 2402 Kauai US 1/12/1982
21 Indigofera spicata university of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN collector unknown 4513 Hawaii US
22 Indigofera spicata university of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN e. britten 4513 Hawaii US 10/28/1954
23 Indigofera spicata manoa campus, university of hawaii, honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN swarbrick, j.t. collector number: h-20 Oahu BISH 1/4/1976
24 Indigofera spicata Hoomaluhia State Pake, Kahua Nui Campground, Kaneohe In lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Walker, R. Collector Number: s.n. Oahu BISH 4/2/1981
25 Indigofera spicata kekaha, on manu road, just south of kekaha road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN n. tangalin 1385 Kauai US 6/6/2007
26 Indigofera spicata kahului along kaahumanu avenue PRESERVED_SPECIMEN r. hobdy 2826 Maui US 6/3/1987
27 Indigofera spicata Edge of Kaukonahua gulch in University of Hawaii, Exp. Station grounds, Oahu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Degener, O. 27334 Oahu BISH 4/7/1961
28 Indigofera spicata Kaunakakai Harbor Along the road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H70107 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
29 Indigofera spicata waialae-iki park PRESERVED_SPECIMEN shinbara, b. Oahu BISH 11/4/1971
30 Indigofera spicata Lanai City, mauka of Castle & Cooke Conservation headquarters Groundcover growing out of asphalt crack in weedy waste area, with Digitaria. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Imada, C.T. 2002-42 Lanai BISH 7/22/2002
31 Indigofera spicata sakamaki hall, university of hawaii manoa campus. honolulu, hi PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. collector number: 2553 Oahu BISH 10/20/1982
32 Indigofera spicata edge of kaukonahua gulch in university of hawaii, exp. station grounds, oahu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. degener, i. collector number: 27334 Oahu BISH 4/7/1961
33 Indigofera spicata honolulu, woodlawn curve, near nehea school PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. collector number: 26900 Oahu BISH 8/15/1977
34 Indigofera spicata kailua elementary school playground. seal level Forest PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hughes, e. collector number: s.n. Hawaii BISH 8/28/1990
35 Indigofera spicata kaunakakai harbor Along the road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h70107 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
36 Indigofera spicata Honolulu, Woodlawn Curve, near Nehea School PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 26900 Oahu BISH 8/15/1977
37 Indigofera spicata Sakamaki Hall, University of Hawaii Manoa Campus. Honolulu, HI PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 2553 Oahu BISH 10/20/1982
38 Indigofera spicata Hoomaluhia State Pake, Kahua Nui Campground, Kaneohe In lawn. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Walker, R. s.n. Oahu BISH 4/2/1981
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