Tephrosia nubica (Boiss.) Baker
Pogonostigma nubicum Boiss., P. abyssinicum Jaub. & Spach
Ara.: Shama haneit, haneit. Tamahaq: Âgestin, isarn, sargha.
Subshrub or perennial herbaceous plant, ± lignified at the base, 40-80 cm in height, grey-tomentose, with highly branched erect stems. Leaves alternate, imparipinnate, with stipules subulate 2.5-4 mm, and with 5-9 leaflets 1.5-4 × 0.3-0.8 cm, oblanceolate, with applied hairs on the upper side and densely tomentose on the underside, Flowers grouped in axillary or terminal racemes. Calyx c. 1.2 cm, with deep and acute teeth (1 cm), villous. Corolla c. 1.2 cm, papilionoid, purple, with villous standard. Pod 1-1.2 × 0.6 cm, with a peduncle c. 5 mm, ovoid, very villous. Seed 1, 4-5 × 3 mm.
Flowering:
February to April, although there may be flowers in other times of the year, depending on rainfall.
Fruiting:
About 2 months after Flowering. Sometimes the same plant can have flowers and mature pods at the same time.
Habitat:
Desert and subdesert grasslands. Rocky and sandy wadis.
Distribution:
Egypt, Sudan, Chad, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Niger, Mauritania,
Conservation status:
T. nubica is relatively common and widespread species; not considered threatened. Currently, it has not been assessed at a global level in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.