Tephrosia nubica (Boiss.) Baker
عيتمان، مغبريا
For people
- Eaten by people
- Unknown
- Toxic to people
- Unknown
For livestock
- Grazed by livestock
- Limited fodder
- Toxic to livestock
- Unknown
Edibility and safety notes
No reliable information was found on whether people eat any part of this plant or on its toxicity, so it should not be eaten. The Omani field guide rates it poor grazing. Its safety for livestock is not documented; other Tephrosia species contain rotenoids (fish and insect poisons) and some have poisoned goats and sheep, so caution is sensible.
This guide is a hobby project, not expert advice. Never eat a wild plant, or feed it to animals, on the strength of this page alone. Read the disclaimer
Description
An annual or perennial villous herb of the Fabaceae family, up to 1 m tall. Leaflets are cuneate-oblong or cuneate-obovate, up to 30 x 11 mm, densely villous beneath. Purple flowers in terminal pseudoracemes. Pods are ovate, about 11 x 6 mm, densely white villous.
Habitat
Hot deserts, in wadis and among rocks; grows in small rocky basins.
Distribution
Native from the Sahara to Kenya, and from southern Israel to the Arabian Peninsula. Found in southeastern Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Horn of Africa, Chad, Nigeria, and Mauritania.
Pastoral value
Poor grazing value according to the Omani field guide.
Other uses
No significant traditional or economic uses documented specifically for this species.
Sources
- الدليل الحقلي المصور للنباتات البرية في سلطنة عُمان (BOOK.pdf p.121)
- POWO - Tephrosia nubica (Boiss.) Baker — powo.science.kew.org
- POWO - Tephrosia nubica subsp. arabica (Boiss.) J.B.Gillett — powo.science.kew.org
- MLH flora database - Tephrosia nubica (description) — mlh.myspecies.info
- Israel Red List of plants - Nubian Hoary Pea, Tephrosia nubica — redlist.parks.org.il
- Feedipedia - Tephrosia purpurea (rotenoids in the genus) — feedipedia.org
From the same family
All in this family
Fabaceae
Salam tree, Desert acacia
Acacia ehrenbergiana Hayne.
Fabaceae
Red thorn, Grey-haired acacia, Talh
Acacia gerrardii Benth.
Fabaceae
Gum arabic tree, Babul, Thorn mimosa, Egyptian acacia, Thorny acacia
Acacia nilotica (L.) Del.
Fabaceae
Gum acacia, Gum arabic tree, Sudan gum
Acacia senegal (L.) Willd.