Tephrosia

Tephrosia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It is widespread in both the Eastern and Western Hemisphere, where it is found in tropical and warm-temperate regions.

The generic name is derived from the Greek word τεφρος (tephros), meaning "ash-colored," referring to the greyish tint given to the leaves by their dense trichomes. Hoarypea is a common name for plants in this genus, along with goat's rue and devil's shoestring.

Uses Many species in the genus are poisonous, particularly to fish, for their high concentration of rotenone. The black seeds of Tephrosia species have historically been used by indigenous cultures as fish toxins.Hugh Scott, In the High Yemen, London 1942, p. 238, note C.NTFlora Northern Territory Flora online: Flora of the Darwin Region: Fabaceae. Retrieved 10 June 2018 In the last century, several Tephrosia species have been studied in connection with the use of rotenone as an insecticide and pesticide.

Tephrosia vogelii is also one of the many beneficial nitrogen-fixing legumes that can be used in a permaculture forest gardening system as a source of living 'chop and drop' mulch.

Selected species

Species include:

Tephrosia arenicola Maconochie Tephrosia candida (Roxb.) DC. Tephrosia chrysophylla Pursh Tephrosia clementii Skan Tephrosia elongata E.Mey. Tephrosia glomeruliflora Meissner Tephrosia mysteriosa DeLaney Tephrosia odorata Balf.f. Tephrosia onobrychoides Nutt. Tephrosia pondoensis (Codd) Schrire Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. Tephrosia socotrana Thulin Tephrosia spinosa (L.f.) Pers. Tephrosia virginiana Tephrosia vogelii Hook.f.

Tephrosia

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