Tephrosia Explained
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.[1]
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.[2] Hoarypea is a common name for plants in this genus, along with goat's rue and devil's shoestring.[3]
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.[4] [5] [6] 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.[7]
Selected species
See main article: List of Tephrosia species. Species include:
See also
External links
- Web site: GRIN Species Records of Tephrosia . Germplasm Resources Information Network . United States Department of Agriculture . 2010-10-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081015012218/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?11939 . 2008-10-15 . dead .
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- Plantilustrations.org: Tephrosia. (Botanical illustrations for Tephrosia species.)
Notes and References
- Web site: Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States . Weakley . Alan . 2015.
- Book: Quattrocchi, Umberto . CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology . IV R-Z . 2000 . CRC Press . 978-0-8493-2678-3 . 2642.
- Book: Randolph, Vance . Ozark Magic and Folklore . 2012-07-31 . Courier Corporation . 978-0-486-12296-0 . en.
- Web site: U.S. Food & Drug Administration . Food and Drug Administration (United States) . Results for search term "tephrosia" . FDA Poisonous Plant Database . U.S. Food & Drug Administration . March 2006 . 2008-01-21.
- 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
- Tephrosia Leaf Offers Low-Cost Tick Protection . Koigi, Bob . New Agriculturalist . November 2011.