Indigofera spicata Forssk.

Trailing Indigo

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Trailing Indigo is an introduced prostrate herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native from Africa and Madagascar east through South and Southeast Asia, and has been introduced in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. In Alabama it has been found in the southern third of the state. Trailing Indigo occurs in lawns, in cracks of pavement and sidewalks, and on roadsides. It is a prostrate perennial from a taproot that grows to 4 feet in length. Numerous stems radiate from a single hardened root crown. The stems are slightly pubescent, green or tan in color, and somewhat flattened. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and pinnately compound with 5-8 alternate leaflets. Leaflets are obovate, sparsely pubescent to glabrous above and pubescent below. The lower surface of the leaf is lighter in color than the upper. Flowers are produced in axillary racemes. The racemes are longer than the subtending leaves with densely spaced flowers. Individual flowers are small, papilionaceous, pink-orange or salmon in color, with a white basal eye on the standard petal. The fruit is a 7-9 seeded legume that splits into two spiraled valves. Trailing Indigo contains indospicine and is toxic to many grazing animals. There is some confusion on the correct name for this species. Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq. and Indigofera spicata Forssk. have been treated as synonymous, as distinct species, or with Indigofera spicata treated as a variety of Indigofera hendecaphylla.—A. Diamond

**

Not Native

**