Indigophera suffruticosa
Family: Fabaceae
Plant Description: Erect, woody-based perennial bush to 2 m high. Leaves pinnate with leaflets 10-18mm long, alternate. Leaflets oblong to ellliptic or oblanceolate to obovate, with entire margins. Flowers in spikelike racemes, the upper petal about 5 mm long, reddish.
Plant Trivia:
Field Identification:
Occurrence: Frequent in sandy, open places. Coastal prairies
Bloom Period: July – November
Plant Use: This plant was one of the sources of indigo, the blue dye formerly important in commerce.
Key to the species of Indigofera:
- Stems prostrate to ascending, upper petal 6-20 mm long……..I. miniata
Shrub to 2 m high, upper petal 5 mm long………………………..I. suffruticosa
stxflora 