Indigofera spicata
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fdb59c74dc526143621 |
| Scientific name | Indigofera spicata |
| Authority | Forssk. |
| First published in | Fl. Aegypt.-Arab.: 138 (1775) |
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
- Scientific model organism: Indigofera spicata is cultivated in greenhouse and field experiments to investigate legume–rhizobium symbiosis, nodulation signaling, and nitrogen‑fixation genetics. Its short annual lifecycle and manageable size facilitate high‑throughput phenotypic screens, and it serves as a comparative model for larger legume crops.
- Fodder and animal feed: The aboveground biomass, consisting of leaves, tender stems, and pods, is palatable to ruminants such as cattle, goats, and sheep. Agronomic trials report that the foliage provides a protein‑rich supplement, especially in regions where conventional forage is limited.
- Green manure/cover crop: Because it fixes atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic root nodules, the plant is incorporated as a green manure to enrich soil nitrogen pools. Its rapid growth and dense canopy also suppress weed emergence and reduce soil erosion in mixed‑cropping systems.
- Research teaching material: The species is used in university courses to demonstrate root nodulation, nitrogen fixation, and plant‑microbe interactions under controlled conditions.
Food and beverages (non‑medicinal):
- The vegetative parts are employed solely as livestock feed; no documented human food uses have been reported.
Properties relevant to use:
- Nitrogen‑fixation capacity: Root nodules formed with compatible rhizobia contain the nitrogenase enzyme, allowing the plant to convert atmospheric N₂ into ammonium, a trait directly exploited for soil fertility and as a protein source in animal diets.
- High protein and low fiber content: Analyses of harvested foliage indicate relatively high crude‑protein levels and a low C:N ratio, which promote rapid decomposition when used as green manure and enhance nutritional value for livestock.
- Fast vegetative growth and early flowering: The annual habit enables multiple harvests within a single growing season, supporting continuous fodder production and repeated green‑manure incorporation.
- Strong root system: The plant develops an extensive lateral root network that improves soil aggregation and contributes to erosion control.
Sustainability and sourcing:
- Cultivation requires minimal synthetic nitrogen inputs because the plant supplies its own nitrogen through symbiosis, lowering fertilizer costs and reducing environmental impacts.
- Suitable for smallholder and subsistence farming in tropical and subtropical regions, where its adaptability to low‑fertility soils makes it a valuable component of diverse cropping rotations.
- No evidence of large‑scale commercial exploitation; the plant is typically harvested from farmer‑managed fields or research plots, supporting local livestock production and soil‑management practices.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Anil spicata | (Forssk.) Kuntze | Revis. Gen. Pl.2: 940 (1891) |
| Indigofera endecaphylla | sensu auct.div., p.p. | |
| Indigofera enneaphylla | sensu auct. | |
| Indigofera compressa | sensu auct. | |
| Indgofera spicata | sensu auct. | |
| Indgofera hendecaphylla | sensu auct. | |
| Indgofera endecaphylla | sensu auct. |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| Chinese | 穗花木藍 |
| Chinese | 十一叶木蓝 |
| Chinese | 穗序木蓝 |
| Chinese | 穗花木蓝 |
Varieties (abbr. var.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Indigofera spicata var. brevicarpa | J.B.Gillett | Bol. Soc. Brot., sér. 2, 33: 34 (1959) |
| Indigofera spicata var. spicata | Unknown |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Africa click to expand
-
East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
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Northeast Tropical Africa
- Chad
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Sudan
-
South Tropical Africa
- Angola
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
-
Southern Africa
- Cape Provinces
- Kwazulu-Natal
- Northern Provinces
- Swaziland
-
West Tropical Africa
- Benin
- Burkina
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Liberia
- Mali
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Togo
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gabon
- Gulf Of Guinea Islands
- Rwanda
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Réunion
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Arabian Peninsula
- Yemen
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Arabian Peninsula
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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Southeastern U.S.A.
- Alabama
- Florida
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Southeastern U.S.A.
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Pacific click to expand
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South-central Pacific
- Cook Islands
- Society Islands
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Southwestern Pacific
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
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South-central Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Brazil
- Brazil Northeast
- Brazil Southeast
- Brazil West-central
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Caribbean
- Jamaica
- Leeward Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Windward Islands
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Central America
- Costa Rica
- Nicaragua
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
-
Brazil
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000195409 |
| Florida Plant Atlas | 1817 |
| Flora of Alabama | 5382 |
| Tropicos | 13021056 |
| INPN | 629904 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:500027-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-4200 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 768126 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 520841 |
| Nature Serve | 2.137288 |
| IPNI | 500027-1 |
| iNaturalist | 164063 |
| GBIF | 2971635 |
| EPPO | INDSP |
| EOL | 684276 |
| USDA GRIN | 20052 |
| Wikipedia | Indigofera_spicata |
| CMAUP | NPO22730 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Benzoic acids | |||||
| Benzoic Acid | 243 | Click to see | 122.12 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides | |||||
| 2-[[3,4-Dihydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2-yl]oxymethyl]-6-[4-(3-hydroxybutyl)-3,5,5-trimethylcyclohex-3-en-1-yl]oxyoxane-3,4,5-triol | 73100600 | Click to see | 506.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1038/217354A0 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Amino acids, peptides, and analogues / Alpha amino acids and derivatives / Alpha amino acids / L-alpha-amino acids | |||||
| Indospicine | 108010 | Click to see C(CCC(=N)N)CC(C(=O)O)N | 173.21 | unknown |
https://doi.org/10.1071/BI9700831 https://doi.org/10.1038/217354A0 |
| > Organic acids and derivatives / Carboxylic acids and derivatives / Tricarboxylic acids and derivatives | |||||
| beta-D-Glucopyranose, 1,2,6-tris(3-nitropropanoate) | 100274 | Click to see | 483.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/JPS.2600540809 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / 8-prenylated flavans / 8-prenylated flavanones | |||||
| (+)-Purpurin | 44559427 | Click to see | 424.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S)-2,3-Dihydrotephroglabrin | 72189489 | Click to see | 364.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Luteolin | 5280445 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Kaempferol | 5280863 | Click to see | 286.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Morin | 5281670 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Myricetin | 5281672 | Click to see C1=C(C=C(C(=C1O)O)O)C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 318.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Avicularin | 5490064 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 434.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercetin 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside | 5320861 | Click to see C1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2=C(OC3=CC(=CC(=C3C2=O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O | 434.30 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Quercitrin | 5280459 | Click to see | 448.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 7-O-methylated flavonoids | |||||
| (2S)-7-methoxy-8-[(E)-3-methoxy-3-methylbut-1-enyl]-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 73349082 | Click to see | 352.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S)-8-[(E)-3-hydroxy-3-methylbut-1-enyl]-7-methoxy-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 52316190 | Click to see CC(C)(C=CC1=C(C=CC2=C1OC(CC2=O)C3=CC=CC=C3)OC)O | 338.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Rotenoids / Rotenones | |||||
| Rotenolone | 68184 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CC2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2OC4COC5=CC(=C(C=C5C4(C3=O)O)OC)OC | 410.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Rotenone | 6758 | Click to see CC(=C)C1CC2=C(O1)C=CC3=C2OC4COC5=CC(=C(C=C5C4C3=O)OC)OC | 394.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Tephrosin | 114909 | Click to see | 410.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / Furanochalcones | |||||
| (+)-Tephropurpurin | 10047971 | Click to see | 424.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| CID 73352153 | 73352153 | Click to see CC1(C(C2C(O1)OC3=C2C(=C(C=C3)C(=O)C=CC4=CC=CC=C4)O)O)C | 352.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |