5 Indigofera natalensis Seeds - Indigenous South African Flowering Shrub

Indigofera natalensis Seeds

Eye-Catching South African Indigenous Shrub

Indigofera is a large genus of over 750 species of flowering plants belonging to the family Fabaceae. They are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Species of Indigofera are mostly shrubs, though some are small trees or annual or perennial herbs. Most have pinnate leaves. Racemes of flowers grow in the leaf axils. Most species have flowers in shades of red, but there are a few white- and yellow-flowered species. The fruit is a legume pod of varying size and shape. Indigofera natalensis is a delicate and attractive shade-loving tree with dainty white sprays of flowers in summer, followed by slender, reddish brown pods that dangle from the branches in autumn. A shrub or slender tree up to 1-3 m with pale grey bark. The leaves are shiny, dark green and compound: they are composed of one to two pairs of leaflets and a terminal leaflet with a drip tip. The flowers are small, white occasionally tinged with mauve, and borne on short, delicate sprays from December to March. The fruits appear from May to June and are cylindrical, red-brown pods which release seed by splitting open along the seams, spiralling as they dry out. This plant has great horticultural potential as it is a neat and pretty, shade-loving garden plant, easily grown from seed. The wood of Indigofera natalensis is used for fuel and for fence supports. The genus Indigofera has long been used in trade because a few of the species yields the dye indigo, particularly a species from the East Indies, I. tinctoria. Indigo is one of the oldest colouring agents known to man and it gives a light purple to mauve colour. The leaves are the main source of the dye although roots are sometimes also used.