Indigofera obcordata flower

The inflorescence of Indigofera obcordata comprises a few-flowered, short raceme on a stalk shorter than the leaves. Incurving, pointed bracts are visible at the base of each pedicel.

The flowers resemble those of peas, being part of the Fabaceae family. They are rose, purple or reddish pink in colour, the keel in this case white inside its base. The back of the standard is hairy as can be seen on the incurving margins in the photo; the centre part of its front surface has nearly parallel dark veins running from the margin down into the base.

The stigma curves up against the standard, the pale yellow anthers are present below it on filaments shorter than the style. The sepals on the flower in picture, as well as on some buds behind it are hairy, as will be the small fruit pods to follow.

The long lateral or wing petals are triangularly shaped in their lower, dangling parts, the angles rounded. Flowers become about 1 cm in length. The plant has a long flowering season from winter into the next autumn, peaking in late summer (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot).