More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Flowers of Zihuatanejo
Creeping Indigo
Indigofera spicata
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Legumes, Milkworts, and Allies (Order Fabales)
-Legumes (Family Fabaceae)
-Subfamily Faboideae
-Tribe Indigofereae
-Indigos (Genus Indigofera)
-Hairy Indigo (Indigofera spicata)
Indigofera is a large genus of plants that belongs to the huge plant family Fabaceae (Legumes). Certain species (Indigofera tinctoria and Indigofera suffruticosa) are used by tropical farmers to produce the dark blue dye called indigo. Indigofera plants are pink/white flowered perennials and subshrubs that range from dwarfs to small trees.
Description
• Indigofera spicata, commonly known as creeping indigo, is a low-growing, spreading perennial herb in the legume family (Fabaceae). It has trailing or ascending stems and pinnately compound leaves with several small, oval leaflets. Its small pink to reddish flowers grow in short, spike-like clusters, followed by slender, curved seed pods. Like other legumes, it can form root nodules with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This species is also known to contain toxic compounds that can cause serious illness in livestock, particularly horses.
Range
• Indigofera spicata is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia and has been introduced to many other warm regions, including parts of the Americas. It is established in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• It grows in open, sunny environments, including grasslands, pastures, roadsides, lawns, agricultural land, and disturbed ground. It tolerates heat and a range of soil conditions and can spread rapidly through low vegetation in tropical and subtropical climates. Its creeping growth habit and ability to produce abundant seeds help it persist in managed and disturbed landscapes.