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
Hairy Indigo
Indigofera hirsuta
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 hirsuta)
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 hirsuta, commonly known as hairy indigo, is an annual or short-lived perennial herb in the legume family (Fabaceae). It has upright or spreading stems covered in dense, soft hairs and compound leaves consisting of several oval leaflets. Small pink to reddish-purple, pea-shaped flowers grow in elongated clusters along the stems. Its narrow, hairy seed pods contain several seeds. Like other legumes, it can form root nodules with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, helping enrich the soil.
Range
• Indigofera hirsuta is native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia and has spread widely through other warm regions, including parts of the Americas. It is established in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• It grows in warm, open environments, including grasslands, pastures, roadsides, agricultural fields, and disturbed ground. It favours sunny locations and can grow in a range of soil types, particularly well-drained soils. Its ability to grow quickly and produce abundant seeds allows it to colonize open areas in tropical climates.