# Indigofera

Indigofera is a large genus of over 750 species of flowering plants belonging to the pea family Fabaceae. They are widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world.

## Description

Indigofera is a varied genus that has shown unique characteristics making it an interesting candidate as a potential perennial crop. Specifically, there is diverse variation among species with a number of unique characteristics. Some examples of this diversity include differences in pericarp thickness, fruit type, and flowering morphology. The unique characteristics it has displayed include potential for mixed smallholder systems with at least one other species and a resilience that allows for constant nitrogen uptake despite varying conditions.

### Tree

Species of Indigofera are mostly shrubs, though some are small trees or herbaceous perennials or annuals. The branches are covered with silky hairs. Most of them have pinnate leaves made of three foliolates with short petioles.$^{:341}$
Small flowers grow in the leaf axils from long peduncles or spikes, their petals come in hues of red or purple, but there are a few greenish-white and yellow-flowered species.$^{:341}$ Indigofera flowers have open carpels, their organ primordial is often formed at deeper layers than other eudicots. This variety could have significant implications on its role in an actual perennial polyculture. For example, different flowering morphologies could be artificially selected for in varying directions in order to better fit in different environmental conditions and with different populations of other plants.

### Fruit

The fruit is a long, cylindrical legume pod of varying size and shape.$^{:341}$
The types of fruit produced by different species of Indigofera can also be divided into broad categories that again show great variation. The three basic types of fruit categories can be separated by their curvature including straight, slightly curved, and falcate (sickle-shaped). In addition, several of the species including Indigofera microcarpa, Indigofera suffruticosa, and Indigofera enneaphylla have shown delayed dehiscence (maturing) of fruits This variation could again allow for artificial selection of the most abundant and nutritious fruit types and shapes.
Another way to categorize Indigofera is by its pericarp thickness. The pericarp (the tissue from the ovary that surrounds the seeds) can be categorized as type I, type II, and type III with type I having the thinnest pericarp and fewest layers of schlerenchymatous (stiff) tissue and type III having the thickest pericarp and most schlerenchymatous layers. Despite the previous examples of delayed dehiscence, most fruits of this genus show normal explosive dehiscence to disperse seeds. Similar to fruit shape, the variation in fruit sizes allows for the thickest and most bountiful fruits to be selected.

## Uses
### Indigo dye

Several species, especially Indigofera tinctoria and Indigofera suffruticosa, are used to produce the dye indigo. Scraps of Indigo-dyed fabric likely dyed with plants from the genus Indigofera discovered at Huaca Prieta predate Egyptian indigo-dyed fabrics by more than 1,500 years. Colonial planters in the Caribbean grew indigo and transplanted its cultivation when they settled in the colony of South Carolina and North Carolina where people of the Tuscarora confederacy adopted the dyeing process for head wraps and clothing. Exports of the crop did not expand until the mid-to late 18th century. When Eliza Lucas Pinckney and enslaved Africans successfully cultivated new strains near Charleston it became the second most important cash crop in the colony (after rice) before the American Revolution. It comprised more than one-third of all exports in value.
The chemical aniline, from which many important dyes are derived, was first synthesized from Indigofera suffruticosa (syn. Indigofera anil, whence the name aniline).
In Indonesia, the Sundanese use Indigofera tinctoria (known locally as tarum or nila) as dye for batik. Marco Polo was the first to report on the preparation of indigo in India. Indigo was quite often used in European easel painting during the Middle Ages.

## Species

Indigofera comprises the following species:

### Palaeotropical clade

* Indigofera argentea Burm.f.
* Indigofera atriceps Hook.f.
** subsp. atriceps Hook.f.
** subsp. glandulosissima (R.E.Fr.) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. kaessneri (Baker f.) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. ramosa (Cronquist) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. rhodesiaca J.B.Gillett
** subsp. setosissima (Harms) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. ufipaensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera bainesii Baker
* Indigofera basiflora J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera biglandulosa J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera bracteolata DC.
* Indigofera brevicalyx Baker f.
* Indigofera brevipatentes
* Indigofera colutea (Burm.f.) Merr.—rusty indigo, sticky indigo
* Indigofera compressa Lam.
* Indigofera congesta Baker
* Indigofera demissa Taub.
* Indigofera eremophila Thulin
* Indigofera erythrogramma Baker
* Indigofera gairdnerae Baker f.
* Indigofera glabra L.
* Indigofera grata E.Mey.
* Indigofera hermannioides J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera heterotricha DC.
* Indigofera heudelotii Baker
* Indigofera hilaris Eckl. & Zeyh.
** var. hilaris Eckl. & Zeyh.
** var. microscypha (Baker) J.B. Gillett
* Indigofera inhambanensis Klotzsch
* Indigofera kirkii Oliv.
* Indigofera leucotricha E.Pritzel
* Indigofera macrocalyx Guill. & Perr.
* Indigofera microcalyx Baker
* Indigofera mildbraediana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera mimosoides Baker
* Indigofera monantha Baker f.
* Indigofera mooneyi Thulin
* Indigofera montoya Spanish Indigo
* Indigofera mysorensis DC.
* Indigofera nebrowniana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera nigritana Hook.f.
* Indigofera nyassica Gilli
* Indigofera omissa J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera paniculata Pers.
** subsp. gazensis (Baker f.) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. paniculata Pers.
* Indigofera phymatodea Thulin
* Indigofera podophylla Harv.
* Indigofera poliotes Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera pulchra Willd.
* Indigofera quarrei Cronquist
* Indigofera rothii Baker
* Indigofera rubroglandulosa Germish.
* Indigofera simplicifolia Lam.
* Indigofera strobilifera (Hochst.) Baker
** subsp. lanuginosa (Baker f.) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. strobilifera (Hochst.) Baker
* Indigofera suaveolens Jaub. & Spach
* Indigofera tanganyikensis Baker f.
* Indigofera tetrasperma Pers.
* Indigofera trachyphylla Oliv.
* Indigofera uniflora Roxb.
* Indigofera vohemarensis Baill.
* Indigofera wightii Wight & Arn.
* Indigofera wituensis Baker f.

### Pantropical clade

* Indigofera amblyantha Craib
* Indigofera amorphoides Jaub. & Spach
* Indigofera arrecta A.Rich.—Natal indigo, Bengal indigo, Java indigo
* Indigofera articulata Gouan
* Indigofera astragalina DC.
* Indigofera atropurpurea Hornem.
* Indigofera australis Willd.—Australian indigo
* Indigofera baumiana Harms
* Indigofera binderi Kotschy
* Indigofera blanchetiana Benth.
* Indigofera bojeri Baker
* Indigofera boranica Thulin
* Indigofera bosseri Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera boviperda Morrison
* Indigofera byobiensis Hosok.
* Indigofera caloneura Kurz
* Indigofera caroliniana Mill.—Carolina indigo
* Indigofera cassioides DC.
* Indigofera cavallii Chiov.
* Indigofera coerulea Roxb.
** var. coerulea Roxb.
** var. monosperma (Santapau) Santapau
** var. occidentalis J.B.Gillett & Ali
* Indigofera conzattii Rose
* Indigofera cuernavacana Rose
* Indigofera cylindracea Baker
* Indigofera decora Lindl.—Chinese indigo
** var. chalara (Craib) Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
** var. cooperi (Craib) Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
** var. decora Lindl.
** var. ichangensis (Craib) Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera deightonii J.B.Gillett
** subsp. deightonii J.B.Gillett
** subsp. rhodesica J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera dendroides Jacq.
* Indigofera dosua D.Don
** var. dosua D.Don
** var. simlensis (Ali) Sanjappa
* Indigofera emarginella A.Rich.
* Indigofera frondosa N.E.Br.
* Indigofera frutescens L.f.
* Indigofera fulgens Baker
** subsp. brachybotrys (Baker) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. fulgens Baker
* Indigofera galegoides DC.
* Indigofera georgei E.Pritz.
* Indigofera grandiflora B.H.Choi & S.K.Cho
* Indigofera haplophylla F.Muell.
* Indigofera hebepetala Baker
** var. glabra Ali
** var. hebepetala Baker
* Indigofera hedyantha Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera heterantha Brandis—Himalayan indigo
* Indigofera himalayensis Ali
* Indigofera hirsuta L.—hairy indigo, rough hairy indigo
* Indigofera homblei Baker f. & Martin
* Indigofera ixocarpa Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera jucunda Schrire
* Indigofera karnatakana Sanjappa
* Indigofera kirilowii Maxim ex Palib.—Kirilow's indigo
* Indigofera koreana Ohwi—Korean indigo
* Indigofera lacei Craib
* Indigofera langebergensis L.Bolus
* Indigofera laxiracemosa Baker f.
* Indigofera leprieurii Baker f.
* Indigofera longiracemosa Baill.
* Indigofera lyallii Baker
** subsp. lyallii Baker
** subsp. nyassica J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera longibarbata Engl.
* Indigofera longimucronata Baker f.
* Indigofera macrophylla Schum. & Thonn.
* Indigofera mangokyensis "R.Vig., p.p.A"
* Indigofera melanadenia Harv.
* Indigofera natalensis Bolus
* Indigofera nigrescens King & Prain
* Indigofera pendula Franch.
** var. pendula Franch.
** var. umbrosa (Craib) Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera platycarpa Rose
* Indigofera podocarpa Baker f. & Martin
* Indigofera pratensis F.Muell.
* Indigofera rhynchocarpa Baker
** var. latipinna (Johnson) J.B.Gillett
** var. rhynchocarpa Baker
** var. uluguruensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera roseocaerulea Baker f.
* Indigofera rugosa Benth.
* Indigofera sanguinea N.E.Br.
* Indigofera schlechteri Baker f.
* Indigofera sedgewickiana Vatke
* Indigofera setiflora Baker
* Indigofera sokotrana Vierh.
* Indigofera sootepensis Craib
* Indigofera stenophylla Guill. & Perr.
* Indigofera subcorymbosa Baker
* Indigofera suffruticosa Mill.—anil indigo, anil de pasto
* Indigofera sutherlandoides Baker
* Indigofera swaziensis Bolus
** subsp. perplexa (N.E.Br.) J.B.Gillett
** subsp. swaziensis Bolus
* Indigofera thibaudiana DC.
* Indigofera tinctoria L.—indigo, true indigo, dye indigo
** subsp. arcuata (J.B.Gillett) Schrire
** subsp. tinctoria L.
* Indigofera tristis E.Mey.
* Indigofera truxillensis Kunth
* Indigofera varia E.Mey.
* Indigofera venulosa Benth.
* Indigofera verrucosa Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera verruculosa Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera vicioides Jaub. & Spach
** var. rogersii R.E.Fr.
** var. vicioides Jaub. & Spach
* Indigofera zeyheri Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera zollingeriana Miq.—Zollinger's indigo

### Cape clade

* Indigofera alopecuroides (Burm.f.) DC.
* Indigofera alpina Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera amoena Aiton
* Indigofera angustata E.Mey.
* Indigofera angustifolia L.
** var. angustifolia L.
** var. tenuifolia (Lam.) Harv.
* Indigofera brachystachya (DC.) E.Mey.
* Indigofera burchellii DC.
* Indigofera candolleana Meissner
* Indigofera capillaris Thunb.
* Indigofera concava Harv.
* Indigofera cuneifolia Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera cytisoides Thunb.
* Indigofera declinata E.Mey.
* Indigofera denudata Thunb.
* Indigofera digitata Thunb.
* Indigofera dimidiata Walp.
* Indigofera filicaulis Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera filifolia Thunb.
* Indigofera flabellata Harv.
* Indigofera gifbergensis C.H.Stirt. & Jarvie
* Indigofera glomerata E.Mey.
* Indigofera heterophylla Thunb.
* Indigofera hispida Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera ionii Jarvie & C.H.Stirt.
* Indigofera mauritanica (L.) Thunb.
* Indigofera merxmuelleri A.Schreib.
* Indigofera meyeriana Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera mollis Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera nigromontana Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera nudicaulis E.Mey.
* Indigofera ovata Thunb.
* Indigofera porrecta Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera psoraloides (L.) L.
* Indigofera sarmentosa L.f.
* Indigofera sulcata DC.
* Indigofera superba C.H.Stirt.

### Tethyan clade

* Indigofera achyranthoides Taub.
* Indigofera alternans DC.
* Indigofera ammoxylum (DC.) Polhill
* Indigofera anabibensis A.Schreib.
* Indigofera angulosa Edgew.
* Indigofera antunesiana Harms
* Indigofera arabica Jaub. & Spach
* Indigofera aspera DC.
* Indigofera asperifolia Benth.
** var. asperifolia Benth.
** var. lanceolata Chodat & Hassler
** var. macrophylla Chodat & Hassler
* Indigofera auricoma E.Mey.
* Indigofera bemarahaensis Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera bongardiana (Kuntze) Burkart
* Indigofera bongensis Kotschy & Peyr.
* Indigofera cerighellii M.Pelt.
* Indigofera cloiselii Drake
* Indigofera conjugata Baker
** var. conjugata Baker
** var. schweinfurthii (Taub.) J.B. Gillett
** var. trimorphophylla (Taub.) J.B. Gillett
* Indigofera cordifolia Roth
* Indigofera daleoides Harv.
* Indigofera dalzellii T.Cooke
* Indigofera depauperata Drake
* Indigofera depressa Harv.
* Indigofera dionaeifolia (S. Moore) Schrire
* Indigofera diphylla Vent.
* Indigofera disticha Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera diversifolia DC.
* Indigofera drepanocarpa Taub.
* Indigofera ewartiana Domin
* Indigofera exellii Torre
* Indigofera fanshawei J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera glandulosa Wendl.
** var. glandulosa Wendl.
** var. sykesii Baker
* Indigofera glaucescens Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera guaranitica Hassl.
* Indigofera gypsacea Thulin
* Indigofera hartwegii Rydb.
* Indigofera hiranensis Thulin
* Indigofera hochstetteri Baker
** subsp. hochstetteri Baker
** subsp. streyana (Merxm.) A.Schreib.
* Indigofera hololeuca Harv.
* Indigofera humbertiana M.Pelt.
* Indigofera interrupta (Du Puy, Labat & Schrire) Schrire
* Indigofera jamaicensis Spreng.
* Indigofera kelleri Baker f.
* Indigofera leptocarpa Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera leptosepala Nutt.
* Indigofera lespedezioides Kunth
** var. acutifolia Hassler
** var. lespedezioides Kunth
* Indigofera leucoclada Baker
* Indigofera linifolia (L.f.) Retz.
* Indigofera linnaei Ali
* Indigofera longidentata (Du Puy, Labat & Schrire) Schrire
* Indigofera lupatana Baker f.
* Indigofera mahafalensis (Du Puy, Labat & Schrire) Schrire
* Indigofera marmorata Balf.f.
* Indigofera microcarpa Desv.
* Indigofera miniata Ortega—coastal indigo, scarlet-pea
* Indigofera nephrocarpa Balf.f.
* Indigofera nephrocarpoides J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera nummularia Baker
* Indigofera obcordata Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera oblongifolia Forssk.
* Indigofera praticola Baker f.
* Indigofera pseudocompressa (Du Puy, Labat & Schrire) Schrire
* Indigofera pungens E.Mey.
* Indigofera schimperi Jaub. & Spach
* Indigofera semitrijuga Forssk.
* Indigofera sessiliflora DC.
* Indigofera spicata Forssk.
* Indigofera spiniflora Boiss.
* Indigofera spinosa Forssk.
* Indigofera squalida Prain
* Indigofera subulata Vahl ex Poir.
* Indigofera tephrosioides Kunth
* Indigofera thomsonii Baker f.
* Indigofera torulosa E.Mey.
** var. angustiloba (Baker f.) J.B.Gillett
** var. torulosa E.Mey.
* Indigofera trifoliata L.—threeleaf indigo
** var. duthiei (Naik) Sanjappa
** var. trifoliata L.
** var. unifoliolata (Merr.) De Kort & G.Thijsse
* Indigofera trigonelloides Jaub. & Spach
* Indigofera trita L.f.—Asian indigo
** var. maffei (Chiov.) Ali
** var. marginulata (Wight & Arn.) Sanjappa
** var. scabra (Roth) De Kort & G.Thijsse
** var. trita L.f.
* Indigofera volkensii Taub.

### Unassigned

* Indigofera acanthinocarpa Blatt.
* Indigofera acanthoclada Dinter
* Indigofera accepta N.E.Br.
* Indigofera acutiflora N.E.Br.
* Indigofera acutipetala Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera adenocarpa E.Mey.
* Indigofera adenoides Baker f.
* Indigofera adesmiifolia A.Gray
* Indigofera ambelacensis Schweinf.
* Indigofera amitina N.E.Br.
* Indigofera ammobia Maconochie
* Indigofera ancistrocarpa Thulin
* Indigofera andrewsiana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera andringitrensis R.Vig.
* Indigofera ankaratrensis R.Vig.
* Indigofera aquae-nitentis Bremek.
* Indigofera aralensis Gagnep.
* Indigofera arenophila Schinz
* Indigofera argutidens Craib
* Indigofera aristata Spreng.
* Indigofera arnottii (Kuntze) Peter G. Wilson
* Indigofera aspalathoides DC.
* Indigofera asterocalycina Gilli
* Indigofera atrata N.E.Br.
* Indigofera atricephala J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera baileyi F.Muell.
* Indigofera balfouriana Craib
* Indigofera bancroftii Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera bangweolensis R.E.Fr.
* Indigofera banii N.D.Khoi & Yakovlev
* Indigofera barteri Hutch. & Dalziel
* Indigofera basedowii E.Pritz.
** subsp. basedowii E.Pritz.
** subsp. longibractea (J.Black) Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera bayensis Thulin
* Indigofera bella Prain
* Indigofera benguellensis Baker
* Indigofera berhautiana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera bijuga Walp.
* Indigofera blaiseae Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera bogdanii J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera boinensis R.Vig.
* Indigofera brachynema J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera bracteata Baker
* Indigofera brassii Baker
* Indigofera brevidens Benth.
** var. brevidens Benth.
** var. uncinata Benth.
* Indigofera brevifilamenta J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera breviracemosa Torre
* Indigofera breviviscosa J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera brunoniana Wall.
* Indigofera buchananii Burtt Davy
* Indigofera bungeana Walp.
* Indigofera burttii Baker f.
* Indigofera bussei J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera calcicola Craib
* Indigofera campestris Benth.
** var. angustifolia M.Micheli
** var. campestris Benth.
** var. intermedia Hassler
* Indigofera candicans Aiton
* Indigofera capitata Kotschy
* Indigofera carlesi Craib
* Indigofera caudata Dunn
* Indigofera cecilii N.E.Br.
* Indigofera cedrorum Dunn
* Indigofera chaetodonta Franch.
* Indigofera charlierana Schinz
** var. charlierana Schinz
** var. lata J.B.Gillett
** var. scaberrima (Schinz) J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera chenii S.S.Chien
* Indigofera chevalieri Tisser.
* Indigofera chirensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera chuniana F.P.Metcalf
* Indigofera ciferrii Chiov.
* Indigofera cinerascens Franch.
* Indigofera circinella Baker f.
* Indigofera circinnata Harv.
* Indigofera cliffordiana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera commixta N.E.Br.
* Indigofera comosa N.E.Br.
* Indigofera complanata Spreng.
* Indigofera complicata Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera concinna Baker
* Indigofera conferta J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera confusa Prain & Baker f.
* Indigofera congolensis De Wild. & T.Durand
** var. bongensis (Baker f.) J.B. Gillett
** var. congolensis De Wild. & T.Durand
* Indigofera constricta (Thwaites) Trimen
** var. constricta (Thwaites) Trimen
** var. deorum McVaugh
* Indigofera corallinosperma Torre
* Indigofera coronillifolia Benth.
* Indigofera costaricensis Benth.
* Indigofera crebra N.E.Br.
* Indigofera crotalarioides (Klotzsch) Baker
* Indigofera cryptantha Harv.
** subsp. cryptantha Harv.
** subsp. desmodioides (Baker) Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera cuitoensis Baker f.
* Indigofera cuneata Oliv.
* Indigofera cunenensis Torre
* Indigofera curvata J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera curvirostrata Thulin
* Indigofera cylindrica sensu auct.
* Indigofera damarana Merxm. & A.Schreib.
* Indigofera daochengensis Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera dasyantha Baker f.
* Indigofera dasycephala Baker f.
* Indigofera dauensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera deccanensis Sanjappa
* Indigofera deflersii Baker f.
* Indigofera dekindtii Tisser.
* Indigofera delagoaensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera delavayi Franch.
* Indigofera dembianensis (Chiov.) J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera densa N.E.Br.
* Indigofera densiflora M.Martens & Galeotti
* Indigofera densifructa Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera desertorum Torre
* Indigofera dichroa Craib
* Indigofera dillwynioides Harv.
* Indigofera discolor Rydb.
* Indigofera dissitiflora Oliv.
* Indigofera dolichochaete Craib
* Indigofera dolichothyrsa Baker f.
* Indigofera dregeana E.Mey.
* Indigofera dumetorum Craib
* Indigofera dyeri Britten
* Indigofera efoliata F.Muell.
* Indigofera egens N.E.Br.
* Indigofera elandsbergensis Phillipson
* Indigofera elliotii (Baker f.) J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera elwakensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera emarginata Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera emarginelloides J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera emmae De Kort & G.Thijsse
* Indigofera enormis N.E.Br.
* Indigofera erecta Thunb.
* Indigofera eriocarpa E.Mey.
* Indigofera esquirolii H.Lev.
* Indigofera evansiana Burtt Davy
* Indigofera evansii Schltr.
* Indigofera exigua Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera exilis Grierson & D.G.Long
* Indigofera eylesiana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera faulknerae J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera filiformis L.f.
* Indigofera filipes Harv.
* Indigofera flavicans Baker
* Indigofera floribunda N.E.Br.
* Indigofera foliosa E.Mey.
* Indigofera forrestii Craib
* Indigofera fortunei Craib
* Indigofera fruticosa Rose
* Indigofera fulcrata Harv.
* Indigofera fulvopilosa Brenan
* Indigofera fuscosetosa Baker
* Indigofera galpinii N.E.Br.
* Indigofera gangetica Sanjappa
* Indigofera garckeana Vatke
* Indigofera geminata Baker
* Indigofera giessii A.Schreib.
* Indigofera glaucifolia Cronquist
* Indigofera gloriosa Cronquist
* Indigofera goetzei Harms
* Indigofera gracilis Spreng.
* Indigofera graniticola J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera griseoides Harms
* Indigofera grisophylla Fourc.
* Indigofera guatemalensis Moc., Sessé & Cerv. ex Backer
* Indigofera guthriei Bolus
* Indigofera hamiltonii Duthie & Prain
* Indigofera hamulosa Schltr.
* Indigofera hancockii Craib
* Indigofera hantamensis Diels
* Indigofera helmsii Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera hendecaphylla Jacq.—trailing indigo, creeping indigo, spicate indigo
** var. hendecaphylla Jacq.
** var. siamensis (Hosseus) Gagnep.
* Indigofera henryi Craib
* Indigofera heterocarpa Baker
* Indigofera hewittii Baker f.
* Indigofera hinanensis H.T.Tsai & T.F.Yu
* Indigofera hofmanniana Schinz
* Indigofera holstii (Baker f.) Baker f.
* Indigofera holubii N.E.Br.
* Indigofera howellii Craib & W.W.Sm.
* Indigofera huillensis Baker f.
* Indigofera humifusa Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera humilis Kunth
* Indigofera hundtii Rossberg
* Indigofera hybrida N.E.Br.
* Indigofera hygrobia Malme
* Indigofera imerinensis Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera incana Thunb.
* Indigofera incompta McVaugh
* Indigofera ingrata N.E.Br.
* Indigofera insularis Chiov.
* Indigofera intermedia Harv.
* Indigofera intricata Boiss.
* Indigofera inyangana N.E.Br.
* Indigofera irodoensis Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera ischnoclada Harms
* Indigofera itremoensis Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera jaliscensis Rose
* Indigofera jikongensis Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera jindongensis Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera karkarensis (Thulin) Schrire
* Indigofera kasinii Boonyam.
* Indigofera kerrii De Kort & G.Thijsse
* Indigofera kerstingii Harms
* Indigofera knoblecheri Kotschy
* Indigofera kongwaensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera krookii Zahlbr.
* Indigofera kuntzei Harms
* Indigofera kurtzii Kuntze
* Indigofera lamellata Thulin
* Indigofera lancifolia Rydb.
* Indigofera lasiantha Desv.
* Indigofera latifolia Micheli
* Indigofera latisepala J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera laxiflora Craib
* Indigofera leendertziae N.E.Br.
* Indigofera lenticellata Craib
* Indigofera lepida N.E.Br.
* Indigofera leptoclada Harms
* Indigofera letestui Tisser.
* Indigofera leucotricha E.Pritz.
* Indigofera limosa L.Bolus
* Indigofera lindheimeriana Scheele—Lindheimer's indigo
* Indigofera litoralis Chun & T.Chen
* Indigofera livingstoniana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera longicauda Thuan
* Indigofera longipedicellata J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera longipedunculata Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera longistaminata Schrire
* Indigofera lotononoides Baker f.
* Indigofera lughensis Thulin
* Indigofera luzonensis De Kort & G.Thijsse
* Indigofera lydenburgensis N.E.Br.
* Indigofera macrantha Harms
* Indigofera madagascariensis Vatke
* Indigofera malacostachys Harv.
* Indigofera malindiensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera malongensis Cronquist
* Indigofera manyoniensis Baker f.
* Indigofera maritima Baker
* Indigofera masaiensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera masonae N.E.Br.
* Indigofera matudae Lundell
* Indigofera maymyoensis Sanjappa
* Indigofera megacephala J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera mekongensis Jessup
* Indigofera mendesii Torre
* Indigofera mendoncae J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera mengtzeana Craib
* Indigofera micheliana Rose
* Indigofera micrantha E.Mey.
* Indigofera micropetala Baker f.
* Indigofera mildrediana Torre
* Indigofera milne-redheadii J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera minbuensis Gage
* Indigofera mischocarpa Schltr.
* Indigofera mollicoma N.E.Br.
* Indigofera monanthoides J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera monbeigii Craib
* Indigofera monophylla DC.
* Indigofera monostachya Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera montana Rose
* Indigofera mouroundavensis Baill.
* Indigofera muliensis Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera mundtiana Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera mupensis Torre
** subsp. abercornensis J.B.Gillett
** subsp. mupensis Torre
* Indigofera mwanzae J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera myosurus Craib
* Indigofera nairobiensis Baker f.
** subsp. nairobiensis Baker f.
** subsp. viscida J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera nambalensis Harms
* Indigofera neoglabra Wang & T.Tang
* Indigofera neosericopetala P.C. Li
* Indigofera nesophila Lievens & Urbatsch
* Indigofera nigricans Pers.
* Indigofera nivea R.Vig.
* Indigofera nugalensis Thulin
* Indigofera nummulariifolia (L.) Alston
* Indigofera obscura N.E.Br.
* Indigofera ogadensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera oligophylla Klotzsch
* Indigofera omariana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera ormocarpoides Baker
* Indigofera orthocarpa C.Presl
* Indigofera oubanguiensis Tisser.
* Indigofera ovina Harv.
* Indigofera oxalidea Baker
* Indigofera oxytropis Harv.
* Indigofera oxytropoides Schltr.
* Indigofera palmeri S.Watson
* Indigofera pampaniniana Craib
* Indigofera panamensis Rydb.
* Indigofera pappei Fourc.
* Indigofera paracapitata J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera paraglaucifolia Torre
* Indigofera paraoxalidea Torre
* Indigofera parkesii Craib
* Indigofera parodiana Burkart
* Indigofera parviflora F. Heyne ex Hook. & Arn.
* Indigofera patula Baker
* Indigofera pauciflora Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera paucifolioides Blatt. & Hallb.
* Indigofera paucistrigosa J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera pearsonii Baker f.
* Indigofera pechuelii Kuntze
* Indigofera pedicellata Wight & Arn.
* Indigofera pedunculata Baker
* Indigofera pellucida J.B.Gillett & Thulin
* Indigofera peltata J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera peltieri Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera penduloides Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera perriniana Spreng.
* Indigofera petiolata Cronquist
* Indigofera phyllanthoides Baker
* Indigofera pilgeriana Schltr.
* Indigofera pilosa Poir.—softhairy indigo
* Indigofera pinifolia Baker
* Indigofera placida N.E.Br.
* Indigofera platypoda E.Mey.
* Indigofera pobeguinii J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera polygaloides M.B.Scott
* Indigofera polysphaera Baker
* Indigofera pongolana N.E.Br.
* Indigofera porrigens Colla
* Indigofera prieureana Guill. & Perr.
* Indigofera procumbens L.
* Indigofera prostrata Willd.
* Indigofera pruinosa Baker
* Indigofera pseudoevansii Hilliard & B.L.Burtt
* Indigofera pseudointricata J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera pseudoparvula R.Vig.
* Indigofera pseudoreticulata Grierson & D.G.Long
* Indigofera pseudosubulata Baker f.
* Indigofera pseudotinctoria Matsum.
* Indigofera pueblensis Rydb.
* Indigofera purpusii Brandegee
* Indigofera quinquefolia E.Mey.
* Indigofera radicifera Cronquist
* Indigofera ramosissima J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera ramulosissima Hosok.
* Indigofera rautanenii Baker f.
* Indigofera reducta N.E.Br.
* Indigofera rehmannii Baker f.
* Indigofera remota Baker f.
* Indigofera repens Cronquist
* Indigofera reticulata Franch.
* Indigofera retusa N.E.Br.
* Indigofera rhodantha Fourc.
* Indigofera rhytidocarpa Harv.
** subsp. angolensis J.B.Gillett
** subsp. rhytidocarpa Harv.
* Indigofera rigioclada Craib
* Indigofera ripae N.E.Br.
* Indigofera rojasii Hassl.
* Indigofera rostrata Bolus
* Indigofera ruspolii Baker f.
* Indigofera sabulosa Thulin
* Indigofera salmoniflora Rose
* Indigofera salteri Baker f.
* Indigofera santapaui Sanjappa
* Indigofera santosii Torre
* Indigofera saxicola Benth.
* Indigofera scabrida Dunn
* Indigofera scarciesii Scott-Elliot
* Indigofera schinzii N.E.Br.
* Indigofera schliebenii Harms
* Indigofera schultziana F.Muell.
* Indigofera scopiformis Thulin
* Indigofera sebungweensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera secundiflora Poir.
* Indigofera senegalensis Lam.
* Indigofera sensitiva Franch.
* Indigofera sericovexilla C.T.White
* Indigofera sesquipedalis Sanjappa
* Indigofera sessilifolia DC.
* Indigofera setosa N.E.Br.
* Indigofera sieberiana Scheele
* Indigofera silvestrii Pamp.
** var. alii Sanjappa
** var. silvestrii Pamp.
* Indigofera simaoensis Y.Y.Fang & C.Z.Zheng
* Indigofera sisalis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera smutsii J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera sordida Harv.
* Indigofera souliei Craib
* Indigofera sparsa Baker
* Indigofera sparteola Chiov.
* Indigofera sphaerocarpa A.Gray—Sonoran indigo
* Indigofera sphinctosperma Standl.
* Indigofera splendens Ficalho & Hiern
* Indigofera stachyodes Lindl.
* Indigofera stenosepala Baker
* Indigofera sticta Craib
* Indigofera stricta L.f.
* Indigofera strigulosa Baker f.
* Indigofera suarezensis Du Puy & Labat
* Indigofera subargentea De Wild.
* Indigofera subsecunda Gagnep.
* Indigofera subulifera Baker
* Indigofera subverticellata Gagnep.
* Indigofera szechuensis Craib
* Indigofera taborensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera tanaensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera taruffiana Torre
* Indigofera taylori J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera teixeirae Torre
* Indigofera tengyuehensis H.T.Tsai & T.F.Yu
* Indigofera tenuifolia Lam.
* Indigofera tenuipes Polhill
* Indigofera tenuis Milne-Redh.
** subsp. major J.B.Gillett
** subsp. tenuis Milne-Redh.
* Indigofera tenuissima E.Mey.
* Indigofera terminalis Baker
* Indigofera tetraptera Taub.
* Indigofera texana Buckley
* Indigofera thesioides Jarvie & C.H.Stirt.
* Indigofera thikaensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera thothathri Sanjappa
* Indigofera thymoides Baker
* Indigofera tirunelvelica Sanjappa
* Indigofera tomentosa Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera torrei J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera transvaalensis Baker f.
* Indigofera trialata A.Chev.
* Indigofera trichopoda Guill. & Perr.
* Indigofera trifolioides Baker f.
* Indigofera triquetra E.Mey.
* Indigofera tristoides N.E.Br.
* Indigofera tryonii Domin
* Indigofera tumidula Rose
* Indigofera ufipaensis J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera ugandensis Baker f.
* Indigofera vanderystii J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera velutina E.Mey.
* Indigofera venusta Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera viscidissima Baker
** subsp. orientalis J.B.Gillett
** subsp. viscidissima Baker
* Indigofera vivax Schrank
* Indigofera wildiana J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera williamsonii (Harv.) N.E.Br.
* Indigofera wilsonii Craib
* Indigofera woodii Bolus
* Indigofera zanzibarica J.B.Gillett
* Indigofera zavattarii Chiov.
* Indigofera zenkeri Baker f.
* Indigofera zornioides Du Puy & Labat

## Species names with uncertain taxonomic status

The status of the following species is unresolved:
* Indigofera abyssinica Hochst. ex Baker
* Indigofera adaochengensis Y.Y. Fang & C.Z. Zheng
* Indigofera adenophylla Graham
* Indigofera adenotricha Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera adesmiaefolia A. Gray
* Indigofera adonensis E.Mey.
* Indigofera aeruginis Schweinf.
* Indigofera agowensis Hochst. ex Baker
* Indigofera alata Schweinf.
* Indigofera alba Gouault
* Indigofera amaliae Domin
* Indigofera angulata Lindl.
* Indigofera angulata Rottler ex Spreng.
* Indigofera aphylla Breiter
* Indigofera arborescens Zuccagni
* Indigofera arghawan Royle
* Indigofera argyrea Chiov.
* Indigofera armata Wall.
* Indigofera ascendens Walp.
* Indigofera astragaloides Welw. ex Romariz
* Indigofera athrophylla Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera axillaris E.Mey.
* Indigofera bagshawei Baker f.
* Indigofera baoulensis A.Chev.
* Indigofera barbata Desv.
* Indigofera barcensis Chiov.
* Indigofera bequaerti De Wild.
* Indigofera berteroana Spreng.
* Indigofera bertolonii Steud.
* Indigofera biflora Roth
* Indigofera bilabiata Loisel. ex Drapiez
* Indigofera boylei Hort. ex Vilmorin's
* Indigofera brachycarpa Graham
* Indigofera brachyodon Domin
* Indigofera brachyphylla Al-Turki
* Indigofera brachypoda Steud. ex A.Rich.
* Indigofera brevipes (S. Watson) Rydb.
* Indigofera bufalina Lour.
* Indigofera caesia Zipp. ex Span.
* Indigofera caespitosa Wight
* Indigofera calva E.Mey.
* Indigofera carlesii Craib
* Indigofera ceciliae N.E.Br.
* Indigofera celebica Miq.
* Indigofera centrota Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera chitralensis Sanjappa
* Indigofera cinericolor F.Muell.
* Indigofera clitorioides G.Don
* Indigofera colorata Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.
* Indigofera coluteifolia Jaub. & Spach
* Indigofera condensata De Wild.
* Indigofera conradsii Baker f.
* Indigofera constricta Rydb.
* Indigofera cornezuelo Moc. & Sessé ex DC.
* Indigofera cornuligera Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera coronillaefolia A. Cunn. ex Benth.
* Indigofera coronillaefolia hort.
* Indigofera crassisiliqua Steud.
* Indigofera dalzelliana (Kuntze) Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera dalzielii Hutch.
* Indigofera debilis Graham
* Indigofera decumbens Hill
* Indigofera deginensis Sanjappa
* Indigofera dequinensis Sanjappa
* Indigofera dewevrei Micheli
* Indigofera diffusa Desv.
* Indigofera dimorphophylla Schinz
* Indigofera disjuncta J. B. Gillett
* Indigofera dodecaphylla Ficalho & Hiern
* Indigofera dorycnium Fenzl
* Indigofera dosycnium Fenzl
* Indigofera dubia Steud.
* Indigofera dumosa E.Mey.
* Indigofera elachantha Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera elatior Carrière
* Indigofera elegans Schumach. & Thonn.
* Indigofera ellenbeckii Baker f.
* Indigofera elskensii Baker f.
* Indigofera enonensis E.Mey.
* Indigofera erectifructa Y.Endo, H.Ohashi & Madulid
* Indigofera erythrantha Hochst. ex Baker
* Indigofera erythrogrammoides De Wild.
* Indigofera esquirolii H. Lév.
* Indigofera faberi Craib
* Indigofera flavovirens R.E.Fr.
* Indigofera flexuosa Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera flexuosa Graham
* Indigofera florida E.Mey.
* Indigofera foliolosa Graham
* Indigofera formosana Matsum.
* Indigofera franchetii X.F.Gao & Schrire
* Indigofera frumentacea Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.
* Indigofera fruticulosa Walp.
* Indigofera fuzi Sieb. ex Miq.
* Indigofera gilletii De Wild. & T.Durand
* Indigofera glauca Lam.
* Indigofera glauca Perr. ex DC.
* Indigofera grahamiana Steud.
* Indigofera grandifoliola Carrière
* Indigofera graveolens Schrad.
* Indigofera griquana Schltr. ex Zahlbr.
* Indigofera guineensis Schumach. & Thonn.
* Indigofera haematica Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera hainanensis H.T.Tsai & T.T.Yü
* Indigofera heptaphylla Hiern
* Indigofera hislopii Baker f.
* Indigofera hockii De Wild. & Baker f.
* Indigofera hookeriana Meisn.
* Indigofera hover Forssk.
* Indigofera inconspicua Domin
* Indigofera iwafusi Sieb. ex Lavallee
* Indigofera jaubertiana Schweinf.
* Indigofera jirahulia Buch.-Ham.
* Indigofera juncea Decne.
* Indigofera karongensis Baker
* Indigofera kerensis Chiov.
* Indigofera kisantuensis De Wild. & T.Durand
* Indigofera kotoensis Hayata
* Indigofera latibracteata Harms
* Indigofera latipinna I.M.Johnst.
* Indigofera laxeracemosa Baker f.
* Indigofera leptocaulis Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera leptophylla E.Mey.
* Indigofera lignosa De Wild.
* Indigofera limifolia Benth.
* Indigofera lindleyana Spreng. ex Steud.
* Indigofera linearis DC.
* Indigofera linearis Guill. & Perr.
* Indigofera litoralis Chun & T.C. Chen
* Indigofera liukiuennsis Makino & Nemoto
* Indigofera lonchocarpifolia Baker
* Indigofera longebarbata Engl.
* Indigofera longepedicellata J. B. Gillett
* Indigofera longeracemosa Boivin ex Baill.
* Indigofera longibractea J.M.Black
* Indigofera lupulina Baker
* Indigofera machaerocarpa Fenzl ex Baker
* Indigofera macroptera hort. ex Lavallée
* Indigofera macrostachys Vent.
* Indigofera mangokyensis R. Vig.
* Indigofera marginata Walp.
* Indigofera masukuensis Baker
* Indigofera mckinlayi F.Muell.
* Indigofera mearnsi Standl.
* Indigofera megaphylla X.F.Gao
* Indigofera melanotricha Steud. ex A.Rich.
* Indigofera melolobioides Benth. ex Harv.
* Indigofera microphylla Lam.
* Indigofera microstachya C.Presl
* Indigofera minutiflora Hochst. ex Chiov.
* Indigofera minutiflora Walp.
* Indigofera moeroensis De Wild.
* Indigofera multijuga Baker
* Indigofera mutisii (Kunth) Spreng.
* Indigofera nematopoda Baker f.
* Indigofera neoarborea Hu ex F.T. Wang & Tang
* Indigofera noldeae Rossbach
* Indigofera nuda G.Don
* Indigofera nyikensis Baker
* Indigofera oligantha Harms ex Baker f.
* Indigofera oligosperma DC.
* Indigofera orixensis Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.
* Indigofera oroboides E.Mey.
* Indigofera oxyrachis Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera paludosa Lepr. ex Guill. & Perr.
* Indigofera palustris Vatke
* Indigofera perrottetii DC.
* Indigofera petraea Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera pilifera Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera platyspira J.B.Gillett ex Thulin & M.G.Gilbert
* Indigofera plumosa Spreng.
* Indigofera polyclada Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera polysperma De Wild. & T.Durand
* Indigofera pratensis var. coriacea Domin
* Indigofera preladoi Harms
* Indigofera pretoriana Harms
* Indigofera procumbens Torre
* Indigofera propinqua Hochst. ex Chiov.
* Indigofera psammophila Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera pseudoheterantha X.F.Gao & Schrire
* Indigofera pseudomoniliformis Schrire
* Indigofera purpurea Page ex Steud.
* Indigofera quadrangularis Graham
* Indigofera racemosa L.
* Indigofera rarifolia Steud.
* Indigofera rechodes Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera reflexa E.Mey.
* Indigofera rhechodes Walp.
* Indigofera rhodosantha Zipp. ex Miq.
* Indigofera rigescens E.Mey.
* Indigofera roylei Koehne
* Indigofera roylii Hort. ex Dippel
* Indigofera rubromarginata Thulin
* Indigofera rumphiensis Schrire
* Indigofera rupestris Eckl. & Zeyh.
* Indigofera rupicola Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera sabulicola Benth.
* Indigofera saltiana Steud.
* Indigofera sangana Harms, in Schltr.
* Indigofera scabrella Kazandj. & Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera schimperiana Hochst.
* Indigofera scoparia Vahl ex DC.
* Indigofera secunda E.Mey.
* Indigofera sericea Benth. ex Baker
* Indigofera sericea L.
* Indigofera sericea Thunb. ex Harv.
* Indigofera sericophylla Franch.
* Indigofera setacea E.Mey.
* Indigofera shipingensis X.F.Gao
* Indigofera shirensis Taub. ex Baker f.
* Indigofera signata Domin
* Indigofera similis N.E.Br.
* Indigofera sinuspersica Mozaff.
* Indigofera socotrana Vierh.
* Indigofera sofa Scott-Elliot
* Indigofera solirimae Schrire
* Indigofera somalensis Vatke
* Indigofera sousae M.A.Exell
* Indigofera sparsiflora Hochst. ex Baker
* Indigofera speciosa Fraser ex Hook.
* Indigofera spirocarpa Harms
* Indigofera spoliata Hoffmanns.
* Indigofera subincana N.E.Br.
* Indigofera subquadriflora Hochst. ex Chiov.
* Indigofera subtilis E.Mey.
* Indigofera sylvatica Sieber ex Spreng.
* Indigofera sylvestris Pamp.
* Indigofera taiwaniana T.C.Huang & M.J.Wu
* Indigofera tenella Schumach. & Thonn.
* Indigofera tenella Vahl ex DC.
* Indigofera tenuicaulis Klotzsch
* Indigofera tenuisiliqua Schweinf.
* Indigofera ternata Roxb. ex Wight & Arn.
* Indigofera thirionni H.Lév.
* Indigofera thonningii Schumach. & Thonn.
* Indigofera tinctaria Hook.
* Indigofera triflora Peter G.Wilson & Rowe
* Indigofera trita var. nubica (J.B.Gillett) L.Boulos & Schrire
* Indigofera tritoidea Baker
* Indigofera ultima (Kuntze) Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera unifoliata Merr.
* Indigofera urostachya Fenzl ex Baker
* Indigofera viguieri Callm. & Labat
* Indigofera villosa Berg. ex Walp.
* Indigofera wannanii Peter G.Wilson
* Indigofera wentzeliana Harms
* Indigofera wynbergensis S.Moore
* Indigofera zig-zag De Wild.

## Ecology

Indigofera species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the turnip moth (Agrotis segetum).