Family: Fabaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 713 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Amorpha
Vegetable: Unknown
Observations: U.S.A. to N. Mexico
Description
Bastard indigo-bush, scientifically named Amorpha fruticosa, is a notable member of the Fabaceae family. First classified in 1753 by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus, who documented it in his seminal work “Species Plantarum,” this perennial shrub is recognized for its adaptability and widespread presence across parts of the United States and northern Mexico.
Amorpha fruticosa typically thrives in various environments ranging from riverbanks to disturbed areas, thanks to its robust root system and versatile growing conditions. This plant is characterized by its pinnate leaves composed of numerous small leaflets, which impart a delicate, feathery appearance. During the blooming season, it showcases slender spikes of deep purple flowers adorned with vibrant orange stamens, creating a striking contrast in natural landscapes.
Bastard indigo-bush possesses ecological significance due to its ability to enhance soil health through nitrogen fixation, a common trait among members of the Fabaceae family. This process allows the plant to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for itself and neighboring plants, enriching the soil and promoting biodiversity.
In addition to its ecological benefits, Amorpha fruticosa has been utilized in soil stabilization projects to prevent erosion and in reclamation efforts to restore degraded lands. However, it’s essential to manage its growth carefully, as it can exhibit invasive tendencies in some regions, potentially outcompeting native vegetation.
Overall, the bastard indigo-bush is a resilient and beneficial shrub that plays multiple roles in its natural habitat. Its historical classification by Linnaeus and widespread occurrence across the North American landscape underscore its enduring presence and ecological importance.
Common Names
Pol: amorfa drzewiasta
Fra: amorphe buissonnante, faux indigo, indigo bâtard, faux-indigo commun, amorphe, amorphe arbustif, faux indigotier
Eng: bastard indigo, bastard indigo-bush, bastard-indigo, desert false indigo, desert indigobush, dullleaf indigo, false indigo, false indigobush, indigo-bush, indigobush, indigobush amorpha, leadplant, shrubby false indigo, false indigo-bush, indigo bush, river locust
Deu: bastardindigo, gewöhnlicher bastardindigo, scheinindigo, scheinindigo
Ita: indaco bastardo
Ron: salcam pitic
Ces: beztvarec krovitý, netvařec křovitý
Hun: cserjés gyalogakác
Spa: falso índigo
Swe: segelbuske
En: Bastard indigo-bush, Bastard-indigo, Indigo-bush, False indigo, Desert false indigo, False Indigo-Bush, DULLLEAF INDIGO, Desert false indigobush, Desert indigobush, False indigo bush, Bastard Indigo, Indigobush Amorpha, False indigobush, Indigobush, Leadplant, Shrubby false indigo, Indigo bush, River locust, Desert False-indigo, False-indigo
Ar: ناقصة شجيرية
Hy: Ամորֆա թփային
Az: Kоlvаri аmоrfа
Be: Аморфа кустарнікавая
Bg: Храстовидна аморфа
Ca: Amorfa
Zh: Zi sui huai, 紫穗槐
Hr: Amorfa
Cs: Netvařec křovitý, Beztvarec krovitý
Da: Almindelig Særkrone
Nl: Bastaard Indigostruik
Fi: Huiskusulkapensas
Fr: Faux indigo, Amorphe buissonnante, Indigo bâtard, Faux-indigo commun, Amorphe, Amorphe arbustif, Faux indigotier, Indigo du Bush
De: Bastardindigo, Gewöhnlicher Bastardindigo, Scheinindigo, Scheinindigo, Falscher Indigo, Gemeine Bastard Indigo, Gemeiner Bleibusch
Hu: Cserjés gyalogakác
It: Indaco bastardo, Amorfa, Falso Indaco
Ko: Jogjebissari, Waessalinamu, 족제비싸리
Lt: Krūminė amorfa
Pl: Amorfa krzewiasta, Amorfa drzewiasta
Ro: Amorfă arbustivă, Salcam pitic
Ru: Аморфа кустарниковая
Sr: Багренац
Sk: Beztvarec krovitý
Es: Falso índigo, Falso Indigo
Sv: Segelbuske
Zh-tw: 紫穗槐
Uk: Аморфа кущова
Synonyms
- Amorpha humilis (Tausch)
- Amorpha coerulea (Lodd.)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. humilis ((Tausch) C.K.Schneid.)
- Amorpha caroliniana (Croom)
- Amorpha verrucosa (Raf.)
- Amorpha ornata (Wender.)
- Amorpha curtisii (Rydb.)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. oblongifolia (E.J.Palmer)
- Amorpha occidentalis var. emarginata (E.J.Palmer)
- Amorpha pubescens (Schltdl.)
- Amorpha dewinkeleri (Small)
- Amorpha flexuosa (Raf.)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. typica (C.K.Schneid.)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. fragrans (Bean)
- Amorpha ludwigii (K.Koch)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. lewisii (Loudon)
- Amorpha herbacea (Schltdl.)
- Amorpha perforata (Schkuhr)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. crispa (G.Kirchn.)
- Amorpha occidentalis (Abrams)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. humilis ((Tausch) E.J.Palmer)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. croceolanata ((P.Watson) Mouill.)
- Amorpha colorata (Raf.)
- Monosemeion obliquatum (Raf.)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. albiflora (E.Sheld.)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. caroliniana ((Croom) S.Watson)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. latior (Fassett)
- Amorpha sensitiva (Voss)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. coerulea (Loudon)
- Amorpha fragrans (Sweet)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. aureovariegata (Schwer.)
- Amorpha gaertneri (K.Koch)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. pendula ((Carrière) Dippel)
- Amorpha croceolanata (P.Watson)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. vulgaris (Pursh)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. occidentalis ((Abrams) Kearney & Peebles)
- Amorpha discolor (Raf.)
- Amorpha elata (Hayne)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. ornata (Wender.)
- Amorpha virgata (Small)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. tenesseensis ((Shuttlew.) E.J.Palmer)
- Amorpha occidentalis var. arizonica ((Rydb.) E.J.Palmer)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. crispa ((G.Kirchn.) C.K.Schneid.)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. pendula ((Carrière) C.K.Schneid.)
- Amorpha lewisii (Lodd. ex Loudon)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. emarginata (Pursh)
- Amorpha angustifolia ((Pursh) Boynton)
- Amorpha pumila (Schltdl.)
- Amorpha arizonica (Rydb.)
- Amorpha macrophylla (Raf.)
- Amorpha pendula (Carrière)
- Amorpha bushii (Rydb.)
- Amorpha fruticosa var. angustifolia (Pursh)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. coerulea ((Loudon) E.J.Palmer)
- Amorpha glauca (Raf.)
- Amorpha mimosifolia (Voss)
- Amorpha fruticosa f. glabrata (E.J.Palmer)
- Amorpha tenesseensis (Shuttlew.)
- Amorpha gardneri (K.Koch)
- Amorpha nonperforata (Schkuhr)
- Amorpha emarginata (Eastw.)
Distribution
- Alabama (native)
- Arizona (native)
- California (native)
- Colorado (native)
- Florida (native)
- Idaho (native)
- Illinois (native)
- Kentucky (native)
- Maryland (native)
- Mexico Northeast (native)
- Mexico Northwest (native)
- Minnesota (native)
- New Mexico (native)
- North Dakota (native)
- Oregon (native)
- Pennsylvania (native)
- Tennessee (native)
- Texas (native)
- Utah (native)
- Vermont (native)
- Washington (native)
- Wisconsin (native)
- Wyoming (native)
- Albania (introduced)
- Argentina Northeast (introduced)
- Argentina Northwest (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Belarus (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- China North-Central (introduced)
- China South-Central (introduced)
- China Southeast (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- East Aegean Is. (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Greece (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- India (introduced)
- Inner Mongolia (introduced)
- Iraq (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Japan (introduced)
- Kazakhstan (introduced)
- Kirgizstan (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Krym (introduced)
- Manchuria (introduced)
- Myanmar (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- North Caucasus (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Primorye (introduced)
- Qinghai (introduced)
- Romania (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Tadzhikistan (introduced)
- Transcaucasus (introduced)
- Turkmenistan (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Uruguay (introduced)
- Uzbekistan (introduced)
- West Himalaya (introduced)
- Xinjiang (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
Fruit
Taken Jan 26, 2021 by Palo Rapos (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 7, 2022 by Lars Mannzen (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 7, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken May 26, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 25, 2022 by melot remi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 29, 2022 by Heloïse (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 4, 2019 by claire Felloni (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 28, 2019 by nobre jose (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Dec 7, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 26, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 29, 2022 by Heloïse (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 3, 2021 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 4, 2019 by claire Felloni (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Kseniia (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Lora (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 31, 2018 by Alain Esnault (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 4, 2019 by claire Felloni (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 23, 2021 by alexis joly (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Aug 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)
Taken May 21, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Rivière Michel (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2021 by Umaj (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 8, 2022 by Goulidan Finch (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 2, 2021 by couloubrier domaine (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Oct 24, 2021 by sebastien Ledentu Determ (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 3, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 27, 2022 by valentine de St Enogat (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 14, 2020 by marie laura (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 23, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:11421-2)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5357407)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Amorpha fruticosa L.)