Comparative assessment of morphology, anatomy and phylogeny of two exceptionally rare narrow endemic Tephrosia spp. (Leguminosae) from the Indian subcontinent

Abstract Leguminosae is the third most abundant family of angiosperm in the world, and have a distinct difference that serves to identify and differentiate closely related species. Among 650 genera and 18,000 species of legumes in India, Tephrosia is the most emerged genus, of which two endangered and narrow endemic species Tephrosia jamnagarensis Sant and T. colina var. lanuginocarpa Sharma, possess a greater challenges for biological, ecological, and competitive improvement than other plants. Both the species are very unique and only found in a few isolated pockets of Gujarat around the globe. Therefore, in light of this, the present research aims to understand how morphological, anatomical, and genetically both species vary based on their variability nature are contextualized in an Indian context. Studies carried out on Morpho-anatomical observations and classical taxonomic approaches, such as the axillary cyme vs terminal raceme in T. jamnagarensis vs T. colina var. lanuginocarpa Sharma, the corolla being 4.5 cm long vs 1.5 cm long, the wings being 5.5 cm long vs 1.40 cm long, the keel being 3.4 cm long vs 1.5 cm long. First, ever genetic identity of the plants was assessed by using matK gene of the rbcl chloroplast region, and phylogenetic trees were constructed using sister clade separation. Sequences of both the plant species and others species that are found in India were submitted to NCBI and the embryonic stage of seeds were then used to examine seed morphology and propagation.