Crotalaria pallida Aiton

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

23.80% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Barclay & Earle, 1974)

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

brusquillo, cascabel, cascabeles, cascabelito, cascabelitos, crotalaria

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 5 - 1850 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Cauca, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba, arbusto

Conservation

Preocupación Menor

Leguminosae, various authors. Flora Zambesiaca 3:7. 2003

Morphology General Habit

Erect well-branched sometimes robust herb 1–2(3) m tall; branches densely appressed pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3(4)-foliolate; leaflets mostly 3–13 × 2.5–7 cm, elliptic to obovate, appressed puberulous beneath; petiole ± as long as leaflets or shorter; stipules up to 3 mm long, filiform, deciduous, or absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes shortly pedunculate, mostly 15–30 cm long, many-flowered; bracts up to 5 mm long, linear, caducous before the flowers open; bracteoles at the base of the calyx, similar but smaller.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 6–7.5 mm long, becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, ± densely appressed pubescent; lobes narrowly triangular-acuminate, subequal to or longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic, yellow, usually veined reddish-brown, glabrous outside; wings much shorter than the keel; keel 1.2–1.4(1.5) cm long, shallowly rounded, with a narrow somewhat projecting pointed beak (slightly incurved only at the tip), yellowish-green, sometimes conspicuously lined brown or purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod 3.8–5 × 0.6–0.8 cm, shortly stipitate, subcylindrical, sometimes slightly curved, puberulous, usually glabrescent, 30–40-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 3.5 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth to minutely papillose, brown or mottled ochre and dark grey-green.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Sudanian grasslands, Tongaland-Pondoland regional transition zone - grassland., Zambezian grassland, Guinea-Congolia/Zambezia region

Morphology General Habit

Annual/Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub

Vernacular

Aika, Aikaberavina, Aikavavy, Ambarivatrindoly, Amberivatrindolo, Brusquillo, Cascabelitos, Cascavelle Trois Feuilles, Ding Ding, Guiso-de-cascavel, Kirintsa, Kitsonakoho, Mato-pasto-branco, Pine Kotalelia, San, Sen, Smooth Crotalaria, Streaked Rattlepod,

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

Erect well-branched annual or short-lived perennial, up to 1–2(–3) m. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stem with short appressed hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3(–4)-foliolate; leaflets variable, elliptic, obovate-elliptic or obovate, up to 40–110 mm. long, 25–52 (–70) mm. wide, glabrous above, thinly appressed puberulous beneath; petiole ± 20–85 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules filiform, up to 3 mm. long, caducous, or absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes shortly pedunculate, up to 15–30 cm. long, with many fairly closely arranged flowers; bracts linear, up to 5 mm. long, caducous before the flowers open; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, filiform, up to 1–3 mm. long, but sometimes small and obscure.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, 6–7·5·mm. long, appressed puberulous; lobes narrow, acuminate, subequal to or longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic, yellow, often veined reddish-brown, glabrous outside; wings much shorter than the keel; keel rather shallowly rounded about the middle, with a narrow slightly projecting untwisted beak, 12–14(–15) mm. long, yellowish-green, usually conspicuously veined brown or purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod shortly stipitate, subcylindrical, sometimes slightly curved, 38–46 mm. long, 6–8 mm. across, puberulous, usually glabrescent, ± 30–40-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 3·5 mm, long, smooth or minutely papillose, mottled ochre and dark grey-green, or brown.

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 5–1850 m a.s.l. Naturalised in Colombia. Colombian departments: Antioquia, Caldas, Caquetá, Casanare, Cauca, Chocó, Cundinamarca, Guainía, Huila, La Guajira, Meta, Quindío, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupés, Vichada.

Habit

Herb, Shrub.

Conservation

National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, native grassland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Use Animal Food

Used as animal food.

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use Poisons

Poisons.

Use Social

Social uses.