Crotalaria bogdaniana Polhill

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial, with 1-several stems branched almost from the base, with the lower branches usually decumbent, up to 1–5 dm. long.

Morphology Stem

Stems subterete, rather closely subappressed pubescent, ultimately glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets essentially elliptic, varying to oblanceolate-elliptic or elliptic-obovate, up to 23–45 mm. long, 12–22 mm. wide, glabrous above, appressed pubescent beneath; petiole 7–10 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules linear, 2–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes shortly pedunculate, up to 4–8 cm. long, with the ± 12–30 flowers densely arranged, but often becoming more lax with age; bracts linear or subulate, up to 1–2 mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, up to 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2·5–3 mm. long, appressed pubescent; lobes narrowly deltoid, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard suborbicular, pale yellow or greenish-yellow, sometimes faintly veined maroon, glabrous outside; wings longer than the keel; keel rounded about the middle, with a short rather projecting untwisted beak, (6–)7–9 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod very shortly stipitate, subcylindrical, slightly expanded towards the apex, up to 16–19 mm. long, 5–6 mm. across, appressed pubescent, ± 8–16-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Mature seeds unknown.

Figures

Fig. 125.

Habitat

Grassland, often on waterlogged clay soils, seasonally inundated flats or river banks, sometimes becoming a weed of cultivated ground; 1100–1700 m.

Distribution

K4 K6 T1 U1 not known elsewhere

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Annual or perennial with the lower branches usually decumbent, up to 0.1–0.5 m long; stems ± appressed pubescent

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, usually elliptic, up to 23–45 x 12–22 mm, glabrous above, appressed pubescent beneath; petiole 7–15 mm long

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules linear, 1–6 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes shortly pedunculate, ± dense, many-flowered; buds deflexed almost from inception; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, up to 2 x 1 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2.5–5.5 mm long, usually appressed pubescent; lobes about as long as the tube

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard pale yellow, sometimes with dark veins, glabrous outside; keel rounded about the middle, (6–)7–9 mm long, with a short untwisted beak

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod up to 16–20 x 5–6 mm, appressed pubescent, c. 8–16-seeded.

Distribution

C2; S1, 3; Ethiopia, N Uganda, Kenya, N Tanzania

Ecology

Altitude range 30–450 m.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident