Crotalaria chrysochlora Baker f. ex Harms

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial with a thick woody rootstock and a number of ascending or decumbent stems, sometimes up to 3 dm. tall, often less.

Morphology Stem

Stems pubescent with short appressed or spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets elliptic-obovate to obovate, up to 15–40 mm. long and 8–18 mm. wide, glabrous above, appressed puberulous beneath; petiole up to 9–25 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules minute or absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes pedunculate, up to 4–10 cm. long, with up to 20 flowers rather closely arranged towards the top; bracts filiform, 1·5–3 mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, filiform, less than 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, 3·5–4·5 mm. long, appressed or rarely spreading puberulous; lobes triangular, slightly acuminate, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard suborbicular, yellow, veined or sometimes tinged reddish-brown or purple, glabrous outside; wings longer than the keel; keel ± semiorbicular, with a short blunt untwisted beak, 5–6(–7) mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod nearly sessile, subcylindrical, up to 15–18 mm. long, 4–6 mm. across, appressed puberulous, ± 10–16-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, 2·5–3 mm. long, smooth, dark brown.

Figures

Fig. 127/1–8.

Habitat

Upland grassland, persisting on roadsides; 1050–2600 m.

Distribution

K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 T1 T4 T7 U1 U2 U4

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Zambezian wooded grassland, Sudanian wooded grassland, Lake Victoria regional mosaic; wooded grassland, Sudanian grasslands

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19891418/20045537

Conservation

LC - least concern

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial with a thick woody rootstock and a number of curved-ascending or decumbent stems, sometimes up to 30 cm tall, often less; stems pubescent with short appressed or spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate, estipulate; leaflets mostly 1.5–4 × 0.6–1.8 cm, elliptic to obovate, appressed puberulous beneath; petiole shorter than the leaflets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes up to 4–10 cm long, pedunculate, with 8–20 flowers rather closely arranged above; bracts 1.5–3 mm long, subulate; bracteoles at the base of the calyx, less than 1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3.5–4.5 mm long, basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, puberulous; lobes triangular, slightly acuminate, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard obovate-circular to oblate, yellow, veined reddish-brown or purple; wings exceeding the keel; keel 5–6(7) mm long, rounded, with a short blunt beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod practically sessile, 15–18 × 4–6 mm, subcylindrical, appressed puberulous, 10–16-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2.5–3 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, dark brown.