Crotalaria cistoides Welw. ex Baker

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

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

Morphology General Habit

Low bushy herb or small shrub, up to 2–8 dm. tall, with a well-developed system of branches covered in a tomentum of short ± appressed to long fine mostly spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves rather closely arranged, sessile, 3-foliolate; leaflets oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic-oblong, with the apiculum slightly recurved and the margins slightly inrolled, up to 8–15(–18) mm. long, 1·5–4 mm. wide, appressed to spreading pilose on both surfaces, sometimes sericeous.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers numerous, solitary or in small very shortly stalked clusters terminal on main and very reduced lateral branches or axillary; bracts linear to linear-lanceolate, 2–4 mm. long; bracteoles at top of short pedicel, small.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4·5–6 mm. long, densely hairy; lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular to oblong-triangular, ± 3 times as long as tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard broadly elliptic or obovate-elliptic, yellow, often tinged reddish or purplish veined, sericeous at least towards apex outside; wings exceeding keel; keel abruptly rounded with a short straight or slightly incurved pointed beak, 3·5–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod practically sessile, shortly ovoid-ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid, 5–7 mm. long, pilose outside and also inside at least along lower suture, 2–4-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds obliquely oblong-cordiform, ± 3 mm. long, smooth.

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

Morphology General Habit

Low bushy herb or small shrub, up to 20–80 cm tall, with a well developed system of branches covered in a tomentum of short ± appressed to long fine mostly spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves rather closely arranged, estipulate, sessile, 3-foliolate; leaflets 6–20 × 1.5–6(8) mm, oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic-oblong, with the apiculum slightly recurved and the margins flat to slightly inrolled, appressed to spreading pilose on both surfaces, sometimes sericeous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers numerous, solitary or in small very shortly stalked clusters terminal on main and very reduced lateral branches or axillary; bracts 2–4 mm long, linear to linear-lanceolate; bracteoles at the top of the short pedicel, small.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4.5–6 mm long, densely hairy; lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular to oblong-triangular, c. 3 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard broadly elliptic or obovate-elliptic, yellow, often tinged reddish or purplish veined, sericeous at least towards the apex outside; wings exceeding the keel; keel 3.5–5 mm long, abruptly rounded, with a short straight or slightly incurved pointed beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod practically sessile, 5–7 mm long, shortly ovoid-ellipsoid to oblong-ellipsoid, pilose outside and also inside at least along the lower suture, 2–4-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 3 mm long, obliquely oblong-cordiform, smooth.