Crotalaria cleomifolia Welw. ex Baker

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrubby much branched perennial 1–4.5 m tall; branches variously appressed puberulous to spreading yellowish tomentose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–5-foliolate; leaflets 4–12 × 1.5–5.5 cm, elliptic, sometimes narrowly so, often acuminate, hairy at least beneath, discolorous, dark green above; petiole shorter than the leaflets; stipules 1–5 mm long, subulate to linear-caudate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes mostly 10–30(40) cm long, rather shortly pedunculate, subdensely many flowered; bracts 2–8(10) mm long, subulate or linear-caudate; bracteoles at the base of the calyx, 2–8(10) mm long, linear-caudate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 6–7 mm long, becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, appressed puberulous to spreading tomentose; lobes narrowly triangular-acuminate, as long as the tube or longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic, bright yellow, usually veined reddish-brown; wings markedly shorter than the keel; keel 1.2–1.7 cm long, rather strongly rounded about the middle, with a narrow beak incurved towards the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod shortly stipitate, (3.5)3.8–5(6) cm long, narrowly cylindrical, sometimes shortly curved upwards at the tip, sparsely puberulous to densely spreading pubescent, 30–40-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 3–4 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, brown.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shrubby much-branched perennial, up to 1–4 m. tall, woody at the base.

Morphology Branches

Branches often slightly ribbed, with variable indumentum, appressed puberulous to spreading yellowish tomentose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–5-foliolate; leaflets elliptic, sometimes narrowly so, up to 5–10·5(–12) cm. long, 2–5·5 cm. wide, acute to bluntly pointed, often acuminate, glabrous to pubescent above, puberulous to pilose beneath, discolorous, dark green above; petiole 2–5·2 cm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules subulate to linear-caudate, ± 1–5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes rather shortly pedunculate, up to 11–28(–40) cm. long, with many rather closely arranged flowers; bracts subulate or linear-caudate, 2–8(–10) mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, linear-caudate, 2–8(–10) mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, 6–7 mm. long, appressed puberulous to spreading tomentose; lobes acuminate, subequal to or a little longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic, bright yellow, usually veined reddish-brown, glabrous outside; wings much shorter than the keel; keel rather strongly rounded about the middle, with a narrow slightly incurved untwisted beak, (10–)14–17 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod shortly stipitate, cylindrical, sometimes curved shortly upwards at the tip, 38–50 (–60) mm. long, 7–9 mm. across, sparsely puberulous to densely spreading pubescent, ± 30–40-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 3 mm. long, smooth, brown.

Habitat

Margins and clearings of upland rain-forest, upland evergreen bushland and grassland, at lower altitudes mostly along river banks and at swamp margins, also persisting on roadsides and cultivated ground; 1150–2550 m.

Distribution

K3 K4 K5 T4 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2 U3 U4

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

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Lake Victoria regional mosaic; bushland and thicket, Zambezian bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Sudanian bushland and thicket, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; bushland and thicket., Guinea-Congolia/Zambez

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub