Crotalaria comosa Baker

Papilionaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A stout erect herb, 5–6 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers yellow and dark purple

Ecology

In savannah and cultivated land.

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, various authors. Flora Zambesiaca 3:7. 2003

Morphology General Habit

Erect generally well-branched annual or short-lived perennial, up to 0.5–2 m tall; branches appressed pubescent to tomentellous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate, estipulate; leaflets variable, mostly 3–17 × 0.8–4.5 cm, linear-lanceolate to elliptic-lanceolate or elliptic, appressed puberulous or pubescent beneath; petiole shorter than the leaflets.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 6–35 cm long, usually shortly pedunculate, dense, many-flowered; bracts 3–12 mm long, caudate; bracteoles inserted at base of the calyx, 3–5 mm long, filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3.5–5 mm long, becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, appressed pubescent; lobes narrowly triangular-acuminate, ± as long as the tube or longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard obovate-circular or obovate-elliptic, yellow, veined brown or maroon; wings ± as long as the keel; keel 6–8 mm long, strongly rounded about the middle, with a narrow sharp beak incurved at the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod very shortly stipitate, 1.2–1.6 × 0.5–0.7 cm, ellipsoid-oblong, shortly pubescent to tomentellous, 10–16-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 3 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, brownish.