Crotalaria cuspidata Taub.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual, (0.3)0.5–1.3 m tall, sparingly branched; stem obscurely ribbed, densely silky pilose.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves mostly 3-foliolate, the uppermost generally 1-foliolate; leaflets 15–45 × 3–13 mm, linear-oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, obtuse or rounded to the markedly apiculate apex, pilose on both surfaces, more densely beneath; petiole 7–10(15) mm long; stipules 2–4 mm long, setaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes terminal, sessile, (5)10–30 cm long, densely many-flowered, with other flowers clustered in the axils below; bracts 2–3 mm long, setaceous; bracteoles on the pedicel, 0.5–1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3.5–4 mm long, densely silky pubescent; upper lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular, 1.5–2.5 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic, dull yellow, veined and flushed brown outside, densely pubescent apically outside; wings a little shorter than the keel; keel 7–9 mm long, angular, with a long narrow twisted beak incurved at the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, 5–6 mm long, shortly oblong-obovoid, densely pubescent outside, hairy along the suture inside, 1–2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 3 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, yellow to brown.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual, up to 1 m. tall, sparingly branched.

Morphology Stem

Stem obscurely ribbed, densely pilose with fine often golden-yellow subappressed hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves mostly 3-foliolate, with the uppermost generally 1-foliolate; leaflets linear-oblanceolate to oblanceolate-oblong, up to 20–45 mm. long, 3–13 mm. wide, obtuse or rounded and markedly apiculate, cuneate, pilose on both surfaces, more densely so beneath; petiole 7–10(–15) mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules filiform, 2–4 mm. long, persistent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes long, terminal, sessile, ± 15–30 cm. long, with many crowded flowers and others clustered in many of the axils below; bracts linear, 2–3 mm. long; bracteoles inconspicuous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3·5–4 mm. long, with the tube slightly protracted on the lower side, appressed pilose; upper lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular, ± 2–3 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic, dull yellow, veined and tinged brown outside, densely pubescent apically outside; wings shorter than the keel; keel bent at right-angles in the lower third, with a long narrow twisted beak, 7–9 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, subglobose-ellipsoid, 5–6 mm. long, densely appressed pubescent outside, thinly pubescent along the suture inside, 1–2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

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

Habitat

Upland grassland and Brachystegia woodland; 1200–1800m.; probably also occurring at lower altitudes in areas of Brachystegia woodland

Distribution

Zambia and Congo west to northern Nigeria T4 T7

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; woodland, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Zambezian woodland

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb