Crotalaria decora Polhill

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect laxly branched graceful annual up to 55 cm tall; stem slender, sparsely appressed pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subsessile, simple; blades up to 15–30 × 1.5–5 mm, linear-oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, thinly appressed pubescent beneath; stipules c. 1–1.5 mm long, setaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes numerous, laxly 3–12-flowered; rhachis filiform; bracts 0.5–1 mm long, setaceous, bracteoles at top of the pedicel, very small.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2–3 mm long, thinly pubescent or practically glabrous on the tube; lobes subulate or acuminately triangular, a little longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic-oblong, yellow, finely veined brown, glabrous outside; wings distinctly shorter than the keel; keel 6–8 mm long, bent at right angles in the lower third, with a long narrow almost straight to slightly recurved beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod subsessile, 5–8 × 2–2.5 mm, shortly cylindrical, thinly appressed pubescent, c. 8–12-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 1.5 mm long, cordiform, slightly rugulose, brown.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect laxly branched graceful annual, up to 5–5 dm. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stem slender, sparsely appressed pubescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves subsessile, simple; blade linear-oblanceolate to oblanceolate-oblong, up to 15–28 mm. long, 1·5–5 mm. wide, glabrous above, thinly appressed pubescent beneath; petiole up to1 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules filiform, ± 1–1·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes numerous on the main and many short lateral branches, lax, up to 3–10 cm. long, with ± 3–12 flowers on the filiform rhachis; bracts subulate, 0·5–1 mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the top of the pedicel, very small.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx up to 2·5–3 mm. long, thinly pubescent or practically glabrous on the tube; lobes subulate or acuminately triangular, a little longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic-oblong, yellow, finely veined brown, glabrous outside; wings distinctly shorter than the keel; keel bent at right-angles in the lower third, with a long narrow almost straight or slight recurved untwisted beak, 6–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod subsessile, shortly cylindrical, 5–8 mm. long, 2–2·5 mm. across, thinly appressed pubescent, ± 8–12-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds cordiform, ± 1·5 mm. long, rugulose, brown.

Habitat

Brachystegia woodland on sandy soils; 1150–1500 m.

Distribution

T4

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian grassland

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb