Crotalaria goreensis Guill. & Perr.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual or short-lived perennial of rather varied habit, 0.3–2.6 m tall; branches densely pubescent with appressed to slightly spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets variable, 2.5–8.5 × 0.8–2.5 cm, linear-oblanceolate to lanceolate, oblong-elliptic or obovate, appressed pubescent at least beneath; petioles mostly 3.5–6.5 cm long; stipules 9–25 × 3–7 mm, oblong-falcate, acuminate, very unequal-sided.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 4–24 cm long, with many flowers crowded at least towards the top; bracts 3–4 mm long, subulate or filiform, early caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–5 mm long, pubescent; lobes subulate-triangular, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard ovate, yellow, veined or suffused with orange, brown or purple, glabrous outside; wings a little shorter than the keel; keel 8.5–10(11.5) mm long, angled in the lower half, with a straight beak, lanate towards the upper edge.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod (1.2)1.5–2 × 0.7–0.9 cm, subsessile, oblong-ellipsoid, pubescent, 12–16-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 4 mm long, oblong-reniform, with a small aril, minutely granulate, sometimes radially veined, yellow, usually tinged orange or red.

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: Guinea-Congolia/Zambezia regional transition zone; grassland., Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Sudanian grasslands, Zambezian grassland, Sudanian woodland, Guineo-Congolian grasslands, Sudanian bushland and thicket

Morphology General Habit

Annual/Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

Vernacular

Gambia Pea, Taimborika

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect or rather spreading annual or short-lived perennial, up to 6–26 dm. tall, simple to much branched.

Morphology Stem

Stem ribbed, densely pubescent, with appressed or usually mostly slightly spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–foliolate; leaflets variable, narrowly oblaneeolate-oblong to obovate, up to 35–85 mm. long, 8–25 mm. wide, glabrous or sparsely appressed pubescent above, thinly appressed pubescent beneath; petiole up to 35–65 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules oblong-falcate, 9–25 mm. long, 3–7 mm. wide, acuminate, very unequal-sided.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 4–24 cm. long, with many flowers crowded at least towards the top; bracts subulate or filiform, 3–4 mm. long, early caducous; bracteoles inserted on the pedicel, filiform, 1–1·5 mm. long, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–5 mm. long, appressed or rather spreading pubescent especially on the lobes; lobes subulate-triangular, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard ovate, yellow, veined or suffused with orange, brown or purple, glabrous outside; wings oblong, a little shorter than the keel; keel bent at right-angles in the lower half, with a well-developed straight untwisted beak, 8·5–10(–11·5) mm. long, conspicuously white lanate-pubescent on the lateral surfaces towards the upper margin.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod subsessile, oblong-ellipsoid, 15–20 mm. long, 7–9 mm. across, thinly pubescent with appressed or slightly spreading hairs, often mottled brown or purplish, 12–16-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblong-reniform, ± 4 mm. long, with a small aril, minutely granulate, sometimes radially veined, yellow, usually tinged orange or red.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland and grassland, sometimes on termite mounds, also persisting on roadsides and cultivated ground; 600–2400 m.

Distribution

K5 T1 T4 T5 T6 T7 U1 U2 U3 U4 widespread in tropical Africa, except the extreme east and south