Crotalaria graminicola Taub. ex Baker f.

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

Morphology General Habit

A perennial herb

Ecology

Usually in burnt grassland

Morphology Stem

Numerous nearly simple tufted stems 6–12 in. high, from a woody base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers yellow.

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

Morphology General Habit

Stems numerous, spreading to erect from a vertical and/or rhizomatous rootstock, simple to sparingly branched and 5–20 cm tall at flowering time (subsequent vegetative shoots branching and taller), slender, slightly ribbed, appressed puberulous to subappressed pubescent (hairs 0.1–0.2 mm long).

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 5–15 × 2–7 mm, oblanceolate to obovate, rounded to emarginate at the apex, appressed puberulous to pubescent beneath, rarely also above; petiole 2–12 mm long, broadly channelled to slightly winged; stipules 0.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes 2–10(18) cm long, sublaxly to laxly 6–20(30)-flowered; bracts 1–3 mm long, linear to linear-lanceolate; bracteoles on the pedicel, setaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (2.5)3–4 mm long, appressed pubescent; upper lobes lanceolate-triangular, 1.5–2 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard obovate, yellow, generally lined and later flushed reddish-purple or brown, pubescent at least along the midvein outside, often more extensively on the upper part; wings a little shorter than the keel; keel 4–5(7) mm long, angular, with a narrow twisted beak at least slightly incurved at the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod nearly sessile, 3.5–5 mm long, subglobose-ovoid, appressed puberulous, 1–4-seeded (ovules 2–6(8)).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.5–2 mm long, rounded-cordiform, smooth, brown, generally exarillate in the Flora Zambesiaca area.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial with a number of erect or decumbent stems from a woody rootstock and under favourable conditions also from woody rhizomes, 5–35cm. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stems slightly ribbed, shortly appressed or rarely spreading pubescent, sometimes glabrescent at the base.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets oblan-ceolate to obovate, up to 12–17 mm. long and 4–10 mm. wide, but often much smaller, rounded or emarginate at the apex, glabrous or sparsely puberulous above, appressed puberulous or pubescent beneath; petiole sometimes conspicuously grooved or narrowly winged, up to 4–10 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes shortly pedunculate, up to 10 cm. long, with ± 15–24 fairly closely or laxly arranged flowers; bracts subulate, ± 1–3 mm. long; bracteoles inserted on the pedicel, small.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–4 mm. long, with the tube protracted on the lower side, appressed puberulous; upper lobes attenuate-triangular, usually longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard suborbicular, yellow, sometimes veined reddish-brown or purplish outside, puberulous outside at least on the midvein, usually on most of the veins; wings shorter than the keel; keel bent at right-angles in the lower third, with a long straight or slightly incurved twisted beak, 6–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod practically sessile, subglobose-ovoid, a little pointed, slightly compressed laterally, appressed pubescent, 4–5·5 mm. long, 1–4-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds ovoid-cordiform, up to 2 mm. long, with a small aril, smooth, maroon-brown.

Figures

Fig. 134.

Habitat

Brachystegia woodland and upland grassland, both in damp sandy and dry stony places, fire tolerant; 900–2100 m.

Distribution

T1 T4 T7 Burundi and Rwanda west to Nigeria