Crotalaria lepidissima Baker f.

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

Stems ultimately numerous from a stout woody rhizomatous rootstock, but flowering from first year of growth, erect to 0.8 m, developing a number of flowering branches above, ribbed, densely covered with fine spreading hairs mostly 0.8–1 mm long.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves all 3-foliolate or uppermost occasionally 1-foliolate; leaflets 8–35 × 3–10 mm, oblanceolate to oblong-obovate or obovate, pilose beneath and usually also above; petiole 3–15 mm long, channelled or narrowly winged; stipules 0.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes (1.5)3–10(17) cm long, densely many-flowered; bracts 3–6 mm long, linear-lanceolate to lanceolate-caudate, exceeding the pedicel; bracteoles on the pedicel, setaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 5–7 mm long, pilose; lobes attenuate-triangular, 2–3 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard oblong-obovate, clear yellow, sometimes finely reddish lined, subdensely pilose outside; wings as long as the keel; keel 9–11 mm long, angular, with a long narrow twisted beak, conspicuously incurved at the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod subsessile, 5–6 × 3.5–5 mm, ovoid-globose, pubescent, 1–2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, with a slightly swollen rim-aril.