Crotalaria mesopontica Taub.

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: Afromontane grassland, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands

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

Short-lived perennial, with a number of radiating decumbent shoots curved and ascending to 1·5–10 dm., from a little developed taproot.

Morphology Stem

Stems subterete, pubescent with fine irregularly spreading brownish hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets lanceolate to elliptic or obovate, not varying much in shape up the stem, up to 15–24(–28) mm. long, 4–11 mm. wide, glabrous or pubescent above, covered with appressed or slightly spreading irregularly arranged hairs beneath; petiole 5–13(–20) mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules subulate, up to 1·5 mm. long, caducous or obscure.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes long-pedunculate, up to 15–30 cm. long, with numerous flowers crowded towards the top; bracts subulate-caudate, 1–3·5 mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx or just below, less than 1 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, 3–4·5 mm. long, a ppressed or spreading pubescent; lobes triangular-acuminate, subequal to or a little longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard obovate, yellow, veined reddish-purple, glabrous outside; wings longer than the keel; keel rounded about the middle, with a slightly incurved attenuate acute untwisted beak, 6–8(–9) mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod practically sessile, subcylindrical, 16–20 mm. long, 3·5–4 mm. across, usually coarsely pubescent, ± 20–24-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 2 mm. long, smooth, orange-brown.