Crotalaria microcarpa Hochst. ex Benth.

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

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers deep yellow or orange

Ecology

In savannah.

Morphology General Habit

A variable diffusely branched herb, woody at the base, from a few inches to a foot or more long

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

Morphology General Habit

Much branched spreading annual or short-lived perennial, 10–70 cm tall, covered with longish appressed or spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate, 3-foliolate; leaflets 10–30 × 3–8 mm, narrowly lanceolate to oblanceolate, pilose on both surfaces; stipules 0.5–2 mm long, setaceous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers few to numerous in heads or short dense (rarely lax) racemes on a slender relatively well developed peduncle; bracts 1.5–3.5 mm long, linear or linear-lanceolate; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, smaller.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2.5–3.5 mm long, pilose; lobes triangular, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic-obovate, yellow, usually marked (or flushed) reddish, pubescent outside; wings ± as long as the keel; keel 4.5–7.5 mm long, angled in the lower part, with a straight or slightly recurved narrow beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, 4–7.5 × 2–3 mm, ellipsoid-oblong or conoid-oblong, pubescent, c. 8–12-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 1–1.2 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, brown.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Somalia-Masai grasslands, Lake Victoria regional transition zone; grasslands, Sudanian grasslands, Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; grassland., Zambezian grassland

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

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

Morphology General Habit

Much branched spreading and ascending or procumbent annual, up to 3–7 dm. tall, more rarely persisting as a perennial in damp places.

Morphology Stem

Stem covered with rather long white subappressed or spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets lanceolate to oblanceolate, up to 12–28 mm. long, 4–7 mm. wide, pilose on both surfaces; petiole up to 2–4 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules filiform, 1–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers few to numerous in heads or short dense, rarely lax, racemes on a slender 3–10 cm. long peduncle; bracts linear or linear-lanceolate, 1·5–3·5 mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, filiform, ± 1–2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 2·5–3·5 mm. long, appressed pilose; lobes triangular, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic-obovate, yellow, usually marked red, pubescent outside; wings ± as long as the keel; keel bent at right-angles in the lower part, with a straight or slightly recurved narrow untwisted beak, 4·5–7·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, ellipsoid-oblong or conoid-oblong, 4–7·5 mm. long, 2–4 mm. across, pubescent, ± 8–12-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 1–1·2 mm. long, smooth, brown.

Habitat

Brachystegia woodland, deciduous bushland and grassland, also persisting on roadsides, cultivated ground and waste places; 0–1500 m.

Distribution

K2 K4 K6 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 U1 U3 widespread in the drier parts of tropical Africa, from Mali and Ghana to Eritrea and south to Rhodesia, Botswana and Angola