Crotalaria nigricans Baker

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

Morphology General Habit

Perennial herb; stems erect or prostrate, much branched, 0.3–1.5 m long, with fine spreading hairs; plants often drying blackish.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets (1)1.5–3 × 0.5–1.2 cm, oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, usually sparsely pubescent above, thinly hairy beneath; petiole 2–6 mm long; stipules 3–6 mm long, lanceolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4–12 in sessile or shortly pedunculate terminal heads; bracts 4–7(9) mm long, ovate, acuminate; pedicels short; bracteoles inserted just below the calyx, similar to the bract but a little smaller.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4-lobed, 8–13 mm long, almost enclosing the corolla, slightly accrescent, pubescent; lobes ovate, 2–3 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard circular-ovate to oblate, usually pale yellow, reddish-tinged and puberulous along the midvein outside towards the apex; wings longer than the keel; keel 8–10 mm long, rounded about the middle, with a short incurved beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod enveloped by the calyx, sessile, 7–10 mm long, ellipsoid, spreading pubescent outside, sparsely hairy inside, 4–8-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 2.5 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, mauvish-brown.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian 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 erect or prostrate stems, up to 7(–15) dm. long.

Morphology Stem

Stem much branched, with rather sparse fine spreading hairs; plants often drying blackish.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate, 3-foliolate; leaflets oblanceolate to obovate-oblong, up to 15–28 mm. long, 5–12 mm. wide, sparsely pubescent or rarely glabrous above, thinly pubescent beneath; petiole up to 2–6 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules lanceolate, up to 3–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers ± 4–12, in sessile or shortly pedunculate dense heads up to 2·5 cm. long; bracts ovate, up to 5(–9) mm. long, acuminate; bracteoles inserted just below the calyx, similar to the bract, but slightly smaller.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4-lobed, almost enclosing the petals, slightly accrescent, 8–13 mm. long, pubescent; lobes ovate, 2–3 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard orbicular-obovate to oblate, usually pale yellow, slightly reddish tinged and puberulous along the midvein towards the apex outside; wings longer than the keel; keel rounded about the middle, with a short incurved untwisted beak, up to 8–10 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, ellipsoid, 7–10 mm. long, enclosed by the accrescent calyx, spreading pubescent outside, sparsely hairy inside, ± 4–7-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 2·5 mm. long, smooth, mauvish-brown.