Crotalaria ononoides Benth.

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

Morphology General Habit

Much branched spreading annual, procumbent or ascending, sometimes up to 0.5–1 m tall; branches pilose with subappressed or spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate, 3-foliolate; leaflets mostly 2.5–5(6) × 0.8–1.8(2.4) cm, lanceolate to elliptic or obovate, the upper ones often longer and proportionally narrower, glabrous to sparsely pilose above, subappressed pilose beneath; stipules simple or 2–3(5)-fid, up to 5–13 mm long, with both the simple stipules and segments linear-subulate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers numerous in sessile heads; bracts basally fused to the pedicel, spreading from just below the calyx, 3-fid with linear segments up to 10–13 mm long; bracteoles basally fused to the calyx tube, the free part directed forwards, 8–12 mm long, linear.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 7–10(12) mm long, deeply divided, slightly 2-lipped, pilose; lobes subulate, caudate, 4–5 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic-obovate to subcircular, yellow, finely veined or reddish flushed with age, glabrous except along the midvein outside; wings ± as long as the keel; keel 7–9 mm long, subangular, narrowly beaked.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, 8–12 mm long, ellipsoid, glabrous except for a few hairs at the apex, 8–14-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.5–2 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, pale orange-brown.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; grassland., Zambezian grassland, Guinea-Congolia/Sudania regional transition zone; grasslands., Guineo-Congolian grasslands, Sudanian grasslands, Guinea-Congolia/Zambezia regional transition zone; grass

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb

Vernacular

Vangairidrano

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

Morphology General Habit

Much-branched spreading annual, procumbent or ascending, sometimes up to 5–10 dm. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stem pilose with subappressed or spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate, 3-foliolate; leaflets lanceolate to elliptic or obovate, up to 30–50(–60) mm. long, 8–18(–24) mm. wide, with the upper ones longer and proportionally narrower, glabrous to sparsely pilose above, subappressed pilose beneath; petiole ± 4–9 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules simple or 2–3(–5)-fid, with both the simple stipules and the segments linear-subulate, up to 5–13 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers numerous in sessile heads up to 3 cm. long; bracts fused to the pedicel, spreading from just below the calyx, 3-fid, with linear segments up to 10–13 mm. long; bracteoles basally fused to the calyx-tube, the free part linear, ± 8–12 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx as long as the corolla, 7–10(–12) mm. long, pilose; lobes subulate, 4–5 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard elliptic-obovate to suborbicular, yellow, veined or with age turning reddish, glabrous except along the midvein outside; wings ± as long as the keel; keel sub-angular, narrowly beaked, 7–9 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, ellipsoid, up to 9–12 mm. long, glabrous except for a few hairs at the apex, ± 8–14-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 1·5–2 mm. long, smooth, pale orange-brown.

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