Crotalaria prolongata Baker

First published in D.Oliver & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Trop. Afr. 2: 25 (1871)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to S. Tropical Africa. It is an annual and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Erect annual, 15–75 cm tall, later developing a few curved-ascending branches from near the base; stem densely covered with longish (0.5–1 mm) slightly spreading hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves mostly 3-foliolate, the uppermost 1-foliolate; leaflets 2–7 × 1–3.5 cm, oblong-oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, rounded to a markedly apiculate apex, finely pubescent on both surfaces, with lateral nerves slightly raised beneath; petiole 1.5–4 cm long, channelled; stipules 2–4 mm long, setaceous.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes terminal, sessile, 3–15 cm long, ± congested, occasionally branched, also with flowers clustered in axils below; bracts 2–4 mm long, setaceous; bracteoles on the pedicel, 0.7–1 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 3.5–4.5 mm long, densely silvery appressed pubescent; upper lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular, ± twice as long as the tube.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard elliptic or ovate, dull yellow, flushed reddish-brown or maroon, extensively pubescent outside; wings brighter yellow, a little shorter than the keel; keel 8–9 mm long, angular, with a long narrow twisted beak incurved a the tip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod sessile, 6–8 × 4–5 mm, shortly oblong-obovoid, densely appressed pubescent outside, hairy along suture inside, 1–2-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds 3–3.5 mm long, very obliquely cordiform, smooth, yellowish-brown.
[FZ]

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

Morphology General Habit
Erect annual, up to ± 6 dm. tall, simple or sparingly branched from near the base.
Morphology Stem
Stem densely covered with fine slightly spreading hairs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves mostly 3-foliolate, the uppermost 1-foliolate; leaflets oblong-oblanceolate or obovate-oblong, up to 35–65 mm. long, 14–26 mm. wide, rounded at the apex and prominently apiculate, pubescent on both surfaces; petiole ± 15–40 mm. long.
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules filiform, ± 2–4 mm. long, persistent.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Racemes terminal, sessile, compound, up to 8–15 cm. long, with very many closely arranged or crowded flowers on the primary axis, also in clusters and sometimes on lateral axes up to 5 cm. long, also clustered in the axils below; bracts filiform, 2–4 mm. long; bracteoles inserted on the pedicel, filiform, ± 1 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 3·5–4 mm. long, with the tube protracted on the lower side, densely silvery appressed pubescent; upper lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular, ± twice as long as the tube.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Standard elliptic or ovate, dull yellow, flushed reddish-brown or maroon, densely pubescent outside; wings a little shorter than the keel; keel bent at right-angles in the lower third, with a long narrow twisted beak, 8–9 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Pod sessile, subglobose-ellipsoid, 6–8 mm. long, 4–5 mm. across, densely appressed puberulous outside, pubescent along the suture inside, 1–2-seeded.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 3–5 mm. long, smooth, yellowish-brown.
Habitat
Brachystegia woodland, common along roadsides; 900 m.
Distribution
T4
[FTEA]

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation
Not Threatened
Ecology
Africa: Zambezian woodland, Zambezian grassland
Morphology General Habit
Annual, Not climbing, Herb
[ILDIS]

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
[AERP]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • International Legume Database and Information Service

    • International Legume Database and Information Service (ILDIS) V10.39 Nov 2011
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • World Checklist of Vascular plants (WCVP)

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0