Crotalaria saltiana Andrews

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

Morphology General Habit

Bushy short-lived perennial, up to 7 dm. tall.

Morphology Stem

Stem densely covered with short fine white appressed or slightly spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets narrowly elliptic to obovate, up to 45 mm. long, 10–24 mm. wide, glabrous to thinly pubescent above, appressed pubescent beneath; petiole ± 20–40 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes up to 17–30 cm. long, with usually numerous fairly closely arranged flowers towards the top, lax below; bracts linear, up to 3 mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, oblong-triangular to ovate, up to 1·5–3 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx abruptly contracted at the base, 4·5–6 mm. long, pubescent; lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular, longer than the tube, becoming reflexed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard suborbicular, yellow, glabrous or puberulous along the midvein outside; wings a little shorter to a little longer than the keel; keel rounded about the middle, with an incurved untwisted beak, up to 10–12 mm. long, conspicuously ciliolate along the upper margin towards the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod practically sessile, oblong-falcate, narrowed to either end, but rather abruptly at the base, slightly curved, up to 18–20 mm. long, 4·5–5·5 mm. across, densely and shortly subappressed or rather crisped pubescent outside, somewhat glabrescent, densely packed with long hairs inside, ± 8–12-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds triangular-cordiform, ± 2·5–3 mm. long, rugulose, dark brown.

Habitat

Deciduous bushland and semi-desert scrub, in sandy and rocky places; 350– 600m.

Distribution

K1 K2

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds Protein Content

29.00% Entire seed/nut. Moisture content not stated (Barclay & Earle, 1974)

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Bushy herb, up to 0.7 m tall; stem densely white ± appressed pubescent

Morphology Leaves Leaflets

Leaflets 3, narrowly elliptic to obovate, up to 45 x 10–25 mm, glabrous to thinly pubescent above, appressed pubescent beneath; petiole c. 20–40 mm long

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules absent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes long and many-flowered

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–6 mm long, pubescent; lobes longer than tube, becoming ± reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard yellow, glabrous or puberulous along the midvein outside; keel rounded about the middle, (6–)8–12 mm long, with an incurved untwisted beak

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod up to 18–20 x 4.5–5.5 mm, densely and shortly pubescent outside, densely packed with long hairs inside, (2–)8–12-seeded.

Distribution

N1–3; C1, 2; S1–3

Ecology

Altitude range 35–1600 m.

Vernacular

Dharjo, fara od (Somali-N).

Note

Some collections from N Somalia deviate by having fewer (2–8) ovules than normal.

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Sahel regional transition zone; grassland, Somalia-Masai bushland and thicket, Somalia-Masai grasslands

Morphology General Habit

Perennial, Not climbing, Herb