Crotalaria vasculosa Wall. ex Benth.

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

Morphology General Habit

Shortly erect annual, with long decumbent lower branches, hirsute with tawny spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves shortly petiolate, 3-foliolate; leaflets very variable, 2.5–7.5(11.5) × 1–2.5 cm, linear-lanceolate to elliptic or obovate, with those of the leading shoot often longer and narrower, conspicuously pilose on both surfaces; stipules up to 3–4 mm long, filiform.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes mostly terminal, shortly pedunculate, up to 3–17 cm long, densely many-flowered; bracts up to 4 mm long, filiform; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, similar.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–4.5 mm long, becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, subglabrous except for scattered bristly hairs along the lobe margins; lobes acuminately triangular, a little longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard subcircular, pale yellow, purplish veined; wings usually shorter than the keel; keel 6.5–8.5 mm long, rounded about the middle, with a sharp slightly projecting beak.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, 1.6–1.8(2) cm long, subcylindrical, somewhat pointed, densely covered with long brown spreading hairs over a furry tomentum, c. 20-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds c. 2.5 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, pale greenish-buff, mottled greyish-mauve.

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

Morphology General Habit

Annual, with a shortly erect stem, up to 7·5(–9) dm. tall, and long decumbent lower branches.

Morphology Stem

Stem hirsute with spreading hairs.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets very variable, linear-lanceolate to elliptic or obovate, with those of the leading shoot often longer and narrower, 25–75(–115) mm. long, 12–21 mm. wide, conspicuously pilose on both surfaces; petiole up to 7 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules filiform, up to 3–4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes shortly pedunculate, up to 3–17 cm. long, with many crowded flowers; bracts filiform, up to 4 mm. long; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx, similar to the bract.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, 3–4·5 mm. long, subglabrous except for scattered bristly hairs along the lobe-margins; lobes acuminately triangular, a little longer than the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard suborbicular, pale yellow, purplish veined, glabrous outside; wings usually shorter than the keel; keel rounded about the middle, with a sharp slightly projecting untwisted beak, 6·5–8·5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod sessile, subcylindrical, somewhat pointed, 16–18(–20) mm. long, densely covered with long brown spreading hairs over a furry tomentum, ± 20-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds oblique-cordiform, ±2·5 mm. long, smooth, pale greenish-buff, mottled greyish-mauve.

Habitat

Grassland and Brachystegia woodland, often on sandy soil, also persisting on roadsides and cultivated ground; 0–1650 m.

Distribution

K5 K7 T1 T2 T3 T5 T6 T8 U4 Z

International Legume Database and Information Service

Conservation

Not Threatened

Ecology

Africa: Zambezian wooded grassland, Zambezian grassland, Zanzibar-Inhambane regional transition zone; grassland., Tongaland-Pondoland regional transition zone - grassland., Lake Victoria regional mosaic; wooded grassland, Zanzibar-Inhambane regional trans

Morphology General Habit

Annual, Not climbing, Herb/Shrub