Crotalaria congesta Polhill

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect annual, 10–50 cm tall, developing long ascending branches from the base; branches strigulose with white hairs usually marked brown at the base.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 10–20 × 3–6 mm, oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, strigose-pubescent beneath; petiole 3–10 mm long; stipules 0.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 6–20 in terminal sessile heads or crowded above a short racemose part, and with clusters of flowers in the axils below; bracts 1–2 mm long, linear; pedicels 4–8 mm long, with minute bracteoles near the middle.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–5 mm long, densely strigose-pubescent with generally brown-based hairs; upper lobes attenuate-triangular, (2)3–4 times as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard obovate or oblong-obovate, yellow, usually lined reddish-brown, densely strigose-pubescent outside; wings a little shorter than the keel; keel 7–8 mm long, angular, with a narrow twisted beak, slightly incurved at the tip.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods sessile, 6–8 × 4–5 mm, oblong-ellipsoid to shortly cylindrical, densely strigose-pubescent, 6–10-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 1.8–2 mm long, oblong-cordiform, smooth, with a well developed aril.