Crotalaria pycnostachya subsp. tropeae (Mattei) Polhill

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

Type

S3, “Torda, Goscia”, Macaluso G.93 (PAL holo.)

Distribution

C2; S2, 3; coast of Kenya

Ecology

Altitude range 10–140 m.

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect or decumbent annual or short-lived perennial, up to 3–6·5 dm. tall, with 1-several simple or laxly branched stems.

Morphology Stem

Stems conspicuously ribbed, thinly and shortly appressed pubescent, ultimately glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets narrowly elliptic-oblong or oblong-oblanceolate, up to 50 mm. long and 15 mm. wide, long-cuneate, glabrous above, thinly appressed puberulous beneath; petiole up to 15–20 mm. long.

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules filiform, 2–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes subsessile, dense, up to 8–22 cm. long, many-flowered; bracts linear, 3–5 mm. long, much exceeding the short pedicel; bracteoles small, caducous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 4–5 mm. long, sparsely appressed puberulous; lobes triangular, ± as long as the tube.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Standard broadly elliptic, yellow, glabrous outside; wings longer than the keel; keel subangular, with a relatively narrow untwisted beak slightly incurved at the tip, 7–11 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pod shortly stipitate, oblong-clavate, up to 13–19 mm. long, 4–6 mm. across, thinly appressed puberulous, ± 12–20-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown with an uneven surface (fide Mattei).

Habitat

Little known, but found on alluvial flats; 250–1150 m.

Distribution

K1