Crotalaria podocarpa DC.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (4)

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi National Park.

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Crotalaria arvensis Klotzsch Crotalaria belckii Schinz Crotalaria damarensis Engl. var. maraisiana Torre Crotalaria flexuosa Baker Crotalaria fulgida Baker Crotalaria hirsutissima Schinz Crotalaria mutabilis Schinz Crotalaria pilifera Klotzsch Crotalaria podocarpa DC. var. villosa Schinz Crotalaria podocarpa DC. subsp. flexuosa (Baker) Baker f. Crotalaria podocarpa DC. subsp. belckii (Schinz) Baker f.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect annual up to 70 cm tall with spreading lower branches. Most parts with spreading hairs. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets variable but mostly linear, on long-lanceolate or obovate elliptic, 1.5-7 cm long, usually thinly hairy at least beneath; petiole usually slightly shorter than the leaflets; stipules linear lanceolate to falcate, up to 17 mm long, very unequal sided and often shortly stalked. Flowers in long-pedunculate racemes 6-14 cm long,laxly 2-8-flowered; pedicels 2.5-6 mm long. Calyx 7-9 mm long with lobes narrowly triangular, longer than the tube,often reflexed. Flowers clear yellow,sometimes slightly reddish tinged; wings slightly shorter than keel;keel angled in lower half with a straight beak, hairless but often hairy on the beak. Pod 2-3 cm long, somewhat broadly cylindrical and inflated when young, abruptly contracted into the 2.5-5 mm long stipe, hairless.
Notes:	See Crotalaria damarensis for comparison.
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In Mopane woodland, open Acacia or Combretum woodland and grassland, usually on sandy soils and often in seasonally wet depressions by soad sides, pans and rocky outcrops.
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in drier parts of tropical Africa.
Botswana distribution:	N,SW,SE
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Tuesday 31 January 2017
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 11. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 218. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 129. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 47. Martins, E.S. et al. (2003). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(7) Pages 105 - 107. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 63.

Other sources of information about Crotalaria podocarpa:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Crotalaria podocarpa
Flora of Malawi: Crotalaria podocarpa
Flora of Mozambique: Crotalaria podocarpa
Flora of Zambia: Crotalaria podocarpa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Crotalaria podocarpa

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Crotalaria podocarpa
African Plant Database: Crotalaria podocarpa
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Crotalaria podocarpa
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Crotalaria podocarpa
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Crotalaria podocarpa
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Crotalaria podocarpa
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Crotalaria podocarpa
JSTOR Plant Science: Crotalaria podocarpa
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Crotalaria podocarpa
Plants of the World Online: Crotalaria podocarpa
Tropicos: Crotalaria podocarpa
Wikipedia: Crotalaria podocarpa