Crotalaria sphaerocarpa Perr. ex DC.
subsp. sphaerocarpa

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Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa

Photo: Bart Wursten
Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chesa Forest Land, Umguza District.

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Synonyms:	Crotalaria nubica Benth.
Common names:	Mealie crotalaria (English)
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect annual up to 1 m, much-branched from the base. Stems covered in appressed or spreading hairs. Leaves 3-foliolate, with leaflets very variable, mostly linear to (ob)lanceolate, with long hairs at least beneath. Flowers in long, lax terminal racemes, pale yellow, pubescent on the outside. Pods very shortly oblong-ellipsoid, almost as wide as long, pubescent.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	sphaerocarpa: with spherical fruits
Habitat:	Woodland and savanna, often on sand, roadsides and other disturbed areas.
Flowering time:	Sep - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Throughout the low-moderate rainfall areas of tropical Africa, from Mali and Ethiopia to Zimbabwe and Botswana.
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
Literature:	Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 17. 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. As: Crotalaria sphaerocarpa Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 264. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 180. (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 158 - 160. (Includes a picture). Polhill, R.M. (2003). Flora Zambesiaca 3(7) Pages 158 - 160. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 63. Timberlake, J.R. & Childes, S.L. (2004). Biodiversity of the Four Corners Area: Technical Reviews Volume Two (Chapter 5-15) Appendix 5-1: Plant Checklist Occasional Publications in Biodiversity 15 Page 211.

Other sources of information about Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa:

Our websites:

Flora of Caprivi: Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa
Flora of Malawi: Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa
Flora of Mozambique: Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa
Flora of Zambia: Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa
Flora of Zimbabwe: Crotalaria sphaerocarpa subsp. sphaerocarpa

External websites:

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