Compilation
Crotalaria trichotoma

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Name

Identification
Crotalaria trichotoma Bojer [family LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE ] (stored under name); Verified by Polhill, R.M., Crotalaria zanzibarica Benth. [family LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE ] Crotalaria emarginata unrecorded [family LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONOIDEAE ]
Related name
  • Crotalaria zanzibarica
  • Crotalaria trichotoma
  • Crotalaria emarginata

Flora

Entry for Crotalaria trichotoma Bojer [family LEGUMINOSAE]
Herbarium
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (K)
Collection
Flora Zambesiaca
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
FZ, Vol 3, Part 7, (2003) Author: various authors
Names
Crotalaria trichotoma Bojer [family LEGUMINOSAE], in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., Sér. 2, 4: 265 (1835). —Polhill in Fl. Mascar., 80 Légumineuses: 200, t. 71 (1990). Type grown in Mauritius from seed collected in NW Madagascar (?introduced from E. Africa).
Crotalaria zanzibarica Benth. [family LEGUMINOSAE], in Hooker, London J. Bot. 2: 548 (1843). —J.G. Baker in F.T.A. 2: 35 (1871). —E.G. Baker in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 42: 347 (1914). —Torre in C.F.A. 3: 55 (1962). —Polhill in F.T.E.A., Leguminosae, Pap.: 911, fig. 126 (1971); Crotalaria Africa & Madagascar: 191, fig. 47 (1982). —Lock, Leg. Afr. Check-list: 210 (1989). Type from Zanzibar.
Crotalaria usaramoensis Baker f. [family LEGUMINOSAE], in J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 42: 346 (1914). Types from Tanzania.
Information
Erect annual or short-lived perennial, up to 0.7–2.7 m tall, well branched at least above; branches ribbed, appressed puberulous. Leaves 3-foliolate, estipulate; leaflets mostly (4.5)6–14 × 1–4 cm, lanceolate to elliptic-oblong, lower ones sometimes elliptic, appressed puberulous beneath, rarely also above; petioles shorter than the leaflets. Racemes up to 30–40 cm long, many-flowered; bracts (1)2–4 mm long, linear-caudate; bracteoles inserted at the base of the calyx or immediately below, slightly smaller than the bract. Calyx 4–6 mm long, becoming basally truncate and deflexed against the pedicel, glabrous or rather thinly appressed puberulous; lobes generally reduced to small widely spaced subulate teeth. Standard elliptic to obovate-elliptic, yellow, veined reddish-purple outside; wings ± as long as the keel, with a dark mark at the base; keel 1.2–1.4 cm long, shortly rounded about the middle, with a sharp slightly incurved beak. Pod (3.2)3.5–4.5 × 0.7–1.2 cm, shortly stipitate, subcylindrical, appressed puberulous, 50–70-seeded. Seeds 2.2–2.8 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, orange-buff or terra-cotta.
Habitat
Open woodland, grassland and disturbed places
Range
native to eastern and southern Tanzania, possibly also NW Madagascar, but widely cultivated as a green manure and locally naturalized elsewhere
Altitude range
0–1200 m.
1200
0
Distribution
Mozambique N Mogincual, fl. & fr. 15.xi.1936, Torre 1031 (COI; LISC); Mogovolas Distr., Nametil (Namatil), fl. & fr. 12.vii.1948, Pedro & Pedrógão 4428 (LMA).
Notes
Without fruits it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between C. trichotoma and C. kirkii, though C. kirkii can usually be recognized by the weaker development of lateral branches, the predominantly narrow leaflets and the small bracts (the bracts of C. trichotoma are more variable in length). The problem is complicated because both species extend inland to Lake Malawi and in this region both show modifications of the calyx, appearing more similar to related species. In the coastal region the calyx is usually glabrous, occasionally puberulous, and the lobes are reduced to small widely spaced subulate teeth. Inland the calyx is consistently puberulous and the lobes are better developed, narrowly triangular-acuminate. The pods of C. trichotoma also appear to be relatively small (little fruiting material is available). It is possible that the species originated from this inland area or else that some introgression has occurred with related species such as C. lanceolata and C. subcapitata.C. cleomoides Klotzsch in Peters, Naturw. Reise Mossambique 6, part 1: 59 (1861), is based on a plant without fruits from rather further south, collected by Peters at Sena. A single flower is preserved at BM and from this and the description C. cleomoides appears to be synonymous with either C. trichotoma or C. kirkii, but in view of the difficulties mentioned above, it is not possible to determine which. Verdoorn in Bothalia 2: 394 (1928) places it as a synonym of C. lanceolata, which is common around Sena, and this may be correct but the flower seems too large for that species.The form of C. trichotoma most commonly cultivated has relatively broad pods, e.g. Zimbabwe, Harare, Arnold in GHS 6346 (K; SRGH); Mozambique, Quelimane, Medal Plantations, Wild & Pedro 5887 (K; LISC; SRGH) and Umbelúzi Experimental Station, Myre 754 (LISC; LMA). This form was found as an escape near the C.I.C.A. Experimental Camp at Nhacongo, 12.x.1945, Pedro 347 (LMA), and may become more widely naturalized.

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