Entry From
FZ, Vol 3, Part 7, (2003) Author: various authors
Names
Crotalaria gazensis subsp. herbacea Polhill [family LEGUMINOSAE], Crotalaria Africa & Madagascar: 126 (1982). —Lock, Leg. Afr. Check-list: 179 (1989). Type: Zimbabwe, Shurugwi (Selukwe) Peak, 19.iii.1964, Wild 6437 (K, holotype; LISC; SRGH).
Crotalaria gazensis [family LEGUMINOSAE], sensu Verdoorn in Bothalia 2: 388 (1928) pro parte. —sensu Burtt Davy, Fl. Pl. Ferns Transvaal, pt. 2: 398 (1932).
Distribution
Zimbabwe S Mberengwa Distr., Mt. Buhwa, fl. 27.iv.1973, Pope 951 (K; SRGH).Zimbabwe E Chipinge (Chipinga), fl. & fr. 29.ii.1956, Drummond 5121 (BR; K; LISC; SRGH).Mozambique MS 24 km de Catandica (Vila Gouveia) para a fronteira do Zimbabwe, fl. & fr. 26.iii.1966, Torre & Correia 15421 (LISC).Zimbabwe C Marondera (Marandellas), Grasslands Research Station, fl. & fr. 5.ii.1967, Corby 1735 (K; SRGH).
Notes
It seems unlikely at first sight to include prostrate slender-stemmed herbs in the same species as shrubs up to 2 m tall and extreme forms are vegetatively very dissimilar even as herbarium specimens. Nevertheless subsp. gazensis is decidedly variable in the Zimbabwe/Mozambique border region and the size and shape of the leaf parts sometimes approximate quite closely. For example F.R. Williams 81A, from Chimanimani (Melsetter) and without clear habit notes, is not certainly referable to either subspecies, though probably subsp. gazensis; conversely Goldsmith 38/68, from the same area, is clearly subsp. herbacea but with more rounded leaflets than usual.