Crotalaria rhodesiae Baker f.

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Picture: Lindy Mostert
Mukuvisi Woodland, Harare.

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Synonyms:	Crotalaria natalitia var. procumbens Baker Crotalaria natalitia var. pseudo-rhodesiae Merxm
Common names:
Frequency:	Locally common
Status:	Native
Description:	Prostrate perennial with many radiating stems; leaves 3-foliolate, petiolate with petioles shorter than leaflets; leaflets, (1)1.5-3.2 × (0.4)0.6-1.5 cm, oblanceolate, oblanceolate-elliptic or obovate, appressed puberulus beneath; stipules (3)5-10 mm long, shortly stalked, linear to lanceolate-falcate, markedly unequal-sided; racemes up to 7 cm long and laxly 3-8-flowered, bracts up to 3 mm long, subulate or filiform; calyx 8-11(13) mm long, appressed puberulus, lobes narrowly attenuate-triangular, longer than tube; standard subcircular, yellow, often reddish tinged outside fading to orange, glabrous outside; wings broadly oblong, exceeding the keel; keel 11-13 mm long, abruptly rounded in the lower half and tapering gradually into a short straight blunt beak that is lanate (hairy) towards the upper edge; pod subsessile, 20-27 × 8-10 mm, cylindrical, with scattered hairs or pubescent only along upper side; seeds 3-3.5 mm long, oblong-reniform, with a small aril, finely granulate or smooth, orange, red or pale yellow.
Type location:	Zambia, Kalomo
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	rhodesiae: of Rhodesia, an old name for Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Habitat:	Miombo woodland, grassland (sometimes in seasonal seepage areas) and disturbed places, usually on sandy soils.
Altitude range:	900 - 1900 m
Flowering time:	Apr - Sep
Worldwide distribution:	Southern Tanzania and Zambia south through Malawi and Zimbabwe to Northern Province of South Africa.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca):	N,C,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Lp,Lk,S
Growth form(s):	Perennial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Friday 27 January 2023
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 156. Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 218. 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 103 - 104. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 63.

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Flora of Botswana: Crotalaria rhodesiae
Flora of Malawi: Crotalaria rhodesiae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Crotalaria rhodesiae

External websites:

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