Crotalaria quinquefolia L.

Scientific Description

Erect, herb. Stems angular, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, compound, alternate, not continuous with stem, 35-95 mm long, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent, pinnately arranged, terminal leaflet present, stalked; pustules or glands absent. Stipules present and persistent to older leaves. Pedicel present, 9-10 mm long, glabrous. Bracteoles present and persistent. Calyx 11-13 mm long, not accrescent, glabrous, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 15-20 mm long, uniformly coloured, yellow; claws present; standard 16-19 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 14-16 mm long, not auriculate, keel 13-15 mm long, beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 0.7-2.3 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath, 14-17 mm long. Ovary stipitate, glabrous; style 17-19 mm long, glabrous, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 45-50 mm long, 15-18 mm wide, stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, glabrous, not beaked. Flowers in March. Occurs in the Northern Botanical Province, in the Northern Kimberley IBRA regions. Conservation Code Priority One (P1).