Crotalaria verrucosa L.
Blueflower Rattlepod

Scientific Description

Erect, herb. Stems flattened, not spiny, hairy; pustules or glands absent. Leaves or phylloclades clearly present, simple, alternate, not continuous with stem, 30-170 mm long, 20-65 mm wide, hairy, with simple hairs, flat with flat margins; margins entire; tubercles absent; pustules or glands absent. Stipules apparently absent even from the youngest leaves, 5-6 mm long. Pedicel present, 5-7 mm long, hairy. Bracteoles present and persistent. Calyx 9-12 mm long, not accrescent, hairy, with simple hairs, ribless; pustules or glands absent. Corolla 14-17 mm long, uniformly coloured, mauve; claws present; standard 13-15.5 mm long, glabrous, not auriculate, wings 12-14.5 mm long, not auriculate, keel 12.5-15 mm long, beaked, not auriculate, glabrous. Stamens ten; anthers 3-3.5 mm long, at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short); filaments united in an open sheath, 9-10 mm long. Ovary stipitate, hairy or glandular; style 17-21 mm long, hairy or glandular towards the base, not bearded, terete. Fruit dehiscent (a pod or follicle), 30-40 mm long, 7-13 mm wide, stipitate, not constricted between the seeds, round in cross-section, glabrous, not beaked. Flowers in February, April, May, June, July, August and September. Occurs in the Northern Botanical Province, in the Northern Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain and Dampierland IBRA regions.