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Crotalaria spectabilis

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Photographs by: Dr. Maulik Gadani

  • Botanical Name : Crotalaria spectabilis Roth.
  • Synonyms : Crotalaria altipes Raf.
  • Common Name : Showy Rattlepod, Greater Rattlepod
  • Plant Family : Papilionaceae
  • Plant Form : Herb
  • Occurrence (Special Areas) : Indroda Park

About Crotalaria spectabilis Plant :

  • Habit : A shrub or undershrub with branches usually glabrous.
  • Leaves : Oblanceolate, obtuse or retuse, glabrous above, pubescent beneath, base cuneate, petioles short, stipules subulate.
  • Inflorescence : Terminal racemes.
  • Flowers :
    • Large and showy, bracteates, bracts one at the base of each pedicel, and 2 higher up.
    • Calyx glabrous.
    • Corolla much exserted, yellow, papilionaceous, standard suborbicular.
  • Fruit : Pods turgid, brown at maturity, seeds 15-20.
  • Flowering and Fruiting Time : September - November
  • Significance : The plant is used in scabies.