Crotalaria retusa L.
Wedgeleaf Rattlepod

Scientific Description

Genus Crotalaria. Form erect. Habit herb. Stems Indumentum hairy, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) not striate, Cross section terete, Spiny on any part of plant not spiny. Leaves or phylloclades Presence clearly present, Position alternate, Leaves simple, Leaves or phylloclade continuous with stem continuous with stem, Cross section of leaf or leaflet flat with flat margins, Margins of leaf or leaflet entire, Tuberculate tubercles absent, Pustules or glands absent. Length Leaf length 35-60. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width 6-22. Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple. Stipules Presence present and persistent to older leaves, Glands with glands (?) or without glands (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?). Length Stipule length NaN (?). Bracteoles Presence present and persistent, Indumentum hairy (?) or glabrous (?), Striation striate (?) or not striate (?). Length Bracteole length NaN (?). Pedicel Presence present, Indumentum hairy. Length Pedicel length 5-5.5. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 9-10. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning uniformly coloured, Colour (when uniformly coloured) yellow, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present. Length Corolla length 12-14.5. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 11.5-13. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 10.5-12. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak beaked. Length Keel length 11-12.5. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 1-1.4, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath. Length Filament length 8.5-10. Ovary Placement stipitate. Indumentum Presence hairy or glandular. Style Indumentum hairy or glandular towards the base, Bearded ( with a tuft of hairs at apex ) not bearded, Apex terete. Length Style length 13-16.5. Fruit Type dehiscent (a pod or follicle), Constriction not constricted between the seeds, Compression round in cross-section, Placement stipitate, Beak not beaked. Length Fruit length NaN (?). Width Fruit width NaN (?). Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time March, April, May, June, July or August. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion Northern Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain or Dampierland.