Crotalaria verrucosa L.
Blueflower Rattlepod

Scientific Description

Genus Crotalaria. Form erect. Habit herb. Stems Indumentum hairy, Pustules or glands absent, Striation (stems ribbed) not striate, Cross section flattened, Spiny on any part of plant not spiny. Leaves or phylloclades Presence clearly present, Position alternate, Leaves simple, Leaves or phylloclade continuous with stem not 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 30-170. Width (entire leaves only) Leaf width 20-65. Scale leaves length mm long NaN (?). Indumentum Presence hairy, Type simple. Stipules Presence apparently absent even from the youngest leaves, Glands with glands (?) or without glands (?), Ribs ribbed (?) or ribless (?). Length Stipule length 5-6. 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 5-7. Calyx Pustules or glands absent, Ribs ribless, Enlarged in fruit not accrescent. Length Calyx length 9-12. Indumentum Presence hairy, Type with simple hairs. Corolla Colour patterning uniformly coloured, Colour (when uniformly coloured) mauve, Petal claws ( the narrow base of the petals present. Length Corolla length 14-17. Indumentum Presence absent. Standard Indumentum glabrous, Auricles not auriculate. Length Standard length 13-15.5. Wings Auricles not auriculate. Length Wing length 12-14.5. Keel Auricles not auriculate, Indumentum glabrous, Beak beaked. Length Keel length 12.5-15. Stamens Number ten. Anthers anther length 3-3.5, Position at two different levels (filaments alternately long and short). Filaments Fusion united in an open sheath. Length Filament length 9-10. 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 17-21. 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 30-40. Width Fruit width 7-13. Indumentum Presence glabrous. Flowering time February, April, May, June, July, August or September. Distribution Botanical Province Northern, IBRA Bioregion Northern Kimberley, Victoria Bonaparte, Central Kimberley, Ord-Victorian-Plain or Dampierland.