Crotalaria spectabilis Roth (1821:341)

Flores, Andréia Silva & Tozzi, Ana Maria Goulart De Azevedo, 2018, A synopsis of the genus Crotalaria (Leguminosae) in Brazil, Phytotaxa 346 (1), pp. 31-58 : 51

32. Crotalaria spectabilis Roth (1821:341) .

Type:— INDIA. “India oriental,” undated, B. Heyne (holotype: BM not seen; isotype: L!)

Subshrubs or shrubs 1–1.5m high; branches glabrous or puberulous; internodal stem wings absent. Leaves simple, blades obovate, oblong- elliptic or spatulate, 4.3–16 × 1.5–7.5 cm, glabrous above and puberulous beneath; stipules 4–9 × 3–5, oblong- ovate. Inflorescence a raceme, 17–45 cm long, terminal; peduncles 2–12.5 cm long. Flowers15–31, pedicels 10–17 mm long; bracts 5–12 × 5–10 mm, widely oval, persistent; bracteoles 1–2 × 1 mm, widely oval, deciduous; calyx 8–13 mm long, lobes subequals, longer than the tube, glabrous; corolla yellow; the standard petal 1.5–2.3 × 1.4–2.5 cm; wing petals 1.1–1.8 cm long; keel petals 1.2–1.7 cm long, twisted; ovary 9 mm long, short- stipitate; style geniculate. Legumes 3.5–4.5 × 1.5–2 cm, broadly oblong- clavate, glabrous, black at the maturity, ca. 30-seeded. Seeds 5 × 3 mm, seed coat brown or black.

Distribution and Ecology: — Crotalaria spectabilis is an Asian species that is a naturalized, widespread weed in the New World. In Brazil, the taxon is cultivated as green manure and it can be found in open areas.

Selected specimens studied: — BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: São Gonçalo do Sapucaí, 15 October 2001, Flores et al 672 ( UEC). Paraná: Arapongas , 12 May 1985, Hashimoto s.n. ( FUEL 1025 ). Rio Grande do Sul: Maquiné, Fepagro, 19 April 1997, Rodrigues 365 ( ICN). Santa Catarina: Itapema, 25 August 2001, Flores & Rodrigues 606 ( UEC) ; Orleans , 27 March 1998, Flores 192 ( ICN) ; Praia Grande, estrada para a Serra do Faxinal , 29 March 1998, Flores 198 ( ICN) .