Crotalaria paulina Schrank (1822

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 : 47

27. Crotalaria paulina Schrank (1822 : tab 88). ( Fig. 8a ).

Lectotype (designated by Bach & Fortunato 2014):—[ BRAZIL.] Patria Brasilia, ubi D. de Martius ad Urbem S. Pauli semina Legit. Pl. 88. 1822.

Subshrub or shrub 1–2 m high; branches glabrous or glabrescent; internodal stem wings decurrent at the junction of the branches and the main axis, 3–12 × 0.5–2.5 cm, apex obtuse, falcate or triangular or absent. Leaves simple, blades elliptic, 5–16 × 1.5–5 cm, glabrous above and sparsely puberulous or glabrescent beneath; stipules absent. Inflorescence a raceme, 16–39 cm long, terminal, internodal or opposite to a leaf; peduncles 1.5–5 cm long. Flowers 13–38, pedicels 10–15 mm long; bracts 6–20 × 3–6 mm, foliaceous or oval- lanceolate persistent; bracteoles 6–25 × 3–6 mm, oval- lanceolate or foliaceous, persistent; calyx 18–25 mm long, deeply divided into 2 lips, glabrous; corolla yellow; the standard petal 1.5–2.6 × 1.4–2.5 cm; wing petals 1.5–2.3 cm long; keel petals 1.8–2.5 cm long, twisted; ovary 5–7 mm long, subsessile; style geniculate. Legumes 4–7 × 0.9–1.3 cm, oblong clavate or obovate, glabrous, black at the maturity, ca. 30-seeded; seeds 4–5 × 4–5 mm, seed coat brown.

Distribution and Ecology: — Crotalaria paulina is native to South America. In Brazil it is found in Central and Southeastern regions and is cultivated in the Amazonian region (Manaus). This species can be found in open areas of cerrado vegetation, roadsides and disturbed areas.

Selected material examined: — BRAZIL. Distrito Federal: Brasília, 7 May 1980, Heringer et al. 4651 (IBGE). Goiás: Teresina, 18 March 1973, Anderson 7361 (UB). Minas Gerais: Confins, 5 June 1981, Moura 59 (UEC). Pará: Belém, 3 June 1956, Pires 4859b (IAN). São Paulo: São Paulo, 28 March 1964, Hoehne 5966 (CEN).

Figures

FIGURE 8. Habit of (a) Crotalaria paulina Schrank, (b) Crotalaria rufipila Benth., (c) Crotalaria subdecurrens Mart. ex Benth., (d) Crotalaria tweediana Benth., (e) Crotalaria unifoliolata Benth., (f) Crotalaria vitellina Ker-Gawler. Photos by A.S. Flores.