Crotalaria stipularia Desvaux (1814:76)

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 : 52-53

33. Crotalaria stipularia Desvaux (1814:76) .

Type:— FRENCH GUIANA. “In Cayenne,” undated, N.A.Desvaux s.n. (holotype: P 542135 digital image!).

Subshrubs or herbs up to 0.5 m high; branches finely pubescent or canescent, not ribbed; internodal stem wings widely decurrent, 4–7 × 0.8–20 mm, apex falcate or recurved. Leaves simple, blades oblong, ovate- lanceolate or widely elliptic, 2.3–5.8 × 0.5–3.4 cm, pubescent above and beneath; stipules absent. Inflorescence a raceme, 4–15 cm long, internodal; peduncles 3–6 cm long. Flowers 2–5, pedicels 3–6 mm long; bracts 4–8 × 1–2 mm, elliptic or linear- lanceolate, persistent; bracteoles 3–4 × 1–2 mm, linear or elliptic- lanceolate, persistent; calyx 8–12 mm long, deeply divided into 2 lips, pubescent; corolla pale yellow; the standard petal 0.7–0.8 × 0.4–0.7 cm; wing petals 0.6–0.8 cm long; keel petals 0.6–0.8 cm long, twisted; ovary 3–5 mm long, subsessile; style geniculate. Legumes 2.2–3.8 × 0.6–1.4 cm, oblong or obovate, glabrous, black at the maturity, ca. 30-seeded; seeds 2–3 × 2–3 mm, seed coat greenish brown.

Distribution and Ecology: — Crotalaria stipularia is widely distributed in Neotropical region, occurring across North, Central and South America. It is found throughout Brazil in diverse vegetation types, mostly in open areas and disturbed places.

Note: —As it might be inferred from its rather long synonymy, Crotalaria stipularia is a morphologically variable species ( Windler 1974). However, this variability is mostly confined to vegetative characters, while reproductive characters are remarkably stable. Specimens are distributed from North and Central America to Argentina, with a continuous variation in the shape and length of leaves.

Selected material examined: — BRAZIL. Bahia: Vera Cruz, 9 February 1997, Queiróz 4744 (HUEFS). Espírito Santo: Guarapari, 5 January 1977, Alcântara et al. s.n. (UEC 7859). Federal District: Brasília, 9 February1981, Heringer et al. 6146 (IBGE). Goiás: Santa Rita do Araguaia, 15 February 1974, Hatschbach 34222 (HBG). Maranhão: Ilha dos Botes, 24 May 1950, Pires & Black 1977 (IAN). Mato Grosso: Cuiabá, 27 January 1977, Assumpção & Duarte 658 (INPA). Mato Grosso do Sul: Caracol, 22 May 2002, Hatschbach et al. s.n. (SPF 153296). Minas Gerais: Carrancas, 14 October 2001, Flores et al. 667 (UEC). Pará: Vigia, 30 March 1980, Davidse et al. 17623 (MG). Paraíba: Areia, 7 July 1976, Fevereiro & Barbosa -Fevereiro 281 (RB). Pernambuco: Igarassú, 16 April 1983, Chiappeta & Barreto 491 (F). Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro, 29 August 1977, Rodrigues et al. 149 (RB). Roraima: Boa Vista, 10 May 2007, Flores et al. 1530 (MIRR). São Paulo: Atibaia, 15 October 2001, Flores & Rodrigues 677 (UEC). Sergipe: Estância, 24 July 1980, Coradin et al. 3358 (CEN).