*Crotalaria spectabilis A. Roth. Common name: Showy Rattlebox. Phenology: Jul-Oct (-Jun). Habitat: Fields, roadsides, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of s. and se. Asia.
Origin/Endemic status: E., se., and s. Asia
Synonymy ⓘ: = Bah, C, F, Fl3, FNA11.1, G, Il, K4, Mo3, NcTx, NS, POWO, RAB, S13, SE3, Tn, Tx, Va, WH3, Isely (1998), Leverett & Woods (2012), Ward (2010b); ? Crotalaria retzii Hitchc. — S. Basionym: Crotalaria spectabilis Roth 1821
Links to other floras: = Crotalaria spectabilis - FNA11.1
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 9
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, non-native annual of fields, roadsides and disturbed areas. Native of s. Asia.
Stems: Stems coarse, ribbed, green or purplish, covered with stiff, sharp hairs.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; sessile and with persistent, lance-shaped stipules; oblong-oval (widest at the tip); 2-6 in. long; generally smooth above and densely hairy below.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in terminal and axillary racemes, yellow, large (1 in. wide), bilaterally symmetric and with a pea-flower shape; the calyx is tubular and there are 2 persistent bracts at the base of the flower.
Fruits: Fruit a smooth, cylindrical pod.
Comments:
Height: 1 1/2-6 ft.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect, non-native annual of fields, roadsides and disturbed areas. Native of s. Asia.
stems: Stems coarse, ribbed, green or purplish, covered with stiff, sharp hairs.
leaves: Leaves alternate; sessile and with persistent, lance-shaped stipules; oblong-oval (widest at the tip); 2-6 in. long; generally smooth above and densely hairy below.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in terminal and axillary racemes, yellow, large (1 in. wide), bilaterally symmetric and with a pea-flower shape; the calyx is tubular and there are 2 persistent bracts at the base of the flower.
fruits: Fruit a smooth, cylindrical pod.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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