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Fabaceae
Crotalaria

not marked as a favorite taxon *Crotalaria spectabilis A. Roth. Common name: Showy Rattlebox. Phenology: Jul-Oct (-Jun). Habitat: Fields, roadsides, disturbed areas. Distribution: Native of s. and se. Asia.

Glossary (beta!)

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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image #1 of Crotalaria spectabilis© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Crotalaria spectabilis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Crotalaria spectabilis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Crotalaria spectabilis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Crotalaria spectabilis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Crotalaria spectabilis© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Crotalaria spectabilis© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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