Herbs annual. Stems suf­fru­tescent basally, erect, 60–200(–300) cm, moderately to densely strigose to sericeous or glabrescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; stipules sometimes absent, lin­ear, 1–3 mm; leaflet blades broadly obovate to elliptic, elliptic-obovate, or spatulate-obovate, 20–50(–75) mm, length 1.5–2.5 times width, surfaces strigillose abaxially, glabrous adaxially. Racemes (8–)12–45-flowered, ter­minal, 10–30 cm; bracts caducous, filiform. Flowers: calyx broadly cylindrical, sometimes basally truncate, not deflexed against pedicels, 3–4 mm, lobes triangular-lanceolate, sparsely to densely strigose; corolla yellow to orangish, banner and keel strongly red- to reddish brown-lined, 11–15 mm. Legumes brown, slightly to conspic­uously curved, 30–45 × 5–6 mm, minutely puberulent to glabrate, hairs ascending. 2n = 16.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Oct, Dec–Apr (year-round).
Habitat: Roadsides, old or fallow fields, levees, lake edges, beach margins, disturbed sites, pine woods, dune scrub, palm-live oak edges.
Elevation: 0–200 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Loading map...

Introduced; Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss., N.C., S.C., Africa, introduced also in Central America (El Salvador), South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru), Asia, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia.

Discussion

Crotalaria pallida was collected in the flora area as early as 1886 as a ballast weed near Pensacola, Florida, by A. H. Curtis.

Crotalaria striata Schumacher & Thonning is an illegitimate name that pertains here.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.