Crotalaria pallida, commonly known as the smooth crotalaria, is a species of flowering plant within the family Fabaceae.[1][2]
| Crotalaria pallida | |
|---|---|
| |
| Yellow flower of Crotalaria pallida | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Crotalaria |
| Species: | C. pallida
|
| Binomial name | |
| Crotalaria pallida Aiton
| |
Synonyms and common names
editSynonyms are Crotalaria mucronata Desc, Crotalaria striata DC, Crotalaria falcata VAHL ex DC, Crotalaria brownei DC., Crotalaria fertilis Delile, Crotalaria hookeri Arn., Crotalaria pisiformis Guill. & Perr., Crotalaria siamica F.N.Williams, Crotalaria striata var. acutifolia Trin., Crotalaria tinctoria Baill, Crotalaria zuccarininana D.Dietr.[3][1][2] The preferred common name is crotalaria, with other common names including striped rattlepod and crotalaire striée.[2]
Description
editThis shrub (annual or short-lived perennial herb) has height of about 1.5 m. The stout stem is hairy and has longitudinal grooves. Leaves are trifoliate with a 2–8.5 cm long petiole, leaflets 3-13 x 2–5 cm and elliptical to obovate. Flowers are yellow, often reddish-brown veined and borne on 15–40 cm long racemes, each with 20-30 flowers. Fruits are 3-5 x 0.6-0.8 cm, 30-40 seeded that are heart-shaped, 3 x 2 mm, shiny, mottled ochre and dark grey-green or brown.[4]
Distribution
editCrotalaria pallida is found in Indonesia, Sudan, United States (Florida, Puerto Rico), Brazil,[2] India, and Bangladesh
Uses
editThe plant is grown as a ground cover and a green manure crop, especially in the inter-rows of rubber trees and coconut palms. Flowers are eaten as a vegetable in Cambodia, where the seeds are roasted and grounded for use as a sort of coffee beverage. The roots are sometimes chewed with betel nuts in Vietnam. In traditional medicine, the plant is used to treat urinary problems and fever, a poultice of the roots is applied to swelling of joints and an extract of the leaves is taken to expel intestinal worms.[4][5]
Crotalaria mucronata Desv was reported to be widely used in the southern part of the US as a green manure crop under the name “giant striata”.
References
edit- ^ a b Jesse Wagstaff, D (2008-07-07). International Poisonous Plants Checklist. CRC Press. doi:10.1201/9781420062533. ISBN 9781420062526.
- ^ a b c d "Crotalaria pallida (smooth crotalaria)". CABI. 2019-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ "Crotalaria pallida Aiton". India Biodiversity Portal. 8 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Crotalaria pallida Aiton". KewScience, Plants of the World. 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Chong, K. Y., H. T. W. Tan & R. T. Corlett, 2009. A Checklist of the Total Vascular Plant Flora of Singapore: Native, Naturalised and Cultivated Species. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, National University of Singapore, Singapore. 273 pp.