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lanceleaf rattlebox

Pursh's or coastal plain rattlebox, Pursh's rattlebox

Habit Herbs perennial.
Stems

erect to ascending, 15–50(–80) cm, sparsely, loosely strigose.

Leaves

unifoliolate;

stipules lanceolate-auriculate or triangular, decurrent on mid and distal stems, with 2 distinct lobes, (3–)5–13 mm;

blade linear, linear-lanceolate or -oblanceolate, oblong, or elliptic, narrower distally, 45–100 mm, length (2.5–)4–10 times width, surfaces strigose abaxially, glabrous adaxially.

Racemes

(1 or)2–5(–12)-flowered, terminal, subterminal, or lateral, 6–25 cm;

bracts persistent, subulate-triangular.

Flowers

calyx broadly cylindrical, 6–9 mm, lobes triangular-lanceolate, glabrous or slightly puberulous;

corolla bright yellow, 8–12 mm.

Legumes

15–25(–30) × 7–10 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 32.

Crotalaria lanceolata

Crotalaria purshii

Phenology Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Roadsides, prairie swales, long­leaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods.
Elevation 0–200 m. (0–700 ft.)
Distribution
from USDA
Africa [Introduced in North America]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN; TX; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Subspecies 3–5 (1 in the flora).

Subspecies exigua Polhill and subsp. prognatha Polhill are known from Africa.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

In Texas, Crotalaria purshii is known from Hunt County in the northeastern part of the state.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 11. FNA vol. 11.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Crotalaria Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae > Crotalaria
Sibling taxa
C. avonensis, C. incana, C. juncea, C. ochroleuca, C. pallida, C. pumila, C. purshii, C. retusa, C. rotundifolia, C. sagittalis, C. spectabilis, C. trichotoma, C. verrucosa, C. virgulata
C. avonensis, C. incana, C. juncea, C. lanceolata, C. ochroleuca, C. pallida, C. pumila, C. retusa, C. rotundifolia, C. sagittalis, C. spectabilis, C. trichotoma, C. verrucosa, C. virgulata
Subordinate taxa
C. lanceolata subsp. lanceolata
Synonyms C. laevigata, C. linearis, C. purshii var. bracteolifera, C. sagittalis var. linearis
Name authority E. Meyer in E. Meyer and J. F. Drège: Comm. Pl. Afr. Austr., 24. (1836) de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle: Prodr. 2: 124. (1825)
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