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rattlebox, showy crotalaria, showy rattlebox

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

Habit Herbs annual. Herbs perennial.
Stems

suffrutescent basally, erect, 50–150 cm, glabrous.

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

Leaves

unifoliolate;

stipules ovate to ovate-lanceolate, not decurrent on stem, 4–7 mm;

blade obovate to elliptic, 50–150 mm, length 1.5–2.5 times width, surfaces glaucous, strigose abaxially, glabrous-punctate adaxially.

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

12–22-flowered, terminal, subterminal, or lateral, 10–50 cm;

bracts persistent, cordate-auriculate, 5–8 mm.

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

bracts persistent, subulate-triangular.

Flowers

calyx broadly cylindrical, 10–15 mm, lobes triangular-lanceolate, glabrous;

corolla bright yellow, faintly red-lined, 17–25 mm.

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

corolla bright yellow, 8–12 mm.

Legumes

30–45 × 10–20 mm, glabrous.

15–25(–30) × 7–10 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

= 32.

Crotalaria spectabilis

Crotalaria purshii

Phenology Flowering (Jan–)Aug–Oct (year-round). Flowering May–Jul.
Habitat Grassy or fallow fields, roadsides, ditches, borrow pits, lake edges, disturbed areas. Roadsides, prairie swales, long­leaf pine savannas, pine flatwoods.
Elevation 10–200 m. (0–700 ft.) 0–200 m. (0–700 ft.)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; FL; GA; IL; LA; MD; MO; MS; NC; SC; TN; TX; VA; Asia [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Indian Ocean Islands (Reúnion), Pacific Islands]
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; FL; GA; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN; TX; VA
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

In Texas, Crotalaria spectabilis is known from Brazos, Cameron, Karnes, and Liberty counties.

(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. lanceolata, C. ochroleuca, C. pallida, C. pumila, C. purshii, C. retusa, C. rotundifolia, C. sagittalis, 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
Synonyms C. retzii C. laevigata, C. linearis, C. purshii var. bracteolifera, C. sagittalis var. linearis
Name authority Roth: Nov. Pl. Sp., 341. (1821) de Candolle in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle: Prodr. 2: 124. (1825)
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