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rattlebox, showy crotalaria, showy rattlebox

rattleweed

Habit Herbs annual. Herbs annual.
Stems

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

erect, 30–90 cm, strigose to strigose-sericeous.

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 sometimes absent, setaceous, not decurrent on stem, 1–2 mm;

blade obovate to spatulate or oblanceolate, 30–80 mm, length 2.2–3(–4) 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.

5–24-flowered, terminal, subterminal, or lateral, 10–20(–30) cm;

bracts caducous, linear, 2–3 mm.

Flowers

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

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

calyx broadly cylindrical, 12–15 mm, basally truncate, lobes triangular-lanceolate, glabrous or slightly puberulous;

corolla bright yellow, with prominent reddish lines to strongly red-tinted, 20–25 mm.

Legumes

30–45 × 10–20 mm, glabrous.

25–40(–50) × 10–14 mm, glabrous.

2n

= 16.

= 16.

Crotalaria spectabilis

Crotalaria retusa

Phenology Flowering (Jan–)Aug–Oct (year-round). Flowering Jul–Oct, Jan–Apr.
Habitat Grassy or fallow fields, roadsides, ditches, borrow pits, lake edges, disturbed areas. Fallow fields, roadsides, sandy wastes.
Elevation 10–200 m. [30–700 ft.] 0–100 m. [0–300 ft.]
Distribution
map 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]
map from FNA
FL; GA; KY; LA; MS; NC; SC; TX; Africa [Introduced in North America; introduced also in Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Indian Ocean Islands, Pacific Islands, Australia]
[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 the flora area, Crotalaria retusa is commonly found in subtropical Florida but much more rarely in temperate areas, where it does not persist.

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

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. purshii, C. rotundifolia, C. sagittalis, C. spectabilis, C. trichotoma, C. verrucosa, C. virgulata
Synonyms C. retzii
Name authority Roth: Nov. Pl. Sp., 341. (1821) Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 2: 715. (1753)
Source FNA vol. 11. Treatment author: Guy L. Nesom. FNA vol. 11. Treatment author: Guy L. Nesom.
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