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Crotalaria retusa

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Crotalaria

rattlepod

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Annual herbs.

Stems: Stems erect, up to 13 dm long, ridged, appressed short–pubescent, taproot with slender branches, nodules often present.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades oblanceolate, 3.3–9.2 cm long, 1–3.8 cm wide. Apex rounded or occasionally acute, usually retuse, base cuneate. Upper surfaces glabrous and punctate; lower surfaces appressed short–pubescent. Margins entire. Veins 5–8 on each side of midvein. Petioles up to 3 mm long. Stipules narrowly rhombic–ovate, up to 0.5 mm long.

Flowers: Flowers in racemes, flowers 17– 24 mm long, 13–23 in terminal, somewhat lax inflorescences, rachis up to 27 cm long (incl. peduncle), bracts narrowly triangular, 2–2.5 mm long, recurved, usually persistent. Flowers papilionaceous; bracteoles at or above mid–pedicel, narrowly triangular. Calyx appressed short–pubescent, the tube 4.5–6.5 mm long, the lobes 5.5–10 mm long, lateral lobes distinct at apex. Calyx slightly bilabiate, the lobes shorter than to longer than the tube. Petals yellow with fine purple lines near base, standard 14–18 mm long, 17–25 mm wide, wings oblong–lanceolate, 13–15 mm long, 9–11 mm wide, keel petals short, beak twisted, margins ciliate. Stamens 10, connate into a tube, the tube split at least at base on the upper side; anthers dimorphic, alternately long (and basifixed) and short (and versatile). Elongated anthers 2.8–3.1mm long, short ones 0.8–1 mm long. Ovary superior.

Fruit: Pods dark brown to black at maturity; 3–4 cm long; nonstipitate; glabrous. Seeds ca. 23 per pod; tan to brown; up to 4.5 mm long; smooth.

Ploidy: 2n = 16

Habitat: Disturbed sites such as roadsides; dump sites; and urban areas.

Elevation Range: 10–60 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Potentially naturalizing
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 715 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:662 (K, O, Mo, M, H)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Crotalaria retusa Honolulu Foster Gardens (From Los Angeles Arboretum, Apr.2/57) Preserved_Specimen Fls.yellow, with standard + brown outside. Miyashiro, Y. 904 Oahu BISH 1961-12-07
2 Crotalaria retusa W Maui, Hanaula Road Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 538 Maui BISH 1979-10-10
3 Crotalaria retusa Hawaii Volcanoes Natl Park. Kau district. By Hilina Pali road. 3.2 km to Hilina Pali shelter area Preserved_Specimen Herb ca 1/2m tall; flowers yellow. Herat, T. 782 Hawaii BISH 1974-06-27
4 Crotalaria retusa Queen Kaahumanu Highway near Kaiminani Drive. Preserved_Specimen Shrub 18 inches tall, roadside. Flowers yellow, standard purplish on back. Calyx with purplish tint. Nagata, K.M. 4065 Hawaii BISH 1990-01-24
5 Crotalaria retusa East Maui, along Haleakala Highway Preserved_Specimen Compact bushes to 1.2m height. Hobdy, R.W. 2676 Maui BISH 1987-01-05
6 Crotalaria retusa New, nasty, exotic colony along Hilena Pali road endangering character of Hawaii. Volc. National Park, Hawaii Preserved_Specimen Eradicted about half. Degener, O. 35677 Hawaii BISH 1982-09-03
7 Crotalaria retusa Koolau Mountains Range: Manoa Valley; 2001 Vancouver Avenue Preserved_Specimen I m tall, fl. yellow St.John, H. 22681 Oahu BISH 1947-04-25
8 Crotalaria retusa West Maui, Lahaina Pali Trail. Preserved_Specimen Hughes, G.D. 610 Maui BISH 1993-04-25
9 Crotalaria retusa unknown Preserved_Specimen Inafuku, R. BISH 1931-03-04
10 Crotalaria retusa Kapaa Preserved_Specimen Sugawa, D. 9201 Kauai BISH 1991-07-09
11 Crotalaria retusa Old Dumpsite, Hoolehua Cliffs, near Anianikeha Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 4908 Molokai BISH 1983-07-29
12 Crotalaria retusa Hanol. Prospect St Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1948-03-01
13 Crotalaria retusa Roadside Kipohulu Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 1777 Maui BISH 1919-12-09
14 Crotalaria retusa Honolulu, Prospect St Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1948-03-01
15 Crotalaria retusa 1/2 mile S-E of C.C.H. on cain road Slope 0, Soil clay, Haw., India, S.China, and Philippines. Preserved_Specimen flowers golden yellow, woody herb becoming 15 dm. high, vegetation type: herb Lee, W. Oahu BISH 1967-06-28
16 Crotalaria retusa Honolulu, Prospect St Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH 1948-03-01
17 Crotalaria retusa Pali Rd., Windward Side Preserved_Specimen Pearsall, G.A. Oahu BISH
18 Crotalaria retusa unknown Preserved_Specimen Au, S. BISH 1960-04-28
19 Crotalaria retusa Hanalei District. Approximately 10 plants along the powerline trail, about 1 mile from the trailhead on the Princeville side. Growing along wet trail side. Preserved_Specimen Erect herb with woody base, aboutr 1 m tall; leaves dull green held at a 45 degree angle to the stem; flowers in erect racemes, petals bright yellow. Brock, K. 939 Kauai BISH 2016-11-30
20 Crotalaria retusa Lyon Arboretum. On bank behind Cottage A. Fairly open, well-drained. Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellow, somewhat purple on underside. Baker, R.F. 93 Oahu BISH 1975-04-26
21 Crotalaria retusa Chain of Craters Road, main curve of Holei Pali, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Very common on stony roadside, in road cut in basalt lave flows. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 60636 Hawaii BISH 1980-09-11
22 Crotalaria retusa W Maui, along road from McGregor Pint mauka on Kealaloa Ridge A few plants growing as weeds along the roadside in rich red soil. Preserved_Specimen Flowers with a broad showy standard, bright yellow, veins brown streaked in throat, and moe so beneath. Hobdy, R.W. 1859 Maui BISH 1983-10-28
23 Crotalaria retusa unknown On bank behind Cottage A. Fairly open, well-drained. Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellow, somewhat purple on underside. Baker, R.F. 93 BISH 1975-04-26
24 Crotalaria retusa Kauai County: Ke Ala Hele Makalae/ Coastal path near on the Anahola side past Kealia Beach to where the paved path ends. NE of Kuna Bay Coastal Strand Community W/ Sida fallax, Waltheria, Sporobolus virginicus, Asystasia gangetica, weedy grasses, Lantana, Mimosa pudica, Phyllanthus debilis, Macroptilium, Casua Preserved_Specimen Crotalaria assamica? Up to 2.5 ft tall. Leaves fleshy, glaucous color. Keel and back of standard petal with red rouge over yellow, front of keel dark yellow. Bud with red tint. Calyx light green, seed pods green with dk. purple adaxial margin, upper calyx on fruit dark purple, apex of fruit with fine point. Tangalin, N. 5149 Kauai BISH 2021-03-12
25 Crotalaria retusa Puna DIstrict, Hawaii Volcnoes National Park, Chain of Craters Rd Shrub 1 1/2 feet tall roadside in open Metrosideros scrub. Preserved_Specimen Flowers yellow and dull pruple. Cuddihy, L.W. 1894 Hawaii BISH 1985-04-30
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