Crotalaria beddomeana Thoth. & A.A.Asari APNI* Synonyms: Crotalaria lunata Bedd. ex Polhill APNI* Crotalaria semperflorens Vent. APNI*
Description: Erect shrub or small tree, 2–5 m high; stems densely pubescent, often glabrescent.
Leaves simple, ovate or elliptic, 6–13 cm long, 33–80 mm wide, upper surface glabrous, lower surface densely greyish pubescent; petiole 1–2 cm long; stipules leafy c. 10 mm long.
Racemes c. 15 cm long; pedicels c. 15 mm long. Calyx c. 15 mm long, pubescent. Corolla 25–30 mm long, yellow with red-brown striations, wings ± longer than keel; keel incurved at middle, beak c. 15 mm long, twisted at apex.
Pod 50–70 mm long, glabrous; seeds c. 5 mm long, glossy, minutely papillose.
Flowering: winter and spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Cultivated, sometimes naturalized, chiefly from Central Mangrove to Nelson Bay. Native of India.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC
C. semperflorens Vent can be separated by its hairy pods and the shorter calyx (2-14 mm long).
Text by C. Gardner & G.J. Harden Taxon concept:
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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