Crotalaria distans Benth.
subsp. macrotropis (Baker f.) Polhill

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Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Kipemba area, Kalumbila Distr., North-Western Province

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Synonyms:	Crotalaria macrotropis Baker f. Crotalaria mundyi Baker f.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Introduced
Description:	Erect or ascending annual, (0.2)0.3–1.3 m tall; branches appressed or subappressed pubescent. Leaves 3-foliolate; leaflets 1.5–6.5 × 0.3–1.5 cm, linear to oblong-oblanceolate, appressed pubescent beneath; petiole 0.5–1.5(2) cm long; stipules 1–4 mm long, linear-subulate. Racemes 6–30(40) cm long, laxly 6–30-flowered; bracts 1–3.5 mm long, linear-subulate to linear-lanceolate, shorter than the pedicel; bracteoles on the calyx or just below, 0.5–3 mm long, linear. Calyx 3–7 mm long, appressed pubescent; lobes triangular, 0.8–1.5 times as long as the tube, occasionally longer in northern parts of Zimbabwe. Standard elliptic, yellow, lined and later often flushed reddish or purplish, pubescent outside; wings a little shorter than the keel; keel 0.8–1.8 cm long, angular, with a narrow twisted beak. Pod with a stipe 0.5–4 mm long, 1.2–2.8 × 0.6–0.8(1) cm, oblong-obovoid, oblong-ellipsoid or subcylindrical, with the upper suture impressed, pubescent, c. 14–40-seeded. Seeds 2–2.5 mm long, oblique-cordiform, smooth, brown. Subsp. macrotropis differs from the other subspecies by having an erect stem with lower branches almost horizontal and upper ones ascending, stems usually striate with short, mostly appressed hairs; bracteoles on the calyx, 1.5-2.5 mm long; keel (1.2)1.3-1.6 cm long; pod subcylindrical, (1.7)2-2.8 cm long and with a stipe 3-4 mm long, 24-40 seeded.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	distans : standing apart possibly in reference to the lax inflorescence; macrotropis : large-keeled
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Jan - May
Worldwide distribution:	DRC (Katanga) south through Zambia to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe distribution:	C
Growth form(s):	Annual.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Drummond, R.B. (1972). A list of Rhodesian Legumes. Kirkia 8(2) Page 218. as Crotalaria macrotropis Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 47. Martins, E.S. et al. (2003). Papilionoideae Flora Zambesiaca 3(7) Pages 171 - 173.

Other sources of information about Crotalaria distans subsp. macrotropis:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Crotalaria distans subsp. macrotropis

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Crotalaria distans
African Plant Database: Crotalaria distans
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Crotalaria distans
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Crotalaria distans
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Crotalaria distans
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Crotalaria distans
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Crotalaria distans
JSTOR Plant Science: Crotalaria distans
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Crotalaria distans
Plants of the World Online: Crotalaria distans
Tropicos: Crotalaria distans
Wikipedia: Crotalaria distans