| Crotalaria pallida | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Yellow flower ofCrotalaria pallida | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Crotalaria |
| Species: | C. pallida |
| Binomial name | |
| Crotalaria pallida Aiton | |
Crotalaria pallida, commonly known as thesmooth crotalaria, is a species of flowering plant within the familyFabaceae.[1][2]
Synonyms areCrotalaria mucronata Desc,Crotalaria striata DC,Crotalaria falcata VAHL ex DC,Crotalaria brownei DC.,Crotalaria fertilis Delile,Crotalaria hookeri Arn.,Crotalaria pisiformis Guill.& Perr.,Crotalaria siamica F.N.Williams,Crotalaria striata var.acutifolia Trin.,Crotalaria tinctoria Baill,Crotalaria zuccarininana D.Dietr.[3][1][2] The preferred common name iscrotalaria, with other common names includingstriped rattlepod andcrotalaire striée.[2]
This shrub (annual or short-lived perennial herb) has height of about 1.5 m. The stout stem is hairy and has longitudinal grooves. Leaves are trifoliate with a 2–8.5 cm long petiole, leaflets 3-13 x 2–5 cm and elliptical to obovate. Flowers are yellow, often reddish-brown veined and borne on 15–40 cm long racemes, each with 20-30 flowers. Fruits are 3-5 x 0.6-0.8 cm, 30-40 seeded that are heart-shaped, 3 x 2 mm, shiny, mottled ochre and dark grey-green or brown.[4]
Crotalaria pallida is found in Indonesia, Sudan, United States (Florida,Puerto Rico), Brazil,[2] India, and Bangladesh
The plant is grown as a ground cover and a green manure crop, especially in the inter-rows of rubber trees and coconut palms. Flowers are eaten as a vegetable in Cambodia, where the seeds are roasted and grounded for use as a sort of coffee beverage. The roots are sometimes chewed with betel nuts in Vietnam. In traditional medicine, the plant is used to treat urinary problems and fever, a poultice of the roots is applied to swelling of joints and an extract of the leaves is taken to expel intestinal worms.[4][5]
Crotalaria mucronataDesv was reported to be widely used in the southern part of the US as a green manure crop under the name “giant striata”.