Crotalaria calycina

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

An erect or spreading herb. It grows each year from seeds. It grows 30 cm to 1 m high. The leaves are simple and with short stalks. The leaf blade is narrow and 3-12 cm long by about 1 cm wide. The flowers are at the top. There are 3-12 flowers in a group. There can be flowers occurring singly in the axils of the leaves below. The flowers are pea like and pale yellow. The fruit is a black pod 2-3 cm long with 20-30 seeds.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on clay and seasonally wet areas. It grows in wet savannah grassland and along river banks. It can be on the edge of flooded rice fields. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China, East Africa, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific, Pakistan, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

It is probably only very occasionally eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown. Seed germinate more easily if treated.

Its other names

Local names

Sucsac dai-to

Synonyms

Crotalaria anthylloides D. Don; Crotalaria roxburghiana DC.; Crotalaria stricta Roxb.;