Crotalaria senegalensis
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
An annual herb. It grows up to 1 m tall. It is slightly woody and can be erect or lying over. The leaves are compound and have 3 leaflets. The leaflets are 2-7 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. They are narrowly oval. They are hairy underneath. The flowering shoots are 12-45 cm long with 16-40 loosely arranged flowers. They are bright yellow. The fruit are pods 1-2 cm long and 0.6 cm wide. The seeds are 3 mm long. They are yellowish-brown.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in dry fields in the drier regions of West Africa. It grows in savannah. It is usually on sand between 250-1,650 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Angola, Australia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Southern Africa, Tanzania, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
It is occasionally harvested.
Edible parts
Leaves, vegetable
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Barasan, Masode fayar, Sarabuni