SafePlants

Crotalaria sphaerocarpa

Crotalaria sphaerocarpa is a species belonging to the genus Crotalaria, a group of herbaceous plants and woody shrubs known as rattlepods.

Common Names

• Mealie Crotalaria
• Mielie Crotalaria
• Oipundula

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Crotalaria sphaerocarpa Perr. ex DC.
• Family: Fabaceae (also referred to as Leguminosae)
• Kingdom: Eukaryotes
• Rank: Species
• Synonyms:
  • Crotalaria cernua Schinz
  • Crotalaria cernua Schinz forma latifolia Schinz
  • Crotalaria nubica Benth.
  • Crotalaria sphaerocarpa var. angustifolia Hochst. ex Kuntze
  • Crotalaria sphaerocarpa var. polycarpa (Benth.) Kuntze (as combination for Crotalaria polycarpa Benth.)

Morphological Characteristics

• May reach a considerable size, growing up to 17 meters in height.
• Therophyte life form.
• Not evergreen; assumes a yellow coloring in the autumn.

Distribution and Habitat

• Observed in Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, Zimbabwe.

Ecological Role

• It can act as a host for nematodes.

Potential Interactions with Organisms

• Sixteen different herbicides and herbicide mixtures were evaluated for their efficiency in controlling this plant.

Other Information

• Described by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1825.

Considerations for Pets

• Some Crotalaria species are known to contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). While not explicitly stated that *Crotalaria sphaerocarpa* contains toxic PAs, caution should be exercised.

Considerations for Children

• Some Crotalaria species are known to contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). While not explicitly stated that *Crotalaria sphaerocarpa* contains toxic PAs, caution should be exercised.
• Presence of seed pods can be a hazard if ingested.

Resources

• Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service.
• Tropicos
• IPCN
• PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa)
• World Agroforestry Centre, Nairobi
• Fabaceae checklist.