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Useful Tropical Plants

Crotalaria berteroana

DC.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Crotalaria fulva Roxb.

Common Name: Tawny Rattlepod

No Image.

General Information

Crotalaria berteroana is an erect, much-branched shrub usually growing 90 - 150cm tall, though it can reach up to 250cm[
372
Title
Flowers of India
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.flowersofindia.net/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A wed site of native Indian plants, plus cultivated and naturalized species. It has good quality photos and terse details on more than 3,000 species and cultivars.
].
The plant is harvested fom the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as a green manure.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References


Range

E. Asia - central and southern India, Sri Lanka

Habitat

Naturalized in grassland and areas of human disturbance at elevations from 500 - 1,500 metres in Medagascar.

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitShrub
Height1.20 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Plants in this genus generally prefer a sunny position, succeeding in dry to moist, well-drained soils[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
We have no specific report for this species, but most species in this genus have a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used in Madagascar to treat scabies and 'tumeurs blanches'[
565
Title
Madagascar. An Environmental Profile.
Publication
 
Author
Jenkins M.D. (Editor)
Publisher
World Conservation Monitoring Centre; Cambridge.
Year
1987
ISBN
2-88032-607-9
Description
Contains a list of the Ethnobotanical uses of Madagascar plants.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant grows vigorously and fixes atmospheric nitrogen. It has been used as a green manure and cover crop to add humus and improve the quality of the soil.

Other Uses

The yellowish wood is soft[
146
Title
A Manual of Indian Timbers.
Publication
 
Author
Gamble. J. S.
Publisher
Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh
Year
1972
ISBN
-
Description
First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader.
].

Propagation

Seed - stored seed has a hard seedcoat and can benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination[
397
Title
Australian Native Plants Society
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://anpsa.org.au/index.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A series of fact sheets on Australian plants. Good photographs, brief description and information on uses, habitat, range, cultivation etc.
]. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.
Cuttings
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-08. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Crotalaria+berteroana>

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