Crotalaria berteroana
DC.
Fabaceae
Common Name: Tawny Rattlepod
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 |  |
| Habit | Shrub |
| Height | 1.20 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
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
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
