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Useful Tropical Plants

Crotalaria laburnifolia

L.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Rattlepod

Crotalaria laburnifolia
Close-up of the flowers
Photograph by: Dick Culbert
Creative Commons License
Crotalaria laburnifolia Crotalaria laburnifolia

General Information

Crotalaria laburnifolia is a very variable, evergreen shrub growing from 60 - 200cm tall[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
710
Title
Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
Publication
 
Author
Llamas K.A.
Publisher
Timber Press; Oregon.
Year
2003
ISBN
0-88192-585-3
Description
A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local medicinal use. It is sometimes grown in gardens as a medicinal plant, has been used as a green manure and is sometimes planted as an ornamental[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
,
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
].

Known Hazards

Pyrolizidine alkaloids, such as anacrotine and madurensine, have been extracted from the seeds in South Africa, the former being antispasmodic and possibly hepatotoxic[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].
Many members of this genus are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, the most potent of which in this genus are monocrotaline, retrorsine and retronecine[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
]. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional consumption is generally completely safe. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many of these alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[
299
Title
Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.prota.org
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
The seed also contains flavanone glycosides[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Botanical References

1341
Title
A revision of the Genus Crotalaria Linn. (Papilionaceae) in Thailand
Publication
Thai For Bull 11;105-181; 1978
Author
Chawalit Niyomdham
Publisher
 
Year
1978
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

Originally native to eastern and southern Africa, often naturalized in tropical Asia and Australia.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland, grassland, along roadsides and in fields, at elevations up to 1,800 metres[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Shrub
Height1.50 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details


Grows best in a sunny position[
710
Title
Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
Publication
 
Author
Llamas K.A.
Publisher
Timber Press; Oregon.
Year
2003
ISBN
0-88192-585-3
Description
A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
]. Succeeds in most well-drained soils, preferring moist but tolerating fairly dry conditions[
710
Title
Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
Publication
 
Author
Llamas K.A.
Publisher
Timber Press; Oregon.
Year
2003
ISBN
0-88192-585-3
Description
A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
].
Light pruning can maintain a good shape for ornamental use and also enhance flowering[
710
Title
Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
Publication
 
Author
Llamas K.A.
Publisher
Timber Press; Oregon.
Year
2003
ISBN
0-88192-585-3
Description
A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
].
This species has 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[
1309
Title
The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
Publication
 
Author
Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
Publisher
University of Wisconsin
Year
1981
ISBN
0-333-32221-5
Description
An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An infusion of the whole plant is used as a gargle to treat sore throats and mouth inflammations[
240
Title
Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement).
Publication
 
Author
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C.
Publisher
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi.
Year
1986
ISBN
-
Description
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
].

Medicines prepared from the seed have a blood-purifying effect and are used to treat sore throats, skin diseases and as an emmenagogue[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Pyrolizidine alkaloids such as anacrotine and madurensine have been extracted from the seeds in South Africa, the former being antispasmodic and possibly hepatotoxic[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
]. The seed also contains flavanone glycosides[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Agroforestry Uses:

A green manure crop used in plantations, especially of tea and coffee[
317
Title
Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Terse details of a huge range of useful plants.
]. It has good leaf production, but it suffers from pests and soon becomes woody - it is probably no longer used[
310
Title
Plant Resources of Southeast Asia
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://proseanet.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.
].

Other Uses

A hemp-like fibre is obtained from the stem[
710
Title
Tropical Flowering Plants. A Guide to Identification and Cultivation.
Publication
 
Author
Llamas K.A.
Publisher
Timber Press; Oregon.
Year
2003
ISBN
0-88192-585-3
Description
A terse guide for the gardener to almost 1,500 species of ornamental tropical plants with brief details on their cultivation and, usually, a small photograph of good quality.
].

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. 2024-03-28. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Crotalaria+laburnifolia>

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