Common Name:

General Information

Crotalaria lanceolata is an erect, annual to short-lived perennial plant, laxly branched. It can grow from 20 - 170cm tall[].
The plant is grown as a green manure and cover crop.

Known Hazards

No specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, but many members of this genus are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, the most potent of which in this genus are monocrotaline, retrorsine and retronecine[]. 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[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, S. Africa

Habitat

In a variety of grassy habitats, in valleys, deciduous woodland, also roadsides; sometimes in damp places; at elevations up to 1,600 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual/Perennial
Height	1.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated

Cultivation Details

Crotalaria lanceolata is a plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,150 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 28°c, but can tolerate 9 - 32°c[]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth is more tender and can be severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,100 - 1,600mm, but tolerates 850 - 2,800mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position but tolerant of light shade[]. It succeeds in most dry to moist, well-drained soils, growing best in fertile soils but also succeeding where the fertility is low[, ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.1[].
Introduced to Hawaii as a green manure crop, the plant has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized as a roadside weed. It is recorded as being invasive.
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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing plant that fixes atmospheric nitrogen, it is grown as a green manure and to stabilize the soil[]. It is an excellent source of organic matter - its fresh foliage usually contains between 0.5 - 1% nitrogen, which when incorporated into the soil improves fertility and nutrient retention, while providing structure to the soil by enriching it of humus and retarding erosion[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ. Pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water can help to reduce germination time.

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