Crotalaria lanceolata
Crotalaria lanceolata
Safety & 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[1]. 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[2].
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[3]. 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[3]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,100 - 1,600mm, but tolerates 850 - 2,800mm[3]. Grows best in a sunny position but tolerant of light shade[3]. It succeeds in most dry to moist, well-drained soils, growing best in fertile soils but also succeeding where the fertility is low[4, 3]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 7.1[3]. 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[1].
Propagation
Seed - sow in situ. Pre-soaking the seed for 12 hours in warm water can help to reduce germination time. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Crotalaria+lanceolata>
Pollinators
Insects
References
- [1]The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation — Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. · University of Wisconsin · 1981 · ISBN 0-333-32221-5 ↩︎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.
- [2]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [3]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
- [4]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
- [5]African Flowering Plants Database — Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques. · http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/recherche.php ↩︎Contains information on over 150,000 plant names (including synonyms) giving a description and habitat, plus a distribution map.