Fabaceae FAMILY

Crotalaria verrucosa

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The seed has caused liver damage to test animals[ 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. ].

Botanical Description

Crotalaria verrucosa is an erect or spreading, much-branched, annual, sub-woody plant growing 50 - 100cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. , 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. , 974 Title Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants Publication Author Ahmed Fayaz Publisher Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand Year 2011 ISBN 978-1-55407-489 Description A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is sometimes grown as a green manure and is a potential 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeE. Asia - southern China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines New Guinea

HabitatFallow fields and on marshy ground, along rivers and roads; at elevations up to 1,200 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. ]. Grassland and sparse forests[ 974 Title Encyclopedia of Tropical Plants - Identification and Cultivation of over 3,000 Tropical Plants Publication Author Ahmed Fayaz Publisher Firefly Books Ltd.; New Zealand Year 2011 ISBN 978-1-55407-489 Description A good photograph and terse but detailed information for over 3,000 species of tropical plants. An excellent reference. ]. Field edges and open places in dry evergreen and deciduous forests with bamboo, at elevations to 1,300 metres[ 1343 Title Crotalaria L. (Fabaceae: Faboideae) in continental Southeast Asia Publication Phytotaxa 320 (1): 001-074 Author Ninkaew S.; Balslev H.; Pornpongrungrueng P.; Chantaranothai Publisher Year 2017 ISBN 978-1-77670-218-3 Description ]