five-leaf crotalaria

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• five-leaf crotalaria
• five leaf rattlepod

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lupinus javanicus
• Crotalaria heterophylla
• Crotalaria ekmanii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically categorized under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae. It is further identified by the genus Crotalaria, with the specific species name quinquefolia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several key regions. Within the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It also extends its range to the island nation of Sri Lanka. Beyond the mainland, the species is also present in the Western Indian Ocean, specifically in Mauritius. These locations collectively highlight the plant's presence across both South Asian and oceanic territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crotalaria quinquefolia is characterized by its adaptation to diverse lowland and mid-altitude environments, typically thriving in open, disturbed habitats such as grasslands, roadsides, and agricultural fields. This species is primarily found across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level at 0 m AMSL up to a maximum elevation of 800 m AMSL. As a legume, it plays a significant ecological role in nitrogen fixation, which allows it to colonize nutrient-poor or sandy soils where other vegetation might struggle. It prefers full solar exposure and well-drained substrates, often acting as a pioneer species in successional stages of tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Its distribution and survival are closely linked to seasonal rainfall patterns and its ability to compete in disturbed landscapes where light availability is high.

Elevational range max:

800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Crotalaria quinquefolia is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological progression from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As an annual species, it begins its development by germinating in favorable soil conditions, rapidly establishing a root system and a branching stem structure to maximize resource acquisition. Throughout its vegetative phase, the plant focuses on biomass accumulation, eventually transitioning into a reproductive stage marked by the emergence of distinctive yellow flowers. Following successful pollination, the plant produces characteristic inflated seed pods that contain the seeds necessary for the next generation. Once the seeds have matured and are dispersed, the individual plant completes its life cycle and dies, ensuring that its genetic continuity is maintained through the seasonal deposition of seeds into the environment.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Crotalaria quinquefolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, typically exhibiting a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. It functions as an independent organism, lacking parasitic tendencies, and is classified as a terrestrial plant rather than an aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic species. The plant maintains an erect shoot orientation, with a stature that generally reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crotalaria quinquefolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The morphological dimensions of its foliage reflect specific physiological adaptations, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 12 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width exhibits significant variability, spanning from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 2 cm, contributing to the overall surface area available for light interception and gas exchange.

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Crotalaria quinquefolia is characterized by its distinctive flowering and fruiting structures. The plant produces flowers that typically exhibit a red coloration, with individual flower lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops legumes that serve as the fruit; these fruits vary in size, with lengths measuring between 5 cm and 6 cm and widths ranging from 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Within each fruit, a significant number of seeds are produced, typically falling within the range of 11 to 100 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds are relatively small, possessing a maximum length of 4 mm and a consistent seed mass of approximately 0.0303 g.

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit length max:

6 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit width max:

2 cm

Fruit width min:

1.5 cm

Seed length max:

4 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.0303 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Crotalaria quinquefolia has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include RUTIN, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin.

RUTIN

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

kaempferol

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

myricetin

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

quercetin

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Conditions

Crotalaria quinquefolia has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include eczema, fever, impetigo, pain, scabies.

Eczema

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Fever

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Impetigo

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Pain

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society

Scabies

1. Saudi pharmaceutical journal : SPJ : the official publication of the Saudi Pharmaceutical Society