Purple Popbush

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Purple Popbush
• blue-flower rattlepod
• Blue Rattlepod
• blue rattlebox
• blue rattlesnake

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Phaseolus bulae
• Anisanthera hastata
• Anisanthera versicolor
• Crotalaria verrucosa var. acuminata
• Crotalaria paramariboensis
• Crotalaria verrucosa var. obtusa
• Quirosia anceps
• Crotalaria hastata
• Crotalaria angulosa
• Crotalaria caerulea

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Fabales, it is a member of the Fabaceae family. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Crotalaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in both Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Moving into the West-Central Tropical Africa zone, the species can also be found in Gabon. Its range extends significantly eastward into East Tropical Africa, where it inhabits Tanzania. Additionally, the plant is recorded as being present in Uganda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crotalaria verrucosa is characterized by its ability to colonize disturbed environments, specifically within anthropic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity has altered the natural landscape. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving in diverse topographical settings ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. Such adaptability to human-modified habitats and a significant vertical range suggests a resilient ecological strategy, allowing it to persist in varied microclimates across different elevations.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Crotalaria verrucosa is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental sequence—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. As an annual species, it relies on a rapid reproductive strategy to ensure the survival of the next generation before the onset of unfavorable environmental conditions. Following seed germination, the plant undergoes a period of vegetative expansion, establishing a root system and foliage sufficient to support the energy demands of its reproductive phase. This is followed by the production of flowers and the subsequent development of characteristic seed pods, after which the plant completes its biological cycle and dies, leaving behind seeds that remain dormant in the soil to await the next favorable season.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Crotalaria verrucosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, functioning without the need for climbing or liana-like structures, and it is categorized as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial plant, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic tendencies, and it thrives in non-aquatic environments. In terms of stature, the plant maintains a relatively low profile, with a height ranging from 0 to a maximum of 1 meter.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crotalaria verrusca is characterized by a metabolic framework driven by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. As a C3 plant, its initial fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurs via the enzyme Rubisco through the Calvin cycle, typically resulting in optimal growth under moderate temperatures and well-watered conditions. This physiological mode influences the plant's water-use efficiency and stomatal conductance patterns, as it lacks the specialized Kranz anatomy or temporal separation of CO2 fixation found in C4 or CAM species. Furthermore, its physiological functions include efficient nitrogen assimilation, often facilitated by its relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules, which supports the metabolic demands of its growth cycles and the synthesis of various bioactive secondary metabolites.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Crotalaria verrucosa is centered around the production and dispersal of its seeds, which exhibit specific morphological variations in weight. The reproductive output is characterized by a seed mass that fluctuates depending on environmental factors and individual plant vigor, with a recorded mean seed mass of 0.01485 g. Within a given population, the individual seed weights show a measurable range, reaching a minimum value of 0.0082 g and peaking at a maximum value of 0.0215 g. This variation in seed mass plays a critical role in the plant's ability to establish new individuals and ensure the successful propagation of the species across its natural habitat.

Seed mass max:

0.0215 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01485 g

Seed mass min:

0.0082 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Crotalaria verrucosa has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatotoxic.

Hepatotoxic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology