Crotalaria globosa (Fabaceae): An overlooked endemic legume of India

Abstract

The genus Crotalaria, commonly known as ‘rattle pods’, is one of the more prolific genera in Fabaceae Lindl., with about 690 species distributed throughout the tropics. In India, the genus is represented by 93 species and in Tamil Nadu 53 species, of which five entities are endemic to Tamil Nadu: C. digitata Hook., C. fysonii var. glabra Gamble, C. globosa Wight, C. kodaiensis Debb. & Biswas. and C. ramosissima Roxb. var. ramnadensis A.A. Ansari. In connection with the documentation of legumes of Dindigul District for a doctoral dissertation by the first author, a few interesting specimens of Crotalaria were collected from Batlakundu and Ottanchathram hill ranges of Dindigul District. Critical study with relevant literature has confirmed it as Crotalaria globosa Wight. The type specimens, housed in the online herbaria of Kew and Edinburg, were also studied to ascertain identity of species.