Crotalaria juncea

Crotalaria juncea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Family: Fabaceae
Tribe: Crotalarieae
Genus: Crotalaria
Species: C. juncea
Binomial name
Crotalaria juncea
L.

Crotalaria juncea, known as sunn or sunn hemp, is a tropical Asian plant of the legume family (Fabaceae). It is generally considered to have originated in India.[1]

It is now widely grown throughout the tropics and subtropics[1] as a source of green manure, fodder and lignified fiber obtained from its stem. Sunn hemp is also being looked at as a possible bio-fuel.[2]

It bears yellow flowers and elongate, alternate leaves.[3]

Description

Annual, c. 100–1000 cm tall.

Many ascending branches, pubescent.

Leaf simple, c. 2.5-10.5 cm long, c. 6–20 mm broad, linear or oblong, obtuse or subacute, apiculate, pubescent on both sides, hairs appressed, silky.

Petiole c. 1.2-2.5 mm long; stipules almost absent.

Inflorescence an erect terminal and lateral raceme, up to 30 cm long, 12-20-flowered. Pedicel c. 3–7 mm long. Bract minute; bracteoles 2, below the calyx. Calyx c. 1.8-2.0 cm long, pubescent, teeth linear-lanceolate. Corolla bright yellow. Vexillum ovate-oblong, slightly exserted.

Fruit c. 2.5-3.2 cm long, sessile, pubescent, 10-15-seeded. Fl.Per. May–September.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Crotalaria juncea L.. FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Accessed September 2014
  2. ↑ Perry, A. Sunn Hemp Shows Promise as Biofuel Source. USDA ARS News. January 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ Crotalaria juncea. USDA NRCS Plant Guide.

External links

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