Rattlepod

Crotalaria ochroleuca ?

Among roadside vegetation with grazing pressure, Tugen Hills, Kenya. December 2015.

FLOWERS: Yellow and maroon-tinged pea flowers arranged on a spike.

SHRUB: Mostly herbaceous or slightly woody reaching close to 1-½ m tall.

LEAVES: Leaves are compound with three broad, elliptical leaflets attached at one point.

RANGE: There are many species of Crotalaria in Kenya.

FRUIT: The bean pods are plump and eventually the beans break loose inside the pod and rattle about. The pods are covered with rust-colored hairs.

UNARMED.

Fabaceae -- Bean Family -- Paplionoideae - Typical Bean Family

More Information:

• Book: Upland Kenya Wild Flowers and Ferns by A. D. Q. Agnew, 3rd Revised Edition, 2013, Nature Kenya - The East Africa Natural History Society
• Encyclopedia of Life
• Wikipedia
• Google Images
• Google Scholar Literature Search