Crotalaria similis

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Crotalaria similis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Crotalaria
Species:
C. similis
Binomial name
Crotalaria similis
Hemsl.

Crotalaria similis, also known as the Pingtung Curara pea, belongs to the family Fabaceae and genus Crotalaria. It is a perennial crawling herb, an endemic species of Taiwan which the distribution is limited to the Eastern seaside of the Hengchun Peninsula [zh].

Description[edit]

Crotalaria similis is a small herb with dense layer of soft hair. Its height is between 5–20 cm (2.0–7.9 in) and grows on a sloping land. It has near sessile simple leaf. The leaf is in oval to egg shaped with length between 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) and width between 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in), pointy tips and no stipula. It has a terminal raceme inflorescence of 3-5 flowers, or as a solitary flower. At the base of the calyx, there is 2 pieces of bracteoles. The calyx has a 6mm length with bifid top but slightly connate. It has a dense layer of hair. The yellow corolla and the calyx are equal length.[1][2][3] The stamen has a dimorphipic anther. The morphology of the exine is the shape of round pores to fine perforating striae.[4] Their pollens are the same, approximately 20μ in size with tricolporate shape. The outer fruit is in the shape of long-circular pods, 1cm in length. Each pod contains between 10-22 seeds.[1][2][3]

Classification[edit]

The first naming and publishing of Crotalaria similis was done in 1895 by William Botting Hemsley, in the Annals of Botany. He followed Augustine Henry's plant specimen descriptions over the new species accordingly, and Crotalaria similis was amongst it (sample specimen number 252 as evidence). Hemsley believed that the morphology of this species is like Crotalaria perpusilla Collett & Hemsl which is originated from Myanmar. However, the leaf of this species is narrower.[5]

Distribution and the habitat[edit]

Crotalaria similis is a rare species with the narrowest distribution amongst the endemic Crotalaria plants in Taiwan.[1][2][3] Its distribution can only be found in the open grass along the East coast of Kenting below 100[clarification needed] above sea level. There are 2 larger distribution center, one group situated in the Fengchuisha, Hengchun Peninsula which takes up 50% of the entire population, and the other group at the grassland of Longpan, which takes up 30% of the total population. There are several types habitat, including the calcareous red earth, sand, grasslands, and others. Amongst them, Crotalaria similis is mostly found in the grasslands, next is the sands and least being the calcareous red earth. Excessive human interference, such as afforestation, artificial planting, trample and other apparent ways resulting in the disappearance of the groups. However, limited interference, such as grazing benefit their survival.[6][7]

Artificial breeding and utilization[edit]

As Crotalaria similis has a very restricted habitat, it is scarce in number and is an endangered species.[6][7][8] It is not being cultivated and utilized. However, Crotalaria pallida Ait. var. obovata (G. Don) Polhill., Crotalaria zanzibarica Benth. and so forth that also belongs to the Crotalaria can be used as medicine. But these medicinal herbs may contain alkaloids that poses a certain level of toxicity to human.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Huang, Shing-Fan; Huang, Tseng-Chieng (1987-03-01). "Taxonomic Treatment of the Papilionoideae (Leguminosae) of Taiwan". Taiwania. 32 (1). College of Life Science, National Taiwan University & Biodiversity Association of Taiwan: 11-118. doi:10.6165/tai.1987.32.11. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. ^ a b c Huang, Shing-Fan; Huang, Tseng-Chieng (1993). "Flora of Taiwan". Flora of Taiwan, 2nd Edition. 3: 236. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. ^ a b c "屏东猪屎豆 ping dong zhu shi dou". Flora of Taiwan. 10: 106, 115. 1895. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  4. ^ Lin, Huey-Wen; Huang, Tseng-Chieng (1999). "A Palynological Study of the Genus Crotalaria L. (Leguminosae) in Taiwan". Taiwania. 44 (3). National Taiwan University: 384-403. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  5. ^ Hemsley, W.B. (1895). "Descriptions of Some New Plants from Eastern Asia, chiefly from Island of Formosa, presented by Dr. Augustine Heney, F.L.S., to the Herbarium, Royal Garden, Kew". Annals of Botany. 9. Royal Garden, Kew.: 143-160. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. ^ a b 林介龍、高瑞卿 、黃曜謀 (2008). "鵝鑾鼻野百合之族群分布變遷" (PDF). 國家公園學報. 18 (1): 67-72. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  7. ^ a b 臺灣植物紅皮書編輯委員會 (2017). 臺灣維管束植物紅皮書名錄. 臺灣: ⾏政院農業委員會特有⽣物研究保育中⼼、⾏政院農業委員會林務局、臺灣植物分類學會. p. 21. ISBN 978-986-05-5021-4.
  8. ^ 林介龍 、高瑞卿 、黃曜謀 (2009). "鵝鑾鼻野百合之過去與未來". 臺灣博物季刊. 28 (1). 國立臺灣博物館: 58-59.
  9. ^ 卓, 辰陽 (2016). 臺灣大葉野百合中所含吡咯里西啶類生物鹼之研究. 臺灣: 亞洲大學保健營養生技學系碩士學位論文. pp. 1–6.

Further reading[edit]

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