SOME OBSERVATIONS ON SYSTEMATICS OF CROTALARIA SPECIES
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Abstract
This paper deals with the systematics of 22 species available in the National
Herbarium of Cultivated Plants (NHCP). NBPGR, New Delhi. An effort has been
made to work out linkage of C. juncea L. with other related species using
important vegetative and reproductive key characters. A Himalayan specis C.
tetragona Roxb. ex Andrews appears to be the closest wild related species of
the cultivated C. juncea. The section Calycinae to which C. juncea belongs. is
well represented in India. Another section called Crotalaria shares many characters
intermediate to this group is also concentrated mainly in the peninsular region.
Besides distribution of different sections such as Grandiftorae. Hedriocarpae.
Macrostachyae, etc. has also been discussed. A working key for identification
of Indian species was developed based on this study.