Crotalaria juncea, known as sunn or sunn hemp, is a tropical Asian plant of the legume family (Fabaceae). Grown as a source of green manure, fodder and the lignified fiber obtained from its stem, it bears yellow flowers and elongate, alternate leaves. Sunn hemp is also being looked at as a possible bio-fuel. Annual, c. 100-1000 cm tall. Many ascending branches, pubescent. Leaf simple, c. 2.5-10.5 cm long, c. 6ââ¬â20 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. 3ââ¬â7 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. Mayââ¬âSeptember.
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