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Common Name:

General Information

Crotalaria sessiliflora is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

No specific mention of toxicity has been seen for this species, but many members of this genus are known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, the most potent of which in this genus are monocrotaline, retrorsine and retronecine[]. These alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional consumption is generally completely safe. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many of these alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[].

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea and Manchuria.

Habitat

Grassy places in lowland areas of central and southern Japan[]. Open grassy places at elevations of 200 - 2800 metres in Nepal[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.60 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

None known

Edible Uses

Pods and seeds - cooked[].

Medicinal

Salve[]. A paste of the plant is applied as a poultice to treat headaches[].
The plant is used as a detoxifier of toxins such as DDT, arsenic, poisonous mushrooms etc[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -