Crotalaria aculeata De Wild.

Erect shrubby short-lived perennial, up to 1–5 m. tall.. Branches sub-appressed pubescent, sometimes rather densely so.. Leaves mostly crowded on very reduced axillary shoots, appearing fasciculate, 3-foliolate; leaflets obtriangular or less commonly linear-oblanceolate to oblanceolate, up to 6–17(–24) mm. long, 2–6(–12) mm. wide, truncate or emarginate at the apex, long-cuneate, glabrous above, appressed puberulous beneath; petiole ± 3–12(–24) mm. long.. Stipules linear, up to 2 mm. long, recurved.. Inflorescences leaf-opposed or apparently axillary from the leaf clusters, ± 1–3·5 cm. long, with 1(–3) flowers on the spine-tipped rhachis; bracts linear, up to 1(–2) mm. long; bracteoles inserted on the pedicel, inconspicuous.. Calyx 4–5 mm. long, with the tube protracted on the lower side, appressed puberulous; upper lobes acuminately triangular, it as long as the tube or longer.. Standard elliptic, yellow, veined and diffused with red, densely pubescent outside; wings ± as long as the keel or shorter; keel bent at right-angles in the lower half, with a narrow twisted beak, 9–13 mm. long, lanate-puberulous along the upper margin.. Pod practically sessile, oblong-clavate, 12–23 mm. long, 6–9 mm. across, appressed puberulous, it 10–28-seeded.. Seeds oblique-cordiform, ± 2·5 mm. long, smooth, ochre or brown.

Open, dry disturbed places in grassland and pastures, on mountain slopes and roadsides, seasonally damp and disturbed places, steep slopes and wet soil on lake shores; at low to medium elevations.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.