Crotalaria inaequalis A.E.Holland (Fabaceae), a 
new species from the Gulf Plains, Queensland 
Ailsa E.Holland 
Summary 
Holland, A.E. (2009). Crotalaria inaequalis A.E.Holland (Fabaceae), a new species from the Gulf 
Plains, Queensland. Austrobaileya 8(1): 65-68. The new species, Crotalaria inaequalis , is described 
and illustrated, together with a map of its distribution. The distribution, habitat and conservation 
status of C. inaequalis is discussed. Crotalaria inaequalis is only known from the vicinity of Croydon 
in the Gulf Plains in northern Queensland. An amendment to the key by Holland (2002) to Australian 
species of Crotalaria is provided. 
Key Words: Fabaceae, Crotalaria inaequalis , Crotalaria smithiana, Crotalaria mitchellii , Australia, 
Australian flora, Queensland flora, taxonomy, new species, identification key 
A.E.Holland, Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment and Resource Management, 
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong 4066, Queensland, Australia. 
Email: ail sa. holland@der m. qld. gov. au 
Introduction 
The genus Crotalaria L. includes more 
than 600 species worldwide with 18 
species currently considered to be native to 
Australia (Holland 2002). Eleven of these 
species occur in north-western Queensland: 
Crotalaria dissitiflora Benth. (Section 
Hedriocarpae Wight & Arn.); C. calycina 
Schrank, C. humifusa Graham ex Benth., 
C. montana Heyne ex Roth, C. brevis Domin, 
C. ramosissima Roxb. and C. crispata 
F.Muell. ex Benth. (all section Calycinae 
Wight & Arn.); C. aridicola Domin and 
C. medicaginea Lam. (section Dispermae 
Wight & Arn.); C. novae-hollandiae DC. and 
C. verrucosa L. (section Crotalaria). Of these, 
Crotalaria dissitiflora , C. brevis , C. crispata , 
C. aridicola and C. novae-hollandiae are 
endemic to Australia. All of these species are 
widely distributed and considered not to be 
threatened. 
In 1997, a specimen of an unknown 
Crotalaria was col 1 ected by Jen ny M i 1 son from 
the Croydon area in the Gulf Plains bioregion, 
an unique area of grassy woodland on sandy 
hills. It was again collected in 1999, 2003 and 
2004, found growing mainly in disturbed 
areas, suggesting a possible introduction. 
However, after investigation, and assistance 
Accepted for publication 1 September 2009 
from Dr Roger Polhill who checked material 
held at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, it was 
clear that it was indeed a native species. In the 
last two years Keith McDonald has collected 
several more specimens and it is now possible 
to describe this new endemic species, which 
is restricted to this area of unique habitat. 
Taxonomy 
Crotalaria inequalis A.E.Holland, species 
nova C. smithiana A.T.Lee maxime affinis. 
Ab illo habitu prostrato, quoque pari 
stipularum inaequimagno etiam stipulis 
ovatis obovatisve et lobis calycis tubum 
duplo superans, differt. Typus: Queensland. 
Burke District: Croydon Cemetery, 2.1 km 
S of Croydon, Apr 2009, K.R.McDonald 
KRM8383 (holo: BRI [AQ747613]; iso: CNS, 
CANB, DNA, PERTH, K distribuendi). 
Prostrate herb with a perennial tap root. Stems 
to 70 cm long, striate, densely villous, the hairs 
spreading to retrorse, c. 1 mm long, white or 
light brown. Leaves simple, blade obovate to 
narrowly oblong, variable in size, 6-41 mm 
long, 3-21 mm wide, obcordate or emarginate 
at apex, tapered at base; upper surface dark 
green, sparsely to moderately villous; lower 
surface paler, moderately to densely villous. 
Petiole 1-3 mm long, not articulate. Stipules 
in unequal pairs, sessile, variable in size, 
villous, entire, often persisting after leaf fall. 
Larger stipule (of pair) slightly longer and 
