Medicinal Plants Classification Biosynthesis and ... - Index of

Pharmacologic Study of Some Plant Species from The Brazilian Northeast
forming an opened tube at the base with dimorphic anthers. The species of this genus have
great plasticity, being adaptable to different conditions. They may exist in many habitats, like
areas next to rivers, sand dunes, restingas, edge of tropical forest, field and cerrado. The
species are opportunists and occur in modified places, such as margins of roads (Flores,
Miotto, 2005). The plants of Crotalaria genus are named ―xique-xique‖, ―guizo de cascavel‖,
―chocalho de cascavel‖ and have dried pods that, when touched, emit a sound similar to that
of rattlesnake tail (Williams, Molyneux, 1987).
In Brazil, more than 40 species were found. Many of these plants are food of animals,
mainly in dry seasons (Hoehne, 1939; Tokarnia et al., 2000). The most known toxic species
are Crotalaria spectabilis, C. crispata, C. retusa (Figure 2), C. dura and C. globifera (Barri,
Adam, 1981).
Source: Honório Júnior, J.E.R.
Figure 2. C. retusa.
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