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smooth rattlebox

Scientific Name: Crotalaria pallida

Family: Fabaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Subshrub, Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Smooth Rattlebox (Crotalaria pallida)

Smooth Rattlebox, scientifically known as Crotalaria pallida, is a plant with interesting features and a complex history. Read on to learn more about this species.

Considerations for Pets

  • All rattlebox species have a pea-pod fruit that rattles when ripe, which might be attractive to pets.

Considerations for Children

  • All rattlebox species have a pea-pod fruit that rattles when ripe, which might be attractive to children.

Common Names

  • Smooth Rattlebox
  • Rattlepod
  • Smooth Crotalaria
  • Striped Crotalaria

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Crotalaria pallida Aiton
  • Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
  • Subfamily: Faboideae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Species
  • Synonyms: Crotalaria pallida Aiton var. obovata (G. Don) Polhill, Crotalaria mucronata, Crotalaria striata

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to tropical Africa.
  • Now naturalized throughout the tropics.
  • Specifically mentioned as present at Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP), Florida, USA, with seven rattlebox species present, only two being native.

Ecological Role

  • Considered an invasive species, particularly in Southeast Florida.
  • Has become pantropical, indicating its spread across tropical regions.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • An erect, well-branched perennial herb.
  • Stems become woody.
  • Can grow up to 2 meters tall.
  • Has leaflets of three.
  • Produces a large, dense spike of yellow flowers.

Quirky Facts

  • All rattlebox species are characterized by their yellow flowers and pea-pod fruit that rattles when ripe.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • A lectin has been isolated and characterized from the seeds.

Further Information

  • USF Herbarium Specimen
  • Plants Database: plants.usda.gov/java/profile
  • Discover Life: Information on biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution