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rattlebox
Scientific Name: Crotalaria paulina
Family: Fabaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Rattlebox: A Multifaceted Name
"Rattlebox" is a common name applied to several plants, most notably those within the legume family (Fabaceae) that produce inflated seed pods where the seeds rattle when the plant is shaken.
Considerations for Pets
- One species of Rattlebox, Crotalaria albida, is noted as being toxic to horses due to the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Considerations for Children
- Many Rattlebox species have pods containing seeds that rattle, potentially attracting children's interest.
Scientific Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- The common name "Rattlebox" can refer to plants from genera such as Crotalaria and Sesbania.
- One species mentioned is Crotalaria albida, belonging to the family Papilionaceae (also known as Fabaceae or the pea family).
- Crotalaria spectabilis is another species of rattlebox, belonging to the legume family Fabaceae. It also has synonyms including Crotalaria retzii A.S. Hitchc. and C. sericea Retz., nom. illeg. anomalous
- Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth. also falls under the name Rattlebox. It is of the Family Fabaceae and Subfamily Faboideae. Synonyms include Sesbania tripetii, and Daubentonia tripetii.
Distribution and Habitat
- Crotalaria spectabilis is native to the Indo-Malaysian area but has been widely planted in tropical regions worldwide.
- In Texas, rattlebox plants can be found from the North Central area into the Coastal Plain, growing on low, wet grounds. Their distribution extends into Mexico and east through Arkansas.
Ecological Role
- Rattlebox (specifically referring to a species introduced from South America) is mentioned as a fairly common exotic invasive shrub of wet, sunny areas in the Coastal Plain.
Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits
- Crotalaria sagittalis is a summer annual that typically grows to about 6-12 inches tall and branches occasionally.
- Sesbania drummondii has many branches in the upper part of the plant that are well-separated.
- Some species have racemes of 1 to 4 yellow pea-shaped flowers 1/3 inch long with a hairy calyx.
- Rattlebox is an annual that completes its life cycle in one season but will re-seed.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix), also known as the Rattlebox Moth, Inornate Moth, or Calico Moth, interacts with rattlebox plants.