Everything about Crotalaria totally explained
» Desert Senna (Senna covesii
) is also sometimes called "rattlepod".
Crotalaria is a genus of herbaceous
plants and woody
shrubs in the Family
Fabaceae (Subfamily
Faboideae) commonly know as
rattlepods. Some 600 or more species of
Crotalaria are described world-wide, mostly from the
tropics; at least 500 species are known from
Africa. Some species of
Crotalaria are grown as ornamentals. The common name rattlepod or
rattlebox is derived from the fact that the seeds become loose in the pod as they mature, and rattle when the pod is shaken. The name derives from the
Greek,
κροταλον, meaning "
castanet", and is the same root as the name for the
rattlesnakes (
Crotalus).
Crotalaria species are used as food plants by the
larvae of some
Lepidoptera species including
Endoclita sericeus,
Etiella Zinckenella and
Utetheisa ornatrix. The toxic alakaloids produced by some members of this genus are known to be incorporated by Utetheisia larvae and used to secure their defense from predators. (Eisner et al., 2003)
Crotalaria spectabilis Roth was introduced to the US from India for green manure. As a legume that supports nitrogen fixing bacteria, it's considered a "soil builder." However, it's also poisonous to cattle (as are many legumes), and has spread rapidly throughout the Southeastern United States where it's now considered an invasive species.
Crotalaria longirostrata, also known as "longbeak rattlebox" or as "chipilín", is a common leafy vegetable in Oaxaca and Central America. It is considered a weed in the United States.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Crotalaria'.
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