rattlebox

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• rattlebox
• showy crotalaria
• showy rattlebox
• showy rattlepod
• silent rattlepod

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Crotalaria retzii
• Crotalaria spectabilis subsp. parvibracteata
• Crotalaria lupinifolia
• Crotalaria alatipes

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Fabales, it is classified under the family Fabaceae and is identified by the genus Crotalaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of Mali. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, it can be found in both the Central African Republic and the DR Congo. The species also extends into Northeast Tropical Africa, spanning across Sudan and South Sudan. Finally, its geographical range reaches into East Tropical Africa, specifically within Kenya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Crotalaria spectabilis is characterized by its adaptability to diverse landscapes, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 1400 m AMSL. This species frequently thrives within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), demonstrating a strong capacity to colonize environments modified by human activity, such as disturbed soils, agricultural lands, and roadsides. Its ability to persist across such a wide elevational range and within human-impacted habitats suggests a resilient ecological strategy suited for opportunistic growth in varying climatic and topographical conditions.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Crotalaria spectabilis are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration that defines its cytogenetic profile. The species possesses a diploid chromosome number of 16, as indicated by its chromosome value. This numerical arrangement is consistent with a ploidy level of 2, signifying that the plant functions as a diploid organism with two complete sets of chromosomes.

Chromosome number :

16

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Crotalaria spectabilis is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental sequence—from germination to seed production and subsequent death—within a single growing season. As an annual species, it focuses its energy on rapid growth and prolific reproduction to ensure the survival of the next generation. The process typically begins with seed germination following adequate moisture, leading to the development of an erect, herbaceous stature. During its active phase, the plant undergoes vegetative growth before transitioning into a reproductive stage marked by the production of distinctive yellow flowers and subsequent seed pods. Because it lacks the capacity for perennial regrowth from the same root system, the plant's survival strategy is heavily dependent on the efficient dispersal of its seeds, which remain dormant in the soil until favorable environmental conditions trigger the next annual cycle.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Crotalaria spectabilis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as a self-supporting, independent organism that does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, maintaining a strictly terrestrial lifestyle. The plant displays an erect shoot orientation and reaches a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.65 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.65 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Crotalaria spectabilis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation efficiency. The morphological aspects of its foliage play a critical role in its gas exchange and light interception capabilities, with leaf dimensions varying significantly to optimize environmental adaptation. Specifically, the leaves exhibit a notable range in size, with lengths spanning from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 14 cm. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.8 cm and a maximum of 7.4 cm, contributing to a diverse leaf area index that supports its overall physiological functions and energy production.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

7.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of Crotalaria spectabilis is characterized by a flexible phenology, with flowering and fruiting periods that can occur at any time throughout the year, starting as early as April. The plant produces distinct yellow flowers that typically range in length from 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2.7 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a pod, which measures between 3.2 cm and 4 cm in length. These pods are dehiscence-type fruits, meaning they split open at maturity to release their contents. Each fruit contains a significant number of seeds, with a yield ranging from 11 to 100 seeds per pod. The individual seeds are small, reaching a maximum length of 4.5 mm, and possess a mean mass of approximately 0.014545 g, with individual seed weights varying between a minimum of 0.0125 g and a maximum of 0.0213 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

2.7 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit length max:

4 cm

Fruit length min:

3.2 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruiting time :

Apr

Seed length max:

4.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0213 g

Seed mass mean:

0.014545 g

Seed mass min:

0.0125 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

11-100

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Crotalaria spectabilis has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include GA3, PEG.

GA3

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

PEG

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Conditions

Crotalaria spectabilis has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension

1. The American journal of pathology