"Rattlebox, wild Pea, Locoweed"

Crotolaria from the Greek crotalon meaning "a rattle" in refernce to the loose seeds inside the pod. Sagittilis is from the Latin meaning "like an arrowhead" referring to the shape of the stipules of the upper leaves.

The small seeds have been used a substitute for coffee. Ground seeds are toxic to hogs and can cause purging in cattle. Rattlebox caused the death of many horses in parts of the Missouri Valley in the 1880's. Some species are cultivated as ornamentals in the southern US.

Found on dry, sandy prairie soils in open areas. Blooms from June through September; yellow flowers in elongated clusters of two to four on one to four inch stalks. Grows to sixteen inches.

 

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