Streaked rattlepod
Crotalaria pallida var. obovata, Fam. Fabaceae
Upright, sparsely branched, annual or short-lived perennial with slightly ribbed hairy stems, 0.6-1.2m tall, occasionally to 2m.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Herb |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Alternate Simple, alternate, digitately 3-foliate, leaflets obovate, 15-80 x 6-40mm, hairless above, slightly hairy below, stalk 10-60mm long. Stipules narrow, to 3mm long, deciduous |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Yellow, Red, Brown |
| Flower description: | Yellow with reddish-brown veins, 12mm long; racemes to 300mm long. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Pods 38-46 x 6-8mm, minutely hairy or hairless, brown at maturity, with 30-40 light to dark brown or mottled seeds about 3.5mm long. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | Toxic if ingested |
| Origin: | Probably originally from Africa but now pan-tropical |
| Notes: | Spread by: gravity, water and contaminated machinery used for road construction and agriculture. Invades/threats: uncultivated pastures, crops, roadsides, disturbed environmental areas, especially on sandy soils. Often occur in large colonies. Notes: widespread and common in this region and beyond. Used as a green manure crop in India. Suspected of poisoning stock. Many rattlepods, both introduced and native species, occur in this region so correct identification is essential, especial for managers of environmental areas. Most species have nitrogen fixing nodules on their roots. Some are suspected of being poisonous to stock. The hard seeds have a long viability and build up in the soil seed bank. Environmental weed. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
