Yellow rattlepod
Crotalaria mitchellii subsp. mitchellii, Fam. Fabaceae
Prostrate to erect perennial shrub, up to 1m.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Shrub |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple, alternate, 3-13 x 1-6cm, ovate to elliptic or obovate, scattered short hairs on lower surface. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Yellow |
| Flower description: | Dense racemes of yellow pea flowers borne terminally or opposite the leaves. Any month of the year. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: | |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Inflated, glabrous pods, 1.9-3 x 0.5-1cm, grey brown when ripe. Contain eight to 12 heart shaped seed. |
| Habitat: | Coastal dune, woodland. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales. |
| Food source for: | Larval food plant of the long tailed pea blue butterfly. |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | It is possible that Crotalaria mitchellii subsp. laevis may also occur in Capricornia. Its leaves are smaller, up to 6cm long, and it has a much sparser inflorescence than C. mitchellii subsp. mitchellii. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
