The Herbarium at the University of Georgia Poisonous Plants of Georgia
The Herbarium of the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
Common Name:
Scientific Name:
Rattlebox, Rattlepod Crotalaria spp. L
Family:
 Fabaceae
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This plant may be poisonous to both humans and animals. Please refer to the "Symptoms" section below for information regarding susceptiblity of animal species to poisoning.
Description:
 Rattlebox is an annual or perennial herb or shrub with simple or compound leaves. The flowers resemble pea flowers and occur in clusters at the ends of the stalks. The petals are yellow sometimes with purplish streaks and rarely blue or purple. The fruit looks like an inflated pea pod. When the fruit dries, the seeds rattle inside thus giving this plant its common name. In the 1930s Crotalaria spp.was promoted as a cover crop and soil builder which may explain is high distribution in the southeastern United States. It tends to thrive in waste areas along roadsides and in empty lots.
Toxic Part: The entire plant is considered toxic with a higher concentration of the toxin in the seeds.
Toxin: The toxins are pyrrolizidine alkaloids. C. incana contains anacrotine. C. pallida contains integerrimine, nilgirine, acetyl nilgirine, and usaramine. C. retusa contains monocrotaline and retusamine. C. sagittalis contains monocrotaline. C. spectabilis contains monocrotaline, spectabiline, and retusine.
Symptoms:

Human symptoms following ingestion include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. The effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids are cumulative and result in liver damage which may include veno-occlusive disease and cirrohsis. Human intoxication is rare and can occur via contamination of cereal grains or frequent use of herbal medicines. Horses, cattle, and chicks are susceptible to poisoning. Clinical signs in animals include anorexia, lack of muscular coordination, and jaundice of the eye. Piercy and Rusoff note that symptoms of poisoning may not occur until two to five months after ingestion of the plant. Due to the differences in liver function among animals, levels of hepatotoxicity vary in mammals. Horses seem to be the most susceptible to this type of intoxication which is usually fatal once discovered

Treatment: There is no known cure for liver damage like veno-occlusive disease. Animals should not have access to this plant.
References: 1, 2, 24, 32, 142, 287
This site is NOT a substitute for the advice of medical physician. Plant poisonings can, in certain cases, result in SERIOUS HARM AND EVEN DEATH. Please contact a physician or your local poison control center if you suspect any plant poisoning. A link to the Georgia Poison Control Center can be found on the "References and Links" page of this site.