Prison Camp 9/22/16 Rattlebox Flower Rattlebox Flower Rattlebox Flower Rattlebox Leaves Rattlebox Leaves Prison Camp 9/22/16 Rattlebox Leaves Rattlebox Leaves Rattlebox Plant Prison Camp 9/22/16 Rattlebox Plant


Wildflowers of Southern Arizona


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Rattlebox.
Crotalaria pumila.
Pea (Fabaceae) family.

The flowers are in terminal and axillary racemes. The individual flowers are pea-like and have lightly to heavily red-streaked banner petals. The flowers are followed by large, plump, green seedpods with depressed seams. When shaken, the dry, brown seedpods make a rattling sound like that of a rattlesnake's tail. When fully dry, the seedpods explode open with an audible pop and eject the seeds a fair distance from the plant. The leaves are bright green, alternate, and trifolate with 3 oblanceolate leaflets. There is a stipule at the base of each petiole.

Santa Catalina Mountains.
Location: Prison Camp on side trail at end of road.
9/24/15

Notes: On slope just beyond gate 9/22/16.

See SEINet Pictures and Description

See FireFly Forest Pictures and Description

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