Sesbania drummondii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sesbania drummondii |
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| Sesbania drummondii inflorescence | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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Robinieae
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| Genus: |
Sesbania
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| Species: |
S. drummondii
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| Binomial name | |
| Sesbania drummondii (Rydb.) Cory
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Sesbania drummondii, often called poisonbean, rattlebox, or rattlebush, is a medium-sized shrub. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. This plant is part of the legume family, known as Fabaceae. You can find it growing naturally in the southeastern United States, from Texas all the way to Florida.
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What Does Rattlebox Look Like?
This woody shrub usually grows about 1–3 metres (3.3–9.8 ft) tall. It often has many thin branches that spread out widely. Its medium green leaves fall off each year. They are "pinnately compound," which means each leaf has many smaller leaflets arranged like a feather.
Leaves and Flowers
- Each leaf typically has 12 to 24 small leaflets. Sometimes, there can be as many as 60!
- Each leaflet is shaped like a long oval and is about 2–3 centimetres (0.79–1.18 in) long.
- The plant produces orange-yellow, pea-like flowers.
- These flowers hang down in a cluster called a raceme on a long stem.
- You might also see red lines on the flowers.
Seed Pods
After the flowers, the plant grows special seed pods.
- These pods have four sides and four wings.
- They are about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) long.
- Inside the pods, the seeds are separated by small walls.
- When the pods are dry, the peas inside rattle around. This is how the plant got its common name, Rattlebush or Rattlebox!
Where Rattlebox Grows
Rattlebox plants like wet soils. You can often find them in places like:
- Ditches
- Meadows that get flooded often
- Low areas where water collects
- Along the edges of lakes, ponds, and streams
Life Cycle of Rattlebox
These plants usually flower from May to October. They often keep many of their seed pods attached. The pods stay on the plant until it dies back to the ground when winter arrives.
Why Rattlebox is Called Poisonbean
The seeds of the rattlebox plant are poisonous. They contain a harmful substance called sesbanimide.
- Animals that live near these plants, like cattle, goats, or sheep, usually learn to avoid eating them.
- This is because the green plants and flowers have a bad taste.
- However, if animals that don't know about the plant are put into a pasture with dried rattlebox plants, they might eat them.
- It's very important for farmers to make sure their animals do not eat this plant, especially when it's dried.
Who is Thomas Drummond?
This plant species is named after a Scottish naturalist named Thomas Drummond (1793-1835). He was a botanist who studied plants. Other common names for this plant include sennabean and Drummond sesbania.
