Weeds of Wednesday: Showy but Poisonous Rattlebox

Showy rattlebox (Crotalaria spectablis) is big and beautiful, often growing to be more than six feet tall. Native to southeast Asia, this woody annual is weedy and poisonous. Rattleweed is another common name. Showy ratttlebox loves disturbance, and the seedlings…

Weeds of Wednesday: Smooth Rattlebox

On our visit to Cypress Bend Community Preserve on 5-5-2018, we saw smooth rattlebox (Crotalaria pallida var. obovata), pictured above, growing in the ruderal area of the parking lot. Fifteen species of crotalaria are found in Florida, and this widely…