Crotalaria

Rattlepod, Rattlebox, Sunn Hemp (specific for Crotalaria juncea)

Message of the Flower

Formative Faculty in the Vital

The Mother’s Comment

Spontaneous but not always happy, it needs to be disciplined.

Colour

Light purple

Family

Fabaceae

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

1-2 inches

Flower Texture

Smooth

Number of Petals

Five

Floral Symmetry

Bilateral

Fragrance of Flower

Mild or non-fragrant

Leaf Texture

Smooth, some species may have hairy leaves

Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Leaf Color

Green, varying shades

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Mostly herbaceous, some shrubby

Life Cycle

Annual or perennial, depending on species

Blooming Period

Warmer months, varies by species

Climate

Tropical and subtropical, some temperate

Water Requirements

Moderate, some drought tolerance

Soil Type

Well-drained, generally undemanding

Temperature Ranges

Varies widely, some frost tolerance

Sun or Shade

Full sun

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Common legume pests and diseases (leaf spot, rusts, beetles)

Pollinators

Bees

Habitat

Roadsides, fields, tropical forests, various habitats

Role in the Ecosystem

Nitrogen fixation, soil fertility, habitat and food for fauna

Quotations

Not commonly quoted

Ornamental

Attractive flowers, used as cover crops

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Green manure, cover crops, erosion control

Endangered Status

Some species at risk due to habitat loss