What is Crotalaria?
Crotalaria , commonly known as Rattlepods, is a genus of wooden shrubs and herbal plants that contain more than 600 species belonging to the Fabaceae family. At least 500 species are natives of Africa and the rest are doing well in many countries around the world, mostly in tropical areas. Some people cultivate selected types of crotalaria as decorative plants. Plants Crotalaria are often furry and erect and their leaves are simple, alternative and gently hair below the surface. These annual and permanent plants have yellow flowers with legume chalice and lanceolate on obovate leaves. The name Rattlebox is based on the fact that as heart -shaped seeds ripen, these seeds separate, relax in the pod and create a rattle sound when shaken. The Greek word crotalus , the name of the genus also means a castanet.
CV India was included by the land builder, a species called Crotalaria spectabilis was introduced to the United States. As legumes have the ability to afterDrink bacteria of nitrogen fixing. It is very useful in control of soil fertility and weed control. The Crotalaria species used for different purposes in the agricultural land includes c. Osoleuca , c. Paulina and c. Grahamiana .
In the southeastern part of the United States, c. Spectabilis has spread rapidly and is considered invasive species. Another species, c. Longirostrates , is common leafy vegetables in Central America and oaxation, but in the United States it is considered weed. Several species such as c. Retusa , c. Spectabilis and c. Sagittalis , were associated with livestock poisoning.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids contain crotalaria . These alkaloids, when they are converted into toxic pyrrols by liver enzymes, can result in lung and liver poisoning in horses. Crotalaria poisoning can be chronic or acute. Other animals that are susceptible to these toxic alkaloids are domestic poultry, pig and cattle. On the other hand, goats and sheep are more resistant to this toxic plant.
Most types of Crotalaria are used as a source of food by some larvae of adhesidoptera, such as utetheisa ornatrix , Etiella Zinckenella and endoclita Sericeus . Toxic alkaloids produced by some plants according to this family are included in the larvae of the utetheis and serve as their defense against predators. These harmful compounds are easily absorbed when they are inside their digestive tract.