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Rattlebox Senna

<p><b>rattlebox</b>

n : any of various plants of the genus crotalaria having inflated pods within which the seeds rattle; used for pasture and green-manure crops <i>[syn: crotalaria]</i>

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<dd><i>Desert Senna&nbsp;(</i>Senna covesii<i>) is also sometimes called "rattlepod".</i></dd>

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<p><b><i>Crotalaria</i></b> is a genus of herbaceous&nbsp;plants&nbsp;and woody&nbsp;shrubs&nbsp;in the Family&nbsp;Fabaceae&nbsp;(Subfamily&nbsp;Faboideae) commonly known as <b>rattlepods</b>. Some 600 or more species of <i>Crotalaria</i> are described worldwide, mostly from the&nbsp;tropics; at least 500 species are known from&nbsp;Africa. Some species of <i>Crotalaria</i> are grown as ornamentals. The common name rattlepod or <i>rattlebox</i> is derived from the fact that the seeds become loose in the pod as they mature, and rattle when the pod is shaken. The name derives from the&nbsp;Greek&nbsp;, meaning "castanet", and is the same root as the name for the&nbsp;rattlesnakes&nbsp;(<i>Crotalus</i>).</p>