Forest Rattle Pod – Crotalaria capensis

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The Forest or Eared Rattle pod, depending on which book I reference is a tall spindly evergreen plant up to 2m tall, with a spreading crown and bright yellow – orange pea like flowers. These plants are generally found in forest margins or clearings and appears on the northern slope of the hillside in front of our home in a woodland area, surrounded by Lowveld Chestnuts (Sterculia murex) and Broad-leaved Beechwood (Faurea rochetiana) trees.  I have also seen a few plants near the top of the ridge on the east side of our home in a small clearing in a Lowveld Chestnut grove. They are flowering at the moment (end of January) after a week of good rains.

IMG_1436-1The Genus Crotalaria derives its name from the Greek for castanet (krotalon).  The common name also alludes to the rattling sound the dry seeds make when the pod is shaken. Crotalaria form part of the pea family – Fabaceae. Flowers of this family are described as having a lower keel petal and 2 lateral petals. The long, pendulous sprays can be seen between October and April and the seed pods between January and June.

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The tri-foliate leaves are green with slivery hairs and have prominent points described as being mucronate. The leaflets are elliptical with entire margins. The new growth is an attractive silvery blue colour which contrasts with the current green of the surrounding trees and veld.

A little whimsy: Bracken Goblintree

FairyRattlePodShe brings riches and wealth. She lives where bracken and curling ferns grow. She can only be seen when the first leaves fall from the trees. She wears leafy bracken-green and has gentle green wings like a butterfly

 

 

Comment: I have now been advised that this is not a Crotaleria, but a Pearsonia!