Crotalaria capensis pods

Crotalaria capensis or commonly the eared rattle-pod and in Afrikaans the Kaapse klapperpeul has been in horticultural use since the eighteenth century. Its popularity can be related to the flowers and pods, as well as features like being evergreen and quick-growing.

The plant is browsed by livestock, although sometimes reported to cause stiff-sickness in cattle. This may be due to confusing the plant with C. burkeana.

The rattle-pod name comes from the noise made by dry pods when loosened seeds rattle about inside in the wind or when shaken. The Greek word krotalon meaning castanet, gave rise to the specific epithet in the name, playing upon the rattling sound (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).