Rattlepod is closely related to Crotalaria brevidens and information cannot always be attributed to either one of them with certainty[]. This species can best be distinguished by the colour of the flower (pale yellow or creamish vs. Usually bright yellow in Crotalaria brevidens), the calyx (glabrous versus often puberulous), and the fruit diameter (1.5 - 2 cm vs. 0.5 - 1 cm)[].

Common Name: Rattlepod

General Information

Crotalaria ochroleuca is an erect much-branched annual or short-lived perennial herb growing up to 2.5 metres tall[]. It is cultivated locally, mainly as a garden crop, for its edible leaves and good companion properties[]. It is often sold in local markets[]. The plant is widespread in Africa and is not considered to be under any direct threat, though it has become quite rare in the wild in East Africa[].
Rattlepod is a promising dual-purpose crop[]. Besides a high nutritional value, it has great advantages such as its repulsiveness to nematodes and its nitrogen-fixing abilities[]. Rattlepod is increasingly in demand as a traditional vegetable at the city markets[].

Known Hazards

The seeds contain slow-acting pyrrolizidine alkaloids that may cause damage to lungs and liver[].
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids have a cumulative effect upon the body and, unless concentrations in a plant are high, occasional use is generally completely safe. They are derived from amino acids including ornithine. Many pyrrolizidine alkaloids have pronounced hepatic toxicity, but the lungs and other organs may be affected as well. Mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of pyrrolizidine alkaloids have also been reported[].
There is some concern about the chemical compounds present in this crop, making it a health hazard when consumed regularly. The toxic compounds can possibly be eliminated by breeding[].

Botanical References

Range

Tropical Africa - in all areas except the extreme north and south.

Habitat

Mainly in damp grassland, especially in floodplains, depressions and along edges of swamps and rivers, but also in deciduous bushland, roadsides and fields. It grows in open localities with adequate sunshine at elevations of 300 - 2,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	2.50 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants in this genus generally prefer a sunny position, succeeding in dry to moist, well-drained soils[]. Plant growth is favoured by warm conditions, and after the crop is well established and has formed long taproots and long lateral roots, it can tolerate rather dry conditions[].
In Africa, the most popular way of harvesting rattlepod as a vegetable is by uprooting the whole plant just before flowering when the stems are about 40 cm tall and 8 weeks old[]. Most farmers use this method when growing rattlepod as a catch crop between other crops[]. Alternatively, the thinnings are used as a first harvest after about 6 weeks and use a ratoon system from there onwards. This involves first plucking the main shoot at the 8-week stage and subsequent harvesting of the new side shoots[]. The main shoot is cut 10 - 15 cm above the ground, with at least 3 leaves left. New side shoots can be picked again after 2 weeks and harvesting can take place up to 15 times if there is enough rain and application of nitrogen[]. Towards the dry season, no further shoots develop and people may pluck the remaining leaves before abandoning the crop[].
The yield for a once-over harvest of the leaves is about 10 t/ha[]. A green manure crop yields about 20 t/ha of fresh organic matter[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[, ].

Edible Uses

Rattlepod is used as a leafy vegetable in various parts of Africa[]. The young shoots are harvested, but towards the end of the season also individual leaves are collected. These are chopped, boiled and eaten with the staple food maize, beans or sorghum[]. Sesame (Sesamum radiatum) or groundnut paste is sometimes added[]. Due to its slightly bitter taste, most people cook it with other vegetables such as amaranth, cowpea or pumpkin leaves, or alternatively with milk[].
Some caution should be employed in utilizing this vegetable since the bitterness in the leaves is caused by the presence of toxins such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids, diterpenes and phenolic compounds[]. It should be totally safe to use the leaves as an occasional addition to the diet[].

The young pods and flowers are eaten in soups, but people are careful about this use since drowsiness occurs when the flowers are eaten in quantity[].

The dried flowers retain their special flavour a long time and are used as a condiment for soups[].

Medicinal

The leaves are used as a treatment for yellow fever[]. The leaves are also applied to sore feet[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Like the common sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) it is used as a green manure in crops or fallows, but this use is rare[]. If sown as a green manure, the young crop is incorporated in the soil[]. For mulch, the plants are uprooted or cut at soil level and placed between the crop rows[].
A recent use for rattlepod is as an agent to promote the germination of Striga, a parasitic plant that is a major concern for maize and millet growers in Africa[]. In the presence of Crotalaria, Striga germinates and it will subsequently die due to the lack of a suitable host plant[]. Rattlepod is also known to suppress Meloidogyne root-knot nematode populations and is locally used by East African farmers either in crop rotations or as a companion crop with nematode-susceptible vegetables such as tomatoes[].

Other Uses

A strong fibre obtained from the bark and stems is used to make nets and ropes[, , ].

Oil extracted from the seeds is insect repellent[].

Propagation

Seed - sown broadcast or in rows. The seed germinates in 3 - 4 days, early growth is slow and it may take about 8 weeks until the first harvest is ready[]. The plant dies after about 6 months[].

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