RABBITBELLS (Crotalaria rotundifolia)

WHAT FLORIDA NATIVE PLANT IS BLOOMING TODAY?: RABBITBELLS (Crotalaria rotundifolia)

Also known as rattlebox. Low growing member of the pea family; may be toxic to cattle.

Larval Host: Bella Moth (Utetheisa ornatrix); ceraunus blue butterfly (Hemiargus ceraunus)

Learn: https://regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/PD_PFriendly.asp?tx=Crotrotu

Fact sheet explaining Native vs. Non-native of this genus: http://bugwoodcloud.org/CDN/floridainvasives/CrotalariaSpecies-rattlebox.pdf

Native American Ethnobotany for this genus: http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Crotalaria+rotundifolia

Where does it grow in Florida? http://www.florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/Plant.aspx?id=3328

My take: https://floridawildlifegardentails.wordpress.com/2017/04/29/we-dont-all-eat-leaves-you-know/

###

• ethnobotany
• Florida Native Plant
• Florida wildflower
• larval host