Sesbania drummondii

The best way to differentiate between Sesbania herbacea, Sesbania drummondii, and Glottidium vesicarium is the morphology of the fruit. Sesbania herbacea has round, very long and narrow fruit, Glottidium vesicarium has short, flattened, fruit, and S. drummondii (and S. punicea) has short, square fruit with seeds that rattle. Fruit square in cross section. Wing and keel petals not auricled at the base of the blade, pod 4 angled.

The Acadian French name for this plant is "indigo sauvage," meaning "wild indigo." This name results from the resemblance between rattlebox and indigo (Indigofera suffruticosa). It is a weedy colonizing species which is locally very abundant on the Coastal Plain in Louisiana and Texas. It is common in the coastal states from Florida to Texas. The seeds are loose in the mature pods, which rattle when the bush is in motion, hence the common name. Ingested seeds are said to be poisonous to sheep and goats.

Coastal plain inland.