Rattlebox

Common names: Rattlebox, Rattlepod. Native to: Throughout the world, mostly to the tropics. Many Crotalaria species are host plants to Lepidoptera including Heliotrope Moths (Utetheisa pulchelloides) & Pea Pod borer moths (Etiella zinckenella). Like Milkweeds, these plants produce toxic alkaloids which is tolerated by the larvae giving them a natural defense against predators.
Chipilín (Crotalaria longirostratais) a perennial legume. The leaves are a common leafy vegetable in the local cuisines of southern Mexico & Central America. Because this plant is not eaten by animals and its seeds disperse themselves over a wide area, it is considered invasive. In the U.S. it is characterized as a noxious weed, as are most species of Crotalaria.