Indicator value
Rattlepods making up a significant proportion of the pasture indicates fair to poor pasture condition, because rattlepods are generally able to readily colonise disturbed ground.
Forage value
Some rattlepods appear to be readily grazed by cattle, but most of the common species in the Kimberley have been reported to cause disease in horses. Some rattlepods are known to contain alkaloids that cause liver damage. These alkaloids are cumulative poisons, so toxins can build up in an animal's system over time. The disease caused by this liver damage is commonly known as ‘walkabout disease’ because affected horses can appear blind and wander aimlessly.
By the time an animal is showing signs of the disease, it may be too late to take action to save it. Signs of the disease can include reduced food intake, jaundice, colic, abdominal swelling and nervous signs, such as twitching and compulsive walking. Removing rattlepod plants from the horse paddock might be the only option to prevent the disease.
Common rattlepods believed to affect horses include Kimberley horse poison, New Holland rattlepod, wedgeleaf rattlepod and trefoil rattlepod.
Habitat
Various soils
General description
Over 30 species of rattlepod plants are found in the northern rangelands, 5 of which have been introduced. The pods are usually rounded, may be elongated and usually appear inflated so that the seeds rattle around inside the pod at maturity. The number of seeds held in the pod varies greatly between species.
Most rattlepods have yellow pea flowers; however, blueflower rattlepod (C. verrucosa) has mauve flowers and green birdflower (C. cunninghamii) has strikingly distinctive green flowers.
Kimberley horse poison (C. crispata) has yellow flowers and is found on deep sandy soils. The leaves are furry and the small, slightly flattened pods usually contain only 1 seed.