What is sesbania drummondii?

Sesbania drummondii, also known as poison bean, rattlebox, or rattlebox sesbania, is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae family. It is a small tree or shrub that is native to North and Central America, ranging from Texas to South Carolina and stretching down to Mexico.

The plant typically grows to a height of 3-8 feet and has green, pinnately compound leaves with 7-15 leaflets. It blooms during the summer and produces showy, bright yellow, pea-like flowers that grow in clusters at the end of the branches.

Sesbania drummondii is primarily found in wet soils such as swamps, marshes, and ditches, but it also grows in dry soils. The plant is considered a weed in many areas due to its ability to rapidly colonize disturbed habitats.

Sesbania drummondii contains toxic compounds known as alkaloids, which can cause damage to the liver and other organs if ingested in large quantities by humans and livestock. Despite its poisonous nature, it has some medicinal uses in traditional herbal medicine, including being used as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-rheumatic.