Crotalaria is a genus of herbaceous plants and woody shrubs in the Family Fabaceae (Subfamily Faboideae) commonly known as rattlepods. Some 600 or more species of Crotalaria are described worldwide, mostly from the tropics; at least 500 species are known from Africa. Some species of Crotalaria are grown as ornamentals. The common name rattlepod or rattlebox is derived from the fact that the seeds become loose in the pod as they mature, and rattle when the pod is shaken. The name derives from the Greek , meaning “castanet”, and is the same root as the name for the rattlesnakes (Crotalus).

The pioneer rattlepod is a shrubby yellow-flowered plant with a scent attractive to honeybees. Crotalaria natalitia is a large, perennial, woody shrub up to 3 m tall with hairy, upright, angular branches. Bark dark brown, pubescent. Leaves trifoliate, grey-green, clustered on branches and with conspicuous, leaf-like, narrow stipules; leaflets about 1550 mm long and 3.515 mm wide, often with a fine point. Leaf stalk often short, about 5 mm long. Flowers in C. natalitia are produced in short terminal, drooping racemes, few, about 200 mm long; flowers yellow or tinged reddish-brown, keel rounded. Flowering time is from March to July. Fruits are inflated, cylindrical pods, dark green on top and paler underneath, hairless, about 50 mm long. Fruiting time is from May to September. Crotalaria natalitia is used by African tribes as a source of traditional medicine. The root bark is chewed and sap is swallowed to treat ulcers. The root is also used to treat snakebite by rubbing it on the wounds. A decoction of root and leaf sap is drunk to treat malaria in children. The pounded root infusion is used for the treatment of heart conditions in African tribes. The powder of dried leaves is used to treat wounds.