Larval Host Plant
Nectar Plant
Danaus chrysippus – Plain Tiger
Danaus genutia – Striped Tiger
Euploea core – Common Crow
Parantica aglea – Glassy Tiger
Tirumala limniace – Blue Tiger
Tirumala septentrionis – Dark Blue Tiger
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Other notes
Natural History: An annual, sub-shrub found in the tropical world. Leaves are obovate with blunt tip. Flowers are yellow and borne in terminal spikes. Fruits are pods (Flowers of India, 2023). This plant contains Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which attract Tiger and Crow butterflies.
References:
WFO (2023): World Flora Online. Accessed on 11 Jan 2023. URL: http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000210930.
Flowers of India (2023). Accessed on 11 Jan 2023. URL: http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/slides/Rattleweed.html.
Page citation
Churi, P. and N. Kawthankar. 2024. Crotalaria retusa L. – Rattleweed. In Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, and P. Roy (Chief Editors). Butterflies of India, v. 4.12. Published by the Indian Foundation for Butterflies. URL: https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/crotalaria-retusa, accessed 2024/04/25.