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Federal Noxious Weed TDA Noxious Weed TPWD Prohibited Exotic Species 
Invasive Plant Atlas of the USNOTE:
means species is on that list.
Sesbania punicea
Rattlebox
Synonym(s):
Family: Fabaceae (Pea Family)
Duration and Habit: Perennial Shrub
Photographer: Wendy VanDyk Evans
Source: Bugwood.org
Description
Sesbania punicea is a deciduous shrub or small tree, up to 4 meters tall. It has 10-20 cm long compound leaves each with 10-40 small dark-green leaflets in opposite pairs. Each leaflet is oblong and ends in a tiny pointed tip. The showy coral or red flowers appear in spring and early summer in dense sprays (up to 25 cm long) that droop or project outwards. The 2-3 cm long flowers are shaped like pea flowers. A characteristic feature are the seed pods, which are longitudinally 4-winged, oblong, 6-8 cm long, 1 cm broad, borne on short 1.5 cm stalks and may be dispersed by water. The tip of the pod is sharply pointed. The 4-10 seeds are separated by partitions and are freed only when the pod eventually breaks open. The legume genus Sesbania includes a number of annual and woody species, many of commercial value.
Native Lookalikes: The only native congener to Rattlebox in North America is a plant called Rattlebush, Sesbania drummondii.
Credit: Joseph A Marcus, Wildflower Center Digital Library
Rattlebush (Sesbania drummondii)
The native species has yellow flowers instead of red.
Ecological Threat: It can fully mature in one year and produces thousands of highly viable seeds that will remain dormant for several years in the soil. This allows it to displace native vegetation and form dense thickets that push out wildlife. It has the greatest environmental impacts near water bodies and along river or stream banks because it can decrease water flow and quality, and reduce recreation for boaters, fishers, and other activities.
Biology & Spread: Sesbania punicea relies almost exclusively on flowing water for dispersal. The seeds are retained in the pods which fall from the trees and float downstream, dispersing the seeds which sink as the pods disintegrate with time.
History: Rattlebox is thought to have a limited natural range; probably confined to the banks and islands of the Parana and Uruguay Rivers in Argentina, western Uruguay and southern Brazil. However, it was widely cultivated after 'discovery' and has been planted in gardens in many countries around the world. Seeds are still readily available from distributors in many parts of the world which will undoubtedly enhance invasions of S. punicea in region of the world where the plants are not yet established.
U.S. Habitat: Thickets, marshy shorelines, disturbed areas.
Distribution
U.S. Nativity: Introduced to U.S.
Native Origin: South America
U.S. Present: AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX, VA
Distribution in Texas: Found locally in the southeastern U.S., from Virginia south to Florida and west to Texas; also in California.
Mapping
Invaders of Texas Map: Sesbania punicea
EDDMapS: Sesbania punicea
USDA Plants Texas County Map: Sesbania punicea
Invaders of Texas Observations
List All Observations of Sesbania punicea reported by Citizen Scientists
Native Alternatives
The only native congener to Rattlebox in North America is a plant called Rattlebush, Sesbania drummondii.
- Main difference is the yellow flowers on the native species.
Management
Mechanical: Young plants of Sesbania punicea can be pulled by hand or with a weed wrench. The root system is not very large, especially in waterlogged situations, so pulling is relatively easy. Flooding is not effective, but trees standing in water could be cut below the water line (without an herbicide application).
Chemical: Larger trees can be cut, and the stumps should be treated with triclopyr within minutes of cutting. This is because foliar application of herbicides (Glyphosate at 1% and Glyphostate with Triclopyr at 1%) alone have not shown to be effective.
Biological: Three biocontrol agents are used against S. punicea in South Africa but nothing used in the USA.
Text References
The Global Invasive Species Initiative (TNC)
Evans DO, Rotar PP, 1987. Sesbania in agriculture. ^italic~Sesbania ^roman~in agriculture., 192 pp.; 38 pp. of ref.
Henderson L, 2001. Alien Weeds and Invasive Plants. Plant Protection Research Institute Handbook No. 12. Cape Town, South Africa: Paarl Printers.
Hoffmann JH, Moran VC, 1999. A review of the agents and factors that have contributed to the successful biological control of Sesbania punicea (Cav.) Benth. (Papilionaceae) in South Africa. Biological control of weeds in South Africa (1990-1998)., 75-79; [^italic~African Entomology Memoir^roman~, No. 1]; 18 ref.
Online Resources
https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/cabicompendium.49464
https://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/sesbania-punicea/
Search Online
Google Search: Sesbania punicea
Google Images: Sesbania punicea
NatureServe Explorer: Sesbania punicea
USDA Plants: Sesbania punicea
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States: Sesbania punicea
Bugwood Network Images: Sesbania punicea
