Sesbania herbacea (Mill.) McVaugh

Bigpod Sesban; Dangle Pod; Hemp Sesban

Herb

Annual

Vascular

Bigpod Sesban is a native herbaceous annual in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It is native to the southern half of Alabama with scattered locations northwards. Bigpod Sesban occurs in moist or wet disturbed sites such as low fields, roadside ditches, and on the banks of streams and ponds. It is an annual with a tap root. Stems are erect, 3-10 feet in height, branched, glabrous and sometimes glaucous, and green in color. Plants often become woody with age, particularly towards the base. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, even pinnately compound with 20-70 leaflets. The leaflets are oppositely arranged, entire, and pubescent or glaucous below. The leaflets have extra-floral nectaries along their margins (glands that secrete sugars). These sugars attract ants and wasps that help protect the plant by also feeding on caterpillars and driving away larger herbivores. Flowers are produced in elongated racemes from the axils of the leaves. Each raceme has 2-6 papilionaceous flowers that are lemon yellow to red-orange in color and streaked or spotted with purple. The fruit is a linear legume with 30-40 seed. The foliage of Bigpod Sesban has been reported as toxic to cattle. The seed of Bigpod Sesban are consumed by many bird species, and It is sometimes planted as a wildlife food. It is considered an invasive plant in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana.—A. Diamond

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Native FACW- (NWPL)

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