Greater yellow rattle is named for the noise made by its seed pods. In the past, these pods rattling in the breeze were taken as a sign that it was time to begin harvesting hay.
Yellow rattle is a hemiparasitic plant that steals nutrients from surrounding grass roots. It does this by sending out roots that invade the roots of neighboring grasses. As a consequence, the unsuspecting grasses will experience a loss in height and vigor.
By suppressing grass growth, greater yellow rattle allows a greater variety of wildflowers to flourish. This increased plant diversity supports a wider range of insects, birds, and other wildlife, making these meadows havens for biodiversity.