Pods flattened while on C obtusifolia they are nearly four-sided. Pods tend to be straighter and shorter than those of C obtusifolia. The toxic principles have not been clearly established. The seeds appear to exert their toxicity upon the skeletal muscles, kidney, and liver. The leaves and stem also contain toxin, whether green or dry.
Sicklepod is much more prevalent but somewhat less toxic than coffee senna.
Animals can be poisoned by consuming the plant in the field, in green chop, in hay or if the seed is mixed in grain. Toxicity has been observed in cattle. It should be assumed that other animals are susceptible to the effects of these plants. Later, the animals go off feed, appear lethargic, and tremors appear in the hind legs, indicating muscle degeneration. As the muscle degeneration progresses, the urine becomes dark and coffee-colored and the animal becomes recumbent and is unable to rise.