Goat's rue

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Goat's rue

Goat's rue leaves

Goat's rue flower

Goat's rue

Goat's rue habit

Goat's rue

Goat's rue

Goat's rue

Goat's rue

Goat's rue pods

Goat's rue inflorescence

Morphology

Stem

Erect, 1 to several, mostly unbranched, hairy.

Leaves

Alternate, short-stalked, odd-pinnately compound, 2 to 6 inches long; leaflets 7-31, elliptic to linear-oblong, .5 to 1.25 inch long, to 1/3 inch wide, short-hairy or glabrous above, long-hairy below; margins entire; tips with short, abrupt points.

Inflorescence

Racemes, pyramid-shaped, 1 to 4 inches long, mostly terminal.

Flower

Calyces bell-shaped, densely silky; corollas papilionaceous, to 3/4 inch long, banner lemon yellow outside, white within, wings and keel rose or pink, all petals fading brownish; stamens 10, filaments united.

Fruit

Pods, 1 to 2 inch long, flattened, slightly curved, sparsely velvety; seeds 6-11, kidney-shaped, dark spotted.

Ecology

Habitat

Prairies, roadsides, and open woodlands, most abundant in sandy soils.

Distribution

East half of Kansas.

Practical Information

Forage Value

Virginia tephrosia is nutritious and palatable to livestock. It disappears in grazed areas but increases rapidly on summer-rested rangeland. Bobwhite quail and wild turkey consume the seeds.

Uses

This plant was used medicinally by Native Americans to treat rheumatism, pulmonary problems, and hair loss. The roots contain rotenone, which has insecticidal properties. Folklore describes making a tea of goat's rue and pouring it on other plants to kill bugs.