SCIENTIFIC NAME: Amorpha canescens
COMMON NAMES: Leadplant, Leadplant Amorpha, False Indigo, Prairie Shoestring, Shoestrings
BLOOM TIME: June, July, Aug
PLANT PROFILE:
- Shrub like plant grows to 3 ft. tall.
- New stems are green & finely hairy, older stems turn woody.
- Stems are 4 in. with up to 50 small leaflets, which are covered in gray hairs giving plant a lead gray color.
- Tiny purple flowers are in a spike along the upper stem.
- Quarter inch flower petals curl around orange stamens lending a nice color contrast for the leaves.
- Habitat: moist or dry prairie
- Its deep roots make it drought tolerant.
- This plant is an indicator of a high quality prairie.
- Native Americans used dried leaves for smoking & tea.
- Teas were also used externally to treat pinworms eczema.
- Omaha Nation used dry powdered leaves & blew them into cuts & open wounds to promote scab formation.
INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:
- Many of insects who feed on Lead Plant, especially grasshoppers, are an important source of food to insectivorous birds and other animals.
- Deer, rabbits and livestock, are very fond of this plant.