Goat-rue facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Goat-rue
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Papilionoideae
Genus:	Tephrosia
Species:	T. virginiana
Binomial name
Tephrosia virginiana (L.) Pers.
Synonyms
Cracca holosericea (Nutt.) Britten & Baker f. Cracca latidens Small Cracca leucosericea Rydb. Cracca virginiana L. Galega virginiana (L.) L. Galega virginica (L.) J.F.Gmel. Tephrosia holosericea Nutt. Tephrosia latidens (Small) Standl. Tephrosia leucosericea (Rydb.) Cory Tephrosia virginica Bigelow

Tephrosia virginiana, also known as goat-rue, goat's rue, catgut, rabbit pea, and Virginia tephrosia, is a perennial dicot in family Fabaceae. This subshrub has alternate compound leaves. Its leaves are imparipinnate, with relatively wide pinnae. All parts of the plant are pubescent giving it a silvery, hoary appearance. The terminal, compact racemes of cream and deep pink flowers bloom May to August. This plant prefers acidic soils, in part to full sun. It grows throughout the Midwest, New England and southeastern United States. Not easy to propagate, this plant can be found in sand savannas, open woods and glades, prairies and rocky soils. All tissues of this plant are toxic (containing galegine), and should not be eaten by people or livestock. Crushed stems were previously used as a fish poison.