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Photographer: Eric J. Epstein
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Family Fabaceae
Amorpha canescens Pursh
lead-plant
Amorpha: from a Greek word amorphos signifying "deformed," an allusion to the single petal of the flower
canescens: Latin for "generally hoary or whitish" from appearance of plant due to tiny white hairs
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 8"-40" tall shrub; stems branched, spreading |
| Flower: | purple, 5-parted, 1/4" long, stamens bright orange, only 1 petal; inflorescence 2"-6", spike-like clusters (racemes) in groups of 5-20 mostly at the ends of the stem; blooms June-July |
| Fruit: | oblong, curved, small, hard pod with 1-2 seeds |
| Leaf: | pinnately-divided into 13-20 pairs of dense, silvery leaflets, blackening when dried |
| Habitat: | full sun; dry to moderate moisture; prairies, woods; in sandy, loamy soil |
| (Glossary) |
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