Tephrosia Virginiana (Goat's Rue)

Goat's Rue in the Southeastern United States is Tephrosia Virginiana which shouldn't be mistaken for another species plant called Galega Officialis which is sold at Motherlove

Goat's Rue in the Southestern United States that you see to the left is a very toxic herb in the legume family. It's flowers are simillar to the kudzu flower which is also found in the same family. This plant is a woody flower with fuzzy pods growing underneath the bossoms. The leaves grow on stalks upright and like any other Southeastern forest herb it's leaves point up to the sun even though it is in partial shade.

I used to gather Goat's Rue when I was a child. I would make bouquets out of them with the other flowers that I had found around. Goat's Rue likes rocky area to take root and it is a perennial. It comes back up every late may/june/july. It's really pretty with it's creamy pistachio and pink blossoms, but if you have it around, don't let your plant eating pets eat it.

Resources:

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tephrosia_virginiana
USDA:      http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TEVI