Leadplant

(Amorpha canescens)

 

   

 

Color Photograph: U.S. National Parks Service

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens Pursh)

Identification: Flowers deep violet, pealike, small, arranged in densely crowded spikes at the top of the plant. Stem and leaves covered with white hair. Leaves heavily divided into numerous closely crowded opposite pairs of leaflets. Plant 20 to 40 inches in height.

Distribution: Saskatchewan to Michigan and southward to Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, and Indiana.

Habitat: Leadplant is a prairie species.

Flowering period: June to August.

Similar Species: The elongate, closely packed spikes of dark violet flowers and the hairy, whitish leaves and stems are distinctive characters for Leadplant.

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