1. Lead-plant Amorpha canescens By: Daniel Hughes

2. Classification KingdomPlantae SubkingdomTracheobionta SuperdivisionSpermatophyta DivisionMagnoliophyta ClassMagnoliopsida SubclassRosidae OrderFabales FamilyFabaceae GenusAmorpha SpeciesAmorpha canescens http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=AMCA6

3. Shape, Form, Type The lead-plant is a little shrub and is 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 2.5 feet wide The stem becomes woody with age. This member of the pea/bean family is a showy little native shrub and contains white foliage and purple flower spikes This makes it desirable for use in wildflower beds and butterfly gardens. Figure 1: Lead-plant http://pl ants.usd a.gov/jav a/profile ?symbol =AMCA6 http://www.easywildflo wers.com/q uality/amo. canes.htm

4. Leaf The lead-plant features alternate, pinnately compound leaves that contain grayish green leaflets and densely hairy twigs. http://ww w.mobot.o rg/gardeni nghelp/pla ntfinder/pl ant.asp?co de=B260 Figure 2: Leaf of Lead-plant http:// www.m issourip lants.co m/Blue alt/Am orpha_ canesc ens_pla nt.jpg

5. Flower The little violet-purple flowers have a duration of 3 weeks and are great in numbers, 4 to 6 inch dense, spike-like clusters on the upper section of the stem. http://ww w.easywild flowers.co m/quality/ amo.canes.htm Figure 3: Flower of Lead-plant http:/ /www.critsit e.com /_ccLi b/ima ge/pl ants/ DETA- 1000 76.jpg

6. Habitat and Range Lead-plant is an upland species and is generally in dry sand prairies, hillside prairies, and remnant oak barren. It is usually associated with dominant prairie grasses. Figure 4: Range map of Lead-plant http://web 4.msue.ms u.edu/mnf i/abstracts /botany/A morpha_c anescens.p df http:// plants. usda.g ov/jav a/profi le?sym bol=A MCA6

7. Uses It has been used in folk medicine and yellow tea can be made from its roots. http://www.easywildflo wers.com/q uality/amo. canes.htm

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