Goat’s rue (Tephrosia virginiana) is a perennial legume native to the eastern United States. Its two-colored flowers, which bloom in clusters at the tops of the stems, resemble sweet peas. The lower petals are pink, while the upper petal (i.e., the “standard”) is a pale yellow. The leaves are alternately arranged and pinnately compound with numerous narrow leaflets. Both the stems and leaves are covered with downy hairs giving the plant a silvery frosted appearance. Goat’s rue grows to approximately 2 feet high.

This plant is common in dry upland, sandy or acidic prairies. So it’s not surprising that you can find large patches of this plant at Crane Wildlife Management Area in Falmouth.

Traditionally, Native Americans used the roots of goat’s rue to poison fish. Modern research has shown that the plant contains a compound called rotenone, which can be used as an insecticide, as well as a fish poison.