Orbexilum pedunculatum (Mill.) Rydb. var. pedunculatum

Western Sampson's Snakeroot

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Western Sampson's Snakeroot is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Western Sampson's Snakeroot occurs in open pine forests, in forest clearings, in prairies, in low pastures, and on roadsides. It is a perennial with a tap root. Each root crown produces 1-5 upright to ascending stems that are 1-2 1/2 feet in length. The stems are green in color and glabrous or slightly pubescent. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, and pinnately 3-foliate. The leaflets are lanceolate to elliptic in outline, entire, and glabrous or pubescent with simple hairs. Flowers are produced in racemes from the leaf axils. The racemes are on long peduncles and are held above the foliage. Each flower has a calyx that has 5 teeth-like lobes. The calyx is pubescent persists, partially enclosing the developing fruit. The flowers are papilionaceous and vary in color from lavender to almost white. The buds at the apex of the raceme are much darker in color than the open flowers. The fruit is a 1-seeded legume. Western Sampson's Snakeroot is sometimes available from native plant nurseries. It prefers a location that receives full sun. It is most striking when planted in masses. Native Americans used a poultice of boiled roots on sores, boils, and wounds. The plant was also used to treat colic and indigestion.--A. Diamond

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Native

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