Tephrosia spicata (Walter) Torr. & A. Gray

Spiked Hoary Pea; Loose Flower Goat's Rue

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Spiked Hoary Pea is a native herbaceous perennial in the Bean family (Fabaceae). It occurs throughout Alabama. Spiked Hoary Pea grows in pine woodlands, along trails and forest openings, on roadsides, and in lawns. It is a perennial with a taproot. The stems are decumbent, green in color, and pubescent. The leaves are alternate and odd pinnately compound with 9-17 leaflets. The leaflets are obovate to elliptic in outline, entire, and pubescent or glabrous above and pubescent below with rusty brown hairs. The flowers are produced in long racemes that are opposite a leaf or terminal. The racemes are upturned with persistent bracts. Flowers are papilionaceous and white or light pink in color. As the flower ages, it becomes red in color. The fruit is a pubescent legume with 8-16 seed. The seed of Spiked Hoary Pea are consumed by birds such as Quail and small mammals. It is a host plant for Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) and Zarucco Duskywing (Erynnis zarucco) Butterflies.--A. Diamond

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Native

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