Tephrosia virginiana

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Tephrosia virginiana
Tephrosia virginiana resized.jpg
Photo by Kevin Robertson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicots
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Tephrosia
Species: T. virginiana
Binomial name
Tephrosia virginiana
(L.) Pers.
TEPH VIRG DIST.JPG
Natural range of Tephrosia virginiana from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common Name(s): Virginia goat's-rue;[1] Virginia tephrosia;[2][3] goat's rue; devil's shoestring[3]

Taxonomic Notes

Synonyms: Cracca virginiana Linnaeus.[4]

Variations: T. virginiana var. glabra Nuttall.[5]

Description

Tephrosia virginiana is covered with soft white hairs, which makes it silvery green in appearance. It grows to 1-3 ft (0.30-0.91 m) and has long stringy roots, from which it gets the name devil's shoestring. Leaves are pinnately compound with 8-15 pairs of leaflets. Flowers are bi-colored with pink and pale yellow and typically cluster at the tip of the stem. In southern portions of its range, flowers can initially be white but will change over time.[3] T. virgininana is hard seeded, thus requiring scarification.[6]

Distribution

This species is found from Texas, eastward to Florida, northward to New Hampshire and New York, and inland to Minnesota and Nebraska.[1][2] It is also reported to occur in the Ontario province of Canada.[2]

Ecology

Habitat

T. virginiana is found in sandhill and clayhill longleaf pine communities, other pinelands, xeric or rocky woodlands and forests, outcrops, shale barrens, other barrens, and dry roadbanks.[1] In South Carolina, it was found in 72% of forest sites, 0% of pastures, and 8% of cultivated fields.[7] T. virginiana is considered a characteristic legume species of shortleaf pine-oak-hickory woodlands[8] and longleaf pine/wiregrass communities.[9] It is considered indicative of non-agricultural history on frequently burned longleaf pine habitats.[10] T. virginiana has shown resistance to regrowth in reestablished longleaf pine habitat that was disturbed by agriculture in South Carolina longleaf pine woodlands and southwest Georgia pine forests, making it a remnant woodland indicator.[7][11][12][13][14][15] Additionally, a study exploring longleaf pine patch dynamics found T. virginiana to be most strongly represented within stands of longleaf pine that are between 50-90 years of age.[16]

Associated species: Rhus, Cornus, Rosa, Amorpha, Wisteria, Euphorbia, Smilax, Prunella, Triodanis, Andropogon gerardii, and Sambuscus.[17][18][19]

In Massachusetts it is one of several species positively associated with Linum intercursum and Scleria pauciflora.[20]

Phenology

T. virginiana has been observed to flower April through June.[1][21] Fruiting occurs from July through October.[1] Germination occurs from March through June when seasonal temperatures are increasing.[22] Flowering is stimulated by fire and occurs within three months of burning.[23]

Seed bank and germination

This species is thought to be dispersed by gravity.[24] In Georgia, seeds buried in a seed bag for 1 and 2 years showed 61% and 50% germination rates, respectively.[22]

Fire ecology

Populations have been known to persist through repeated annual burns,[25] andTephrosia virginiana re-sprouts rapidly following fire and flowers within three months of burning.[23] A study describing the effects of a seasonal fire regime on legume reproduction in longleaf pine savannas found that T. virginiana produced the greatest number of flowers after a late winter/early spring burn (188.3) with the number of flowers decreasing slightly after a lightning season burn (107.1) and dropping significantly after an instance of no fire (23.4).[26] This study also found that the duration of synchronous flowering was greatest after an instance of no fire (37.7 days) and decreased after a late winter/early spring burn (32.0 days) and after a lighting season burn (29.0 days).[27] Additionally, peak flowering activity occurred earliest after an instance of no fire (121.3 Julian) with peak flowering occurring later after a late winter/early spring burn (148.7 Julian) and after a lighting season burn (206.0 Julian).[28] Burning has also been shown to decrease the percentage of seeds that germinate. However, this is only true when course fuels (e.g. pine cones), and not fine fuels (e.g. pine needles), are consumed. Models suggest these course fuels produce mortality close to the fuel but fails to scarify seeds further away; this leaves an area between the two where scarification and germination can occur.[6]

Pollination

Tephrosia virginiana has been observed to host pollinator species such as Calliopsis andreniformis (family Andrenidae), pollinators from the Apidae family such as Ceratina strenua, Holcopasites calliopsidis and Xylocopa virginica, pollinators from the Halictidae family such as Agapostemon texanus, A. virescens, Halictus confusus, H. ligatus, Lasioglossum acuminatum, L. coriaceum, L. cressonii, L. leucocomum, L. leucozonium, L. pectorale and L. tegulare, pollinators from the Megachilidae family such as Coelioxys porterae, C. sayi, Hoplitis pilosifrons, H. truncata, Megachile addenda, M. brevis, M. exilis, M. frugalis, M. gemula, M. georgica, M. mendica, M. montivaga, M. mucida, M. texana, Osmia atriventris and O. sandhouseae,.[29]

Herbivory and toxicology

T. virginiana comprises 2-5% of the diets of some large mammals and terrestrial birds.[30] Common grasshoppers, including Melanopus angustipennis and grasshoppers in the subfamilies Melanoplinae and Cyrtacanthacridinae, are mixed feeders and found to feed on this plant. However, herbivory did not affect overall biomass or mortality of the plant.[10] In the past, it was used as a goat feed to increase milk production. However, this use stopped after tephrosin, an insecticide and fish poison, was found in it.[3]

Conservation, cultivation, and restoration

Tephrosia virginiana appears to be sensitive to soil disturbance, such that disturbances including disking and roller chopping should be avoided to maintain its populations.[31][32][33][34][35][15] It appears to depend on at least periodic fire in southeastern U.S. pine communities.[36] Seeds can be collected from August to September. Seeds should be scarified, inoculated, and moist stratified for ten days to stimulate germination.[3] This species should avoid soil disturbance by agriculture to conserve its presence in pine communities.[7][11][12][13][14][15]

Cultural use

The exact toxicity of Tephrosia virginiana is not fully understood, though there have been reports that the seeds and wood of this species are toxic. Caution should be taken when using this species until more is known.[37]

Historically, Native Americans used the plant for a variety of applications. It was used as a fish poison[38], women would use it as a shampoo to prevent hair loss, and a decoction was applied to the body for athletic strength. Medicinally, the plant can be considered a tonic, stimulant, and laxative, and it is used to treat syphilis, worms, bladder issues, and chronic coughing.[39]

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Weakley A. S.(2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 USDA, NRCS. (2016). The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 12 January 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Plant database: Tephrosia virginiana. (12 January 2018) Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. URL: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TEVI
  4. ↑ Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draf of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  5. ↑ Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draf of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wiggers MS, Kirkman LK, Boyd RS, Hiers JK (2013) Fine-scale variation in surface fire environment and legume germination in the longleaf pine ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management 310:54-63.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Brudvig LA, Damschen EI (2011) Land-use history, historical connectivity, and land management interact to determine longleaf pine woodland understory richness and composition. Ecography 34:257-266.
  8. ↑ Clewell AF (2013) Prior prevalence of shortleaf pine-oak-hickory woodlands in the Tallahassee red hills. Castanea 78(4):266-276.
  9. ↑ Andreu MG, Hedman CW, Friedman MH, Andreu AG (2009) Can managers bank on seed banks when restoring Pinus taeda L. plantations in southwest Georgia? Restoration Ecology 17(5):586-596.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Hahn, P. C. and J. L. Orrock (2015). "Land-use legacies and present fire regimes interact to mediate herbivory by altering the neighboring plant community." Oikos 124: 497-506.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Brudvig, L.A., E Grman, C.W. Habeck, and J.A. Ledvina. (2013). Strong legacy of agricultural land use on soils and understory plant communities in longleaf pine woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 310: 944-955.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Brudvig, L.A., J.L. Orrock, E.I. Damschen, C.D. Collins, P.G. Hahn, W.B. Mattingly, J.W. Veldman, and J.L. Walker. (2014). Land-Use History and Contemporary Management Inform an Ecological Reference Model for Longleaf Pine Woodland Understory Plant Communities. PLoS ONE 9(1): e86604.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Hedman, C.W., S.L. Grace, and S.E. King. (2000). Vegetation composition and structure of southern coastal plain pine forests: an ecological comparison. Forest Ecology and Management 134:233-247.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Kirkman, L.K., K.L. Coffey, R.J. Mitchell, and E.B. Moser. Ground Cover Recovery Patterns and Life-History Traits: Implications for Restoration Obstacles and Opportunities in a Species-Rich Savanna. (2004). Journal of Ecology 92(3):409-421.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Ostertag, T. E. and K. M. Robertson 2007. A comparison of native versus old-field vegetation in upland pinelands managed with frequent fire, South Georgia, USA. Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference Proceedings 23:109-120.
  16. ↑ Mugnani et al. (2019). “Longleaf Pine Patch Dynamics Influence Ground-Layer Vegetation in Old-Growth Pine Savanna”.
  17. ↑ Arkansas State University accessed using Southeastern Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC) data portal. URL: http://sernecportal.org/portal/collections/index.php Last accessed: June 2021. Collectors: E. L. Richards. States and Counties: Arkansas: Poinsett.
  18. ↑ Auburn University, John D. Freeman Herbarium accessed using Southeastern Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC) data portal. URL: http://sernecportal.org/portal/collections/index.php Last accessed: June 2021. Collectors: G. Gil, M. Gil, and E.L. Richards. States and Counties: Alabama: Barbour and Russell.
  19. ↑ Austin Peay State University Herbarium accessed using Southeastern Regional Network of Expertise and Collections (SERNEC) data portal. URL: http://sernecportal.org/portal/collections/index.php Last accessed: June 2021. Collectors: Dwayne Estes. States and Counties: Tennessee: Giles.
  20. ↑ Clarke GL, Patterson WA III (2007) The distribution of disturbance-dependent rare plants in a coastal Massachusetts sandplain: Implications for conservation and management. Biological Conservation 136:4-16.
  21. ↑ Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 12 JAN 2018
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Coffey KL, Kirkman LK (2006) Seed germination strategies of species with restoration potential in a fire-maintained pine savanna. Natural Areas Journal 26(3):289-299.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Robertson, K. 2015. personal observation at Pebble Hill Fire Plots, Pebble Hill Plantation, near Thomasville, Georgia.
  24. ↑ Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.
  25. ↑ Robertson, K.M. Unpublished data collected from Pebble Hill Fire Plots, Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville, Georgia.
  26. ↑ Hiers, J. K., et al. (2000). "The effects of fire regime on legume reproduction in longleaf pine savannas: is a season selective?" Oecologia 125: 521-530.
  27. ↑ Hiers, J. K., et al. (2000). "The effects of fire regime on legume reproduction in longleaf pine savannas: is a season selective?" Oecologia 125: 521-530.
  28. ↑ Hiers, J. K., et al. (2000). "The effects of fire regime on legume reproduction in longleaf pine savannas: is a season selective?" Oecologia 125: 521-530.
  29. ↑ Discoverlife.org [1]
  30. ↑ Miller JH, Miller KV (1999) Forest plants of the southeast and their wildlife uses. Southern Weed Science Society.
  31. ↑ Brudvig, L.A. and E.I. Damchen. (2011). Land-use history, historical connectivity, and land management interact to determine longleaf pine woodland understory richness and composition. Ecography 34: 257-266.
  32. ↑ Brudvig, L.A., E Grman, C.W. Habeck, and J.A. Ledvina. (2013). Strong legacy of agricultural land use on soils and understory plant communities in longleaf pine woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management 310: 944-955.
  33. ↑ Brudvig, L.A., J.L. Orrock, E.I. Damschen, C.D. Collins, P.G. Hahn, W.B. Mattingly, J.W. Veldman, and J.L. Walker. (2014). Land-Use History and Contemporary Management Inform an Ecological Reference Model for Longleaf Pine Woodland Understory Plant Communities. PLoS ONE 9(1): e86604.
  34. ↑ Hedman, C.W., S.L. Grace, and S.E. King. (2000). Vegetation composition and structure of southern coastal plain pine forests: an ecological comparison. Forest Ecology and Management 134:233-247.
  35. ↑ Kirkman, L.K., K.L. Coffey, R.J. Mitchell, and E.B. Moser. Ground Cover Recovery Patterns and Life-History Traits: Implications for Restoration Obstacles and Opportunities in a Species-Rich Savanna. (2004). Journal of Ecology 92(3):409-421.
  36. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Hiers
  37. ↑ Hardin, J.W. 1961. Poisonous Plants of North Carolina. North Carolina State College, Raleigh, North Carolina.
  38. ↑ Fernald, et al. 1958. Edible Plants of Eastern North America. Harper and Row Publishers, New York.
  39. ↑ Korchmal, Arnold & Connie. 1973. A Guide to the Medicinal Plants of the United States. The New York Times Book Company, New York.
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