Another member of the pea family, leadplant (Amorpha canescens), has bloomed in local
prairies, joining its cousins like lupine and indigo in the parade of flowers.
Its soft compound leaves set this plant apart from many others this time of
year, even before the bright purple flowers arrive. Today leadplant is
indicative of a quality prairie. However, to the southwestern Wisconsin miners
who named this plant, it was suggested to mark the presence of lead ore
deposits. I haven’t heard any stories of how accurate that turned out to be. But as we appreciate the leadplant’s flowers today, it’s fun to imaging the
excitement that might have arisen over the discovery of a leadplant many years
ago.
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