I blame botany. My birding-and-botanizing buddy helpfully identified two plants I photographed in the Zaleski State Forest a few weeks ago: Gillenia trifoliata and Tephrosia Virginiana, commonly known as Bowman's root and goat's rue. I found them growing in close proximity in dry, rocky soil at the top of Lookout Rock, not far from Moonville Tunnel, and I wondered what brought them there.
So I looked 'em up. Both are native species, and Bowman's root is also known as Indian physic because of its use as an emetic and diarrhetic. Not surprisingly, it's related to American ipecac. For such a delicate little plant, it packs quite a punch.
It was goat's rue that led me down a rabbit hole, because several plants share that moniker, one of which is a popular herbal supplement marketed as an aid to lactation. Scientific studies show little to no effect, but that doesn't stop people from buying it, if the online ads for multiple products are any indication. The galactogogic goat's rue, though, is a European species, Galega Officinalis; what I found was Tephrosia Virginiana, which is both native and poisonous. In fact, Wikipedia tells me that every part of the plant is so toxic that its crushed stems were used to poison fish, so you definitely wouldn't want to confuse your goat's rues and give this one to a lactating mother, unless you are a galactic demagogue aiming to wipe out humanity.
At the time we didn't know we were wandering through such a toxic landscape. It's hard to imagine such lovely little flowers possessing such potent poisons, and I'm glad I'm not in the habit of nibbling on trailside greenery. Such inviting flowers! Such soft, feathery leaves! But eat them and you'll rue the day you ever followed that goat path.
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| Bowman's root |
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| Goat's rue |
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