Understory Plant Spotlight

By Carol Denhof, The Longleaf Alliance Understory PLANT SPOTLIGHT

Rhynchosia reniformis DC. Dollarleaf Legume Family – Fabaceae

Bright yellow flower of dollarleaf. Photo by The Longleaf Alliance. Map showing distribution of dollarleaf. USDA PLANTS Database.

Fruit of dollarleaf. Photo by Carol

Denhof.

Description Dollarleaf is a member of the legume family and is a bit different from many of our legumes in that it has a simple leaf as opposed to a tri-foliate leaf. This perennial herbaceous plant has relatively short stems (3-7 inches tall) that are densely hairy. As the scientific name indicates, the simple leaf is kidney shaped with a wrinkled surface and can measure up to 2 inches wide. Its bright yellow, pea flowers can be seen from June to September. The flowers and subsequent pea pods are borne on short stalks and are tightly clustered around the leaf axils.

Distribution & Habitat This species of Rhynchosia occurs in a wide variety of longleaf habitats, from dry to mesic soils. It can be found in most of the longleaf range from North Carolina south to Florida and west to Texas. Wildlife/Medicinal Uses The seeds produced by Rhynchosia species are generally good food for the northern bobwhite quail, other songbirds, and mammals. They are also utilized as an important forage plant for white-tailed deer.

Plant Availability Dollarleaf is not generally available commercially.

References Miller, J.H. and K.V. Miller. 2005. Forest Plants of the Southeast and their Wildlife Uses. The University of Georgia

Press. Athens, GA. 454pp. Sorrie, B.A. 2011. A Field Guide to Wildflowers of the Sandhills Region: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill,

NC. 378 pp. USDA, NRCS. 2020. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov, 11 May 2020). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro,

NC 27401-4901 USA.