goat's-rue

American  

[gohts-roo] / ˈgoʊtsˌru /

noun

1. Also called catgut.  a hairy American plant, Tephrosia virginiana, of the legume family, having yellow and pink flowers.

2. a European plant, Galega officinalis, of the legume family, formerly used in medicine.

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goat's-rue British  

noun

1. Also called: French lilac.  a Eurasian leguminous plant, Galega officinalis, cultivated for its white, mauve, or pinkish flowers: formerly used medicinally

2. a North American leguminous plant, Tephrosia virginiana, with pink-and-yellow flowers

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Etymology

Origin of goat's-rue

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Imperiled plants carry a variety of exotic or obscure names: Goldenseal and American Ginseng, gathered for culinary or medicinal purposes in New England’s northern hardwood forests; Jesup’s milk-vetch, a federally endangered species found in three places along the Connecticut River and nowhere else; sandplain gerardia, birds-foot violet and wild goat’s-rue, all native to drier grasslands; and saltpond pennywort, one of many rare plants that reside in marshy coastal habitats.

From Washington Times

Imperiled plants carry a variety of exotic or obscure names: Goldenseal and American Ginseng, gathered for culinary or medicinal purposes in New England's northern hardwood forests; Jesup's milk-vetch, a federally endangered species found in three places along the Connecticut River and nowhere else; sandplain gerardia, birds-foot violet and wild goat's-rue, all native to drier grasslands; and saltpond pennywort, one of many rare plants that reside in marshy coastal habitats.

From US News

It is now before me, with a few sprays of the pink sweet pea and a bold spike of the white variety of goat's-rue; the blend is both delicate and effective.

From Project Gutenberg

I suspect this to be a mistake; for I never yet heard that goat's-rue was found by any man growing wild in England.-J.

From Project Gutenberg