Eysenhardtia texana Scheele
Whole plant
Family : Fabaceae (Leguminosae)
Longevity : Perennial
Origin : Native
Season : Warm
Kidneywood is a small, irregularly shaped shrub found on dry hills and canyons in calcareous soils of the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains. It can reach a height of 8 feet and sometimes even taller. The leaves are about 1 1/4 to 2 1/3 inches long with 15 to 30 leaflets. Each leaflet is approximately 1/5 to 3/8 inch in length. The white flowers bloom in May and are found on stalks about 1 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches long. A small individual flower may be 1/12 inch in length. It is very palatable and is readily grazed by white-tailed deer and goats. When the leaves are crushed they give off a distinctive odor, which makes recognizing this plant easy. The wood has been used for dyes and is flourescent in water.
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