Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - May 08, 2013

From: Pflugerville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Edible Plants, Poisonous Plants, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Effects of Hedysarum mackenzii from Pflugerville TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

What are the effects of Hedysarum mackenzii?

ANSWER:

Since this plant is found in far northern Alaska and Canada, it is not likely to show up in Travis or Williamson Counties; plus, you did not give us a valid e-mail address so this probably will not get back to you anyway, but we try to give all questions as much of an answer as we can.

One souce we consulted (Wikipedia) said: "Hedysarum (Sweetvetch) is a genus of the botanical family Fabaceae, consisting of about 309 species of annual or perennial herbs in Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America." This article also said it needed documentation, which we believe to be true. As a member of the Fabaceae (pea) family, it is related to the bluebonnet, and pictures we found of the bloom somewhat resembled the iconic Texas wildflower.

However, further research on our part found several articles recounting Native Americans' use of the plant in Alaska and Canada. The plant does not appear in our Native Plant Database nor in the USDA Plants website, which is the basis for our information. Here are some links to sites we found with more information:

From wikispaces.com Hedysarum mackenzii vs. Hedysarum alpinum

From the Ethnobotany Journal: Is Hedysarum mackenziei (yes, that's how they spelled it) (Wild Sweet Pea) actually toxic?

From the Circle District Historical Society of Central Alaska Hedysarum mackenzii.

Your question was "What is the effect of Hedysarum mackenzii?  Since the experts don't seem to be able to agree on whether it is poisonous or not, we really don't know. We do feel relatively sure you are not likely to stumble on it in Central Texas.

 

 

More Herbs/Forbs Questions

Is horseherb toxic to chickens in Austin, TX?
November 05, 2012 - My yard is almost completely horseherb (straggler daisy, calyptocarpus vialis) and I am hoping you can tell me if this is safe for chickens to eat? As common as it is here, there is nothing I could fi...
view the full question and answer

Planting wildflowers and ryegrass in RIverside AL
February 07, 2015 - Love the name, enjoyed a visit last spring. We repaired a retaining wall about 300 ft. and want to plant wildflowers on a strip 5 ft wide. Slope gentle to 1 in 3.5. Hauled in topsoil for fill. Can ...
view the full question and answer

How to grow tulips and daffodils in Central Florida.
March 27, 2009 - My question is how can you grow tulips and daffdoils in central Florida, just south of Ocala, a place called the Villages? I am from the Washington, DC area and truly miss these flowers, any help wou...
view the full question and answer

Browning of leaf tops on Iris plants
April 22, 2008 - My Iris plants bloomed beautifully, now some of the leaves are turning brown from the top down, about half way. Is this normal? What can I do about it and should I cut off the brown leaves? Also, what...
view the full question and answer

Transplanting Trillium in Quebec.
May 13, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in the Laurentiens of Quebec where they are putting a HWY in my back yard. I have a lot of white trillium that I am wanting to transplant before they start the excava...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.