Wild Senna

Bees and butterflies love wild American Senna.  It blooms in July and August when there aren’t as many blossoms for nectar.  The leaves remind me of a mimosa tree.  The plant is from the pea family and was extremely popular with natives as a medicine, but too much is poisonous. The Cherokee used an infusion of the plant for cramps, heart trouble, fever, and 'blacks' (hands and eye sockets turn black). I have never heard of “blacks”. They used the  boiled root juices specifically for children with high fevers. They made a poultice the roots for sores.  They also used a compound for pneumonia and fainting spells. The Iroquois use the plant as an intestinal worm remedy and a laxative.  What an amazing plant.