Devil's Shoestring

At a glance

Origin / distribution: US(Amerindian), US, Mexico, US(Cherokee)

Cultural traditions: not documented

Recorded uses: Alopecia, Bladder, Cathartic, Cough

Science studied: DEHYDROROTENONE, TEPHROSIN, DEGUELIN, ROTENONE

Research volume: 0 indexed records · volume only · methodology ↗

Legal status: Varies by jurisdiction; not assessed in this record.

Names and identity

Family: Fabaceae

Scientific name: Tephrosia virginiana

Common names: Devil's Shoestring, Aloneske, Catgut, Goat's-rue, Halonseske, Rabbit-pea, Virginia Tephrosia, Virginia goat's-rue, Virginia goat’s-rue, Virginia tephrosia, Virgininė tefrozija, cat-gut, catgut, flaggärt, goat's rue, goat's-rue

POWO: 1140591-2 · WCVP June 2026 / POWO backbone

History

The source record documents this plant in US(Amerindian), US, Mexico, US(Cherokee).

It records these historical or traditional applications:

• Alopecia
• Bladder
• Cathartic
• Cough
• Diaphoretic
• Laxative
• Piscicide
• Shampoo

This summary is limited to the cited source record.

Origins and distribution

• US(Amerindian)
• US
• Mexico
• US(Cherokee)

Documented cultural uses

• Alopecia
• Bladder
• Cathartic
• Cough
• Diaphoretic
• Laxative
• Piscicide
• Shampoo
• Tonic
• Vermifuge
• Syphilis
• Fortifcant

Cultural record detail

These entries are transcribed from the cited ethnobotanical source; they do not represent current advice or a claim of efficacy.

• Alopecia · US(Amerindian) · "
• Bladder · US · "
• Cathartic · US · "
• Cough · US · "
• Diaphoretic · US · "
• Diaphoretic · Mexico · "
• Laxative · US · "
• Piscicide · US(Amerindian) · "
• Shampoo · US(Amerindian) · "
• Tonic · US · "
• Vermifuge · US · "
• Vermifuge · Mexico · "
• Piscicide · Mexico · "
• Syphilis · US · "
• Vermifuge · US(Amerindian) · "
• Fortifcant · US(Amerindian) · "
• Stimulant · US · "
• Tonic · US(Cherokee) · "

Contemporary uses

Contemporary practice is not documented separately in this record.

Scientific research

Indexed records indicate research activity; they do not establish efficacy or safety.

Indexed research records

• The Medical Virtues of the Compound Fluid Extract of Tephrosia Virginiana. · 1855 source ↗

Scientific compounds

Chemical presence is not evidence of clinical efficacy.

• DEHYDROROTENONE
• TEPHROSIN
• DEGUELIN
• ROTENONE

Legality

No exact international trade listing was returned by the CITES checklist for this accepted name. Country-specific law is not assessed here.

Consult the CITES species checklist for current international and national requirements.

Reference images

Sources

Plants of the World Online (POWO) · Kew data terms; cite POWO/WCVP

World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) · CC BY 3.0

CC0 · Dr. Duke raw CSV archive

Contributions and revisions

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