medicinal herbs
Sampson's Snakeroot
Psoralea pedunculata

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• Latin names
• Common names

Herb: Sampson's Snakeroot

Latin name: Psoralea pedunculata

Synonyms: Orbexilum pedunculatum, Psoralea psoralioides

Family: Leguminosae

Medicinal use of Sampson's Snakeroot:

Bitter tonic.

Description of the plant:

Habitat of the herb:

Damp or dry sandy soils in open woods, clearings and fields.

Propagation of Sampson's Snakeroot:

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in early to mid spring in a greenhouse. Either sow the seed in individual pots or pot up the young seedlings as soon as possible in order to avoid root disturbance. Grow them on in the pots until planting out in their final positions. It is usually impossible to transplant this species without fatal damage to the root. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. It is virtually impossible to divide this species successfully.

Cultivation of the herb:

Damp or dry sandy soils in open woods, clearings and fields.

Known hazards of Psoralea pedunculata:

Although no specific mention of toxicity for this species has been found, at least some members of this genus contain furanocoumarins, these substances can cause photosensitivity in some people.

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.