5; see text Dermatophyllum/Sophora secundiflora[1] is a genus of three or four species of shrubs and small trees in the family Fabaceae.

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is one of the most abundant woody species in the Texas Hill Country or Edwards Plateau.

The flowers, produced in spring, are fragrant, purple, typical pea-flower in shape, borne in erect or spreading racemes 4–10 cm (1.6–3.9 in) long.

Nevertheless, evidence exists of the seeds of the plant having been used in a ritualistic context as a hallucinogen (or more accurately; an ordeal poison) by some Native American peoples.

This has led to speculation that the peyote cult may have developed as a relatively safe substitute for the potentially toxic mescalbean, given the close parallels in performance and divination between the two (including leaders of Plains Indian peyote rituals wearing a necklace of mescalbeans).