Dalea lanata
Spreng.
Indigo bush, Woolly prairie clover
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Summary
A perennial reaching 0.6 m tall and wide, hardy to UK zone 5, not frost tender. Bee and insect-pollinated; fixes nitrogen. Grows in light sandy and medium loamy well-drained soils, suits mildly acid to mildly alkaline pH. Requires full sun; tolerates dry or moist soil. Often woolly or hairy in appearance.
Description
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has an orange-red taproot that goes deep down. There can be one or more stems 30-70 cm long. These branch from near the base. There are spikes almost opposite the leaves. The leaves are leaflets 3-10 mm long. The flowers are pink or purple.
Edible Uses
The root is eaten raw, valued for its sweet flavor and regarded as a natural sugar. To prepare it, the skin is scraped off before eating. Among woolly prairie-clover (Dalea lanata var. terminalis) plants, root quality varies widely — roots are generally sweet, pleasantly aromatic, and sometimes compared to natural candy, but they tend to be woody and fibrous, often splintering into irritating fibers when chewed. Even young roots are rarely tender. Peeling the thin skin removes most of the chewable flesh, though boiling is a more effective approach: the sweetness dissolves into the water to produce a yellow-brown broth or beverage, ranging from mildly pleasant to rich enough to resemble a light syrup depending on the plant. The leaves are aromatic, resinous, and faintly fruity with evergreen-like notes. They were sampled during field studies but are not well documented as traditional foods; they might be added sparingly to salads or soups for flavor. Overall, the roots have potential as a survival food, but they are rarely abundant or easy to process, and some plants may yield bitter or soapy-tasting roots.
Traditional Uses
The sweet roots are eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
A poultice made from the plant is applied to centipede bites.
Known Hazards
Root flavor varies widely between plants.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant.
Where It Grows
Mexico, North America, USA,
Cultivation
A hardy prairie legume valued mainly for ecological roles rather than culinary importance. Growing Conditions. Prefers full sun and dry soils. Habitat & Range. Occurs in dry prairies and sandy soils across portions of the western plains. Size & Landscape Performance. Compact perennial suitable for prairie gardens. Cultivation (Horticulture). Occasionally grown in native wildflower plantings. Pests & Problems. Generally pest-resistant. Identification & Habit. Perennial herb with hairy stems and compound leaves bearing gland dots. Pollinators. Highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Woolly prairie-clover (Dalea lanata var. terminalis) belongs to the bean family (Fabaceae) and the genus Dalea. It is commonly called woolly prairie-clover. Plants grow in USDA Zones roughly 4–9 and typically reach 20–60 cm tall with a similar spread. Requires a sunny position. Found in the wild only on sandy soils. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.
Propagation
Sow seed in early spring in a greenhouse. The hard seed coat benefits from scarification before sowing to improve germination speed and success. Pour a small amount of nearly boiling water over the seeds (taking care not to cook them), then soak in warm water for 12–24 hours. Seeds that have swollen have absorbed enough moisture; if they have not, carefully nick the seed coat without damaging the embryo and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and transplant to their permanent positions in summer.
Other Uses
None known Special Uses
Synonyms
Also Known As
Woolly prairie-clover (Dalea lanata var. terminalis)
References (1)
- Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 297
