Petalostemon purpureus

(Vent.) Rydb.

Purple prairie clover, Violet prairie clover

Fabaceae Edible: Root, Leaves - tea

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Description

A pea family plant. An erect plant with many stems. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 45-90 cm high and spreads 45 cm wide. The leaves are 5 cm long. The leaves are alternate and compound. There are 3-5 narrow small leaflets. The flowers are red or purple. They are small and occur in densely packed cylinder shaped heads. These can be 12-50 mm long. The fruit occur as many small dry pods.

Edible Uses

The dried leaves are used to make tea. The roots are chewed.

Traditional Uses

The dried leaves are used for tea. The roots are chewed.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

It grows in the drier, tall grass prairie in central USA. It suits hardiness zones 4-10.

Where It Grows

Australia, Canada, North America, USA,

Synonyms

Dalea purpurea

References (6)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Cormack, R. G. H., 1967, Wild Flowers of Alberta. Commercial Printers Edmonton, Canada. p 182
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 472
Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 109
Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 1:238. 1900 "purpureum"

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