Psoralea cuspidata
Pursh
Largebract Indian breadroot, Indian turnip
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Andy Blair, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Andy Blair, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Andy Blair, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaA perennial growing to 2 feet tall, suitable for light sandy and medium loamy well-drained soils across a range of pH levels. Hardy and requires full sun; tolerates both dry and moist soil conditions. Hermaphroditic flowers attract insects, and the plant fixes nitrogen.
Description
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a carrot shaped root 4-15 cm long. The leaves are divided like fingers on a hand and have 5 narrow leaflets. These are 2-4 cm long. The flowers are on stems coming from under the ground. These are 18-40 cm long. The flowers are light blue and in spikes.
Edible Uses
The root can be eaten raw or cooked, or dried and ground into a powder for use in soups or mixed with cereals to make bread.
Traditional Uses
The root is edible raw or cooked in stews. It can be ground into flour to thicken soups or making bread.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Known Hazards
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.
Distribution
It is a temperate plant. It grows in black prairie soils in Texas.
Where It Grows
North America, USA,
Cultivation
We have very little information for this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of the country. Some botanists have reclassified the plant and now call it Pediomelum cuspidatum. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil. Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position. Plants are very intolerant of root disturbance, they are best planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small. 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
Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water, then sow in early to mid spring in a greenhouse. Sow directly into individual pots, or pot up seedlings as soon as possible to avoid root disturbance, growing them on in pots until planting out in their final positions. Transplanting this species almost always causes fatal root damage. Division can be attempted in spring with great care, but the plant strongly resents root disturbance and successful division is virtually impossible.
Other Uses
The plant is valuable under natural conditions as a soil stabilizer. It is also a nitrogen fixer.
Synonyms
Also Known As
Buffalo pea, Tall-bread scurf-pea
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)
- Fl. Amer. sept. 2:741. 1813-1814
- 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 624 (As Pediomelum cuspidatum)
- Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 63, 69
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Show all 6 references Hide references
- Wikipedia (As Pediomelum cuspidatum)
