Psoralea esculenta

Psoralea esculenta

Taxobox
name = "Psoralea esculenta"


image_caption = Photo of Prairie Turnip taken at the McKnight Prairie near Northfield, MN. Photo by John McDaris.
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
ordo = Magnoliopsida
classis = Fabales
familia = Fabaceae
genus = "Psoralea"
species = "P. esculenta"
binomial = "Psoralea esculenta"
binomial_authority = Pursh
synonyms = "Pediomelum esculentum"

"Psoralea esculenta" is an herbaceous perennial plant native to prairies and dry woodlands of central North America, which bears a starchy tuberous root edible as a root vegetable. English names for the plant include tipsin, teepsenee, breadroot, breadroot scurf pea, pomme blanche, and prairie turnip.

Several densely-haired stems emerge from the ground and reach up to 30 cm, bearing palmately compound leaves divided into five leaflets. Summer produces abundant blue or purple flowers in terminal clusters 5 to 10 cm long, leading to flattened, slender-tipped pods.

The plant grows from one or more sturdy brown roots which form rounded tuberous bodies about 7 to 10 cm below the surface, each 4 to 10 cm long. These can be eaten raw, dried, or cooked. The raw root is moderately sweet and tastes like the turnip. The dried root can be ground into a flour.

Abundant, palatable, and nutritious, the root was once a wild-gathered staple of Native Americans and early European explorers. Its characteristics make it an obvious candidate for possible domestication.

External links

* [http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/wildflwr/species/psorescu.htm Information and habit photo]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Psoralea esculenta — Prairie Prai rie, n. [F., an extensive meadow, OF. praerie, LL. prataria, fr. L. pratum a meadow.] 1. An extensive tract of level or rolling land, destitute of trees, covered with coarse grass, and usually characterized by a deep, fertile soil.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Psoralea esculenta — Breadroot Bread root , n. (Bot.) The root of a leguminous plant ({Psoralea esculenta}), found near the Rocky Mountains. It is usually oval in form, and abounds in farinaceous matter, affording sweet and palatable food. [1913 Webster] Note: It is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • PSORALEA ESCULENTA PURSCH — см. 439. Многолетнее растение. P. esculenta Pursch П. съедобная. Из С. Амер. Дает пищевые кл., индейцы их заготавливают на зиму (Bailey III, 1939). P. bituminosa L. (=P. palaestina Gouan), P. plumosa Rchb. разводятся как корм. Прежде считались… …   Справочник растений

  • Psoralea esculenta — noun densely hairy perennial of central North America having edible tuberous roots • Syn: ↑breadroot, ↑Indian breadroot, ↑pomme blanche, ↑pomme de prairie • Hypernyms: ↑herb, ↑herbaceous plant …   Useful english dictionary

  • Psoralea esculenta Pursh — Symbol PEES Synonym Symbol PSES Botanical Family Fabaceae …   Scientific plant list

  • Psoralea — Taxobox image width = 240px image caption = Psoralea lanceolata name = Psoralea regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Fabales familia = Fabaceae subfamilia = Faboideae tribus = Psoraleeae genus = Psoralea genus… …   Wikipedia

  • Psoralea — noun widely distributed genus of herbs or shrubs with glandular compound leaves and spicate or racemose purple or white flowers • Syn: ↑genus Psoralea • Hypernyms: ↑rosid dicot genus • Member Holonyms: ↑Papilionoideae, ↑subfamily Papilionoideae …   Useful english dictionary

  • Psoralĕa — (P. L.), Pflanzengattung aus der Familie der Papilionaceae Loteae, 17. Kl. 4. Ordn. L.; Arten: P. bituminosa, am Mittelmeer, halb strauchartig, mit violetten Blüthenköpfen; die zerrieben unangenehm, fast wie Erdharz riechenden Blätter waren sonst …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • PSORALEA L. — ПСОРАЛЕЯ — 439. Psoralea L. Псоралея см …   Справочник растений

  • P. esculenta — may refer to: Platonia esculenta, a synonym for Platonia insignis, a tree species found in South America Psoralea esculenta, an herbaceous perennial plant species native to prairies and dry woodlands of central North America See also Esculenta… …   Wikipedia

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