- Pediomelum hypogaeum
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Pediomelum hypogaeum 
Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Pediomelum Species: P. hypogaeum Binomial name Pediomelum hypogaeum Pediomelum hypogaeum (also known as Psoralea hypogaea) is a perennial herb also known as the Little Indian Breadroot. It is found on the black soil prairies in Texas.
Growth
It has an infloresence on stems 5-6 centimeters long, separate from the leaves, arising from a subterranean stem and deep carrot-shaped root that is 3-7 cm long. The long petioled leaves are palmately divided into 5 linear-elliptic leaflets that are 3-5 centimeters long. The flowers, borne in condensed spikes separate from the leaves, are purple and pea-like, and have a surprisingly strong scent, reminiscent of lemon furniture polish. The species has edible tuberous roots, high in protein.
References
- Delena Tull (1987), Edible and Useful Pants of Texas and the Southwest, pgs 86-87
External links
- United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. PLANTS Profile: Pediomelum hypogaeum...subterranean Indian breadroot
- Texas A&M Bioinformatics Working Group. Texas Endemics: Distribution of Pediomelum hypogaeum var. scaposum
Categories:- Faboideae
- Herbs
- Medicinal plants
- Root vegetables
- Faboideae stubs
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