Hoffmannseggia glauca

Last updated

Pig-nut
Indian rushpea imported from iNaturalist photo 173202724 on 8 November 2023.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Genus: Hoffmannseggia
Species:
H. glauca
Binomial name
Hoffmannseggia glauca
(Ortega) Eifert
Synonyms [2]
  • Caesalpinia chicamanaKillip & J. F. Macbr. 1943
  • Caesalpinia falcaria(Cav.) Fisher 1893
    • var. capitata(Fisher 1892) Fisher 1893
    • var. densiflora(Benth. 1852) Fisher 1893
    • var. falcaria(Cav.) Fisher 1893
    • var. pringlei(Fisher 1892) Fisher 1893
    • var. rusbyi(Fisher 1892) Fisher 1893
    • var. stricta(Benth. in A. Gray 1852) Fisher 1893
  • Caesalpinia glauca(Ortega 1797) Kuntze 1898
  • Hoffmannseggia chicamana(Killip & J. F. Macbr.) Eifert 1972
  • Hoffmannseggia densifloraBenth. in A. Gray 1852
  • Hoffmannseggia falcariaCav. 1798, nom. illeg.
    • var. capitataFisher 1892
    • var. demissa(A. Gray 1852) Fisher 1892
    • var. falcariaCav. 1798
    • var. pringleiFisher 1892
    • var. rusbyiFisher 1892
    • var. stricta(Benth. in A. Gray 1852) Fisher 1892
  • Hoffmannseggia strictaBenth. in A. Gray 1852
    • var. demissaA. Gray 1852
    • var. strictaBenth. in A. Gray 1852
  • Larrea densiflora(Benth. 1852) Britton 1930
  • Larrea glaucaOrtega 1797

Hoffmannseggia glauca is a dicot found in the legume family, Fabaceae. Its common names include Indian rushpea, hog potato, and pig nut.

Contents

It is a California native that prefers alkaline desert flats, creosote bush communities, and disturbed areas. It prefers elevations of less than 900 metres (3,000 ft). Hoffmannseggia glauca is found outside California in Western Nevada, Texas, Mexico, and South America. In California, H. glauca may be found in the San Joaquin Valley, the Southern Coastal Ranges, and the Western Transverse Ranges.

Description

Hoffmannseggia glauca, sometimes called "Indian rushpea" Hoffmannseggia glauca.jpg
Hoffmannseggia glauca, sometimes called “Indian rushpea”

Hoffmannseggia glauca is an erect perennial herb that can measure up to 30 cm tall. Branches are slender, growing out from the base of the plant, and have stalked glands. The foliage is composed of compound leaves with primary and secondary leaflets. Primary leaflets (5–20 mm) are odd-pinnate, while secondary leaflets (4–6 mm) are even-pinnate.

The inflorescence measures 5–15 cm and is glandular. Flowers are orange-red with spreading petals and are produced between the months of April and June. The fruit that develops is 1.5–4 cm long, glandular, curved, and short-stalked. The fruit may or may not be deciduous.

The USDA indicates that Hoffmannseggia glauca is considered a noxious weed in Kansas.

Uses

The Pima, Apache, Cocopa, and Pueblo ate the tubers or bulbs raw, boiled or roasted. [3]

References

  1. NatureServe (2024). "Hoffmannseggia glauca". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  2. Simpson BB, Ulibarri EA (2006). "A synopsis of the genus Hoffmannseggia (Leguminosae)" (PDF). Lundellia. 9: 7–33. doi: 10.25224/1097-993X-9.1.7 . S2CID   134611192.
  3. "BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database". naeb.brit.org. Retrieved 2020-05-12.