Pediomelum hypogaeum

Pediomelum hypogaeum
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Pediomelum
Species:	P. hypogaeum
Binomial name
Pediomelum hypogaeum (Nutt.) Rydb.

Pediomelum hypogaeum (also known as Psoralea hypogaea) is a perennial herb also known as the little Indian breadroot or subterranean Indian breadroot. It is found on the black soil prairies in Texas.

Growth

It has an inflorescence 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

1. NatureServe (2024). "Pediomelum hypogaeum". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 27 July 2024.

• Delena Tull (1987), Edible and Useful Plants 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 Archived 2004-08-25 at the Wayback Machine