''Pediomelum'' is a genus of

legumes Legumes are plants in the pea family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consu ...

known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with

inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...

s of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containing beanlike seeds. Some species have woody roots while others have starchy tuber-like roots which can be eaten like tuber vegetables such as

potato The potato () is a starchy tuberous vegetable native to the Americas that is consumed as a staple food in many parts of the world. Potatoes are underground stem tubers of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'', a perennial in the nightshade famil ...

es or made into

flour Flour is a powder made by Mill (grinding), grinding raw grains, List of root vegetables, roots, beans, Nut (fruit), nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredie ...

. Indian breadroots are native to North America. Many species have

synonymy A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means precisely or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are a ...

with genus ''

Psoralea ''Psoralea'' is a genus in the legume family (Fabaceae) with 111 species of shrubs, trees, and herbs native to southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Kenya to South Africa. In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English ...

''. Selected species: *'' Pediomelum argophyllum'' - silverleaf Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum aromaticum'' - aromatic Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum californicum'' - California Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum canescens'' - buckroot *'' Pediomelum castoreum'' - beaver Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum cuspidatum'' - largebract Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum cyphocalyx'' - turniproot *'' Pediomelum digitatum'' - palmleaf Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum esculentum ''Pediomelum esculentum'', synonym ''Psoralea esculenta'', common name prairie turnip or timpsila, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to prairies and dry woodlands of central North America, which bears a starchy tuberous root edible as a ro ...

'' - large Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum humile'' - Rydberg's Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum hypogaeum'' - subterranean Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum latestipulatum ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - Texas Plains Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum linearifolium ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - narrowleaf Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum megalanthum ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - intermountain Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum mephiticum ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - skunktop *''

Pediomelum pariense ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - Paria River Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum pentaphyllum ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - small Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum reverchonii ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - rock Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum rhombifolium ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - gulf Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum subacaule ''Pediomelum'' is a genus of legumes known as Indian breadroots. These are glandular perennial plants with palmately-arranged leaves. They have a main erect stem with inflorescences of blue or purple flowers and produce hairy legume pods containi ...

'' - Nashville breadroot *''

Pediomelum tenuiflorum ''Pediomelum tenuiflorum'', the slimflower scurfpea, is a perennial in the pea family. It is about tall and has a lot of leaves on top. Its leaves can reach a length of . This flower can be found mainly in the central and southwestern U.S. Des ...

'' - slimflower scurfpea

External links

Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants Profile
Psoraleeae Fabaceae genera Flora of Northern America {{Faboideae-stub