''Pediomelum cuspidatum'' (also known as ''Psoralea cuspidata'') is a

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herb also known as the buffalo pea, largebract Indian breadroot and the tall-bread scurf-pea. It is found on the black soil prairies in

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. It has an

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed ...

on stems 18-40 centimeters long arising from a subterranean stem and deep carrot-shaped root that is 4–15 cm long. The long petioled leaves are

palmate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular ...

ly divided into 5 linear-elliptic leaflets that are 2-4 centimeters long. The flowers, borne in condensed spikes from the leaves, are light blue and pea-like.

Cultivation and uses

''Pediomelum cuspidata'' emerges in late Spring, and sets few seeds, unlike its smaller, fecund cousin ''

Pediomelum hypogaeum ''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 s ...

''. The species has edible tuberous roots, although some sources describe it as 'bitter'.

References

* Delena Tull (1987), ''Edible and Useful Pants of Texas and the Southwest'', pgs 86-87 * H.D. Harrington (1967), ''Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains'', pg 206 Psoraleeae Medicinal plants Root vegetables Edible legumes Flora of Texas {{Faboideae-stub