''Pediomelum'' is a genus of

legumes A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock fo ...

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

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 ...

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 food, a tuber of the plant ''Solanum tuberosum'' and is a root vegetable native to the Americas. The plant is a perennial in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Wild potato species can be found from the southern Un ...

es or made into

flour Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make many different foods. Cereal flour, particularly wheat flour, is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many c ...

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

synonymy A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly 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 all ...

with genus ''

Psoralea ''Psoralea'' is a genus in the legume family ( Fabaceae) with over 60 closely related species native to southern Africa. In South Africa they are commonly referred to as fountainbush (English); fonteinbos, bloukeur, or penwortel (Afrikaans); and ...

''. Selected species: *''

Pediomelum argophyllum ''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 contain ...

'' - silverleaf Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum aromaticum ''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 contain ...

'' - aromatic Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum californicum ''Pediomelum californicum'' is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name California Indian breadroot. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the chaparral and woodlands of the coastal mountain ranges. It i ...

'' - California Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum canescens ''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 contain ...

'' - buckroot *'' Pediomelum castoreum'' - beaver Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum cuspidatum ''Pediomelum cuspidatum'' (also known as ''Psoralea cuspidata'') is a perennial 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. It has an inflorescenc ...

'' - largebract Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum cyphocalyx'' - turniproot *'' Pediomelum digitatum'' - palmleaf Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum esculentum'' - large Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum humile'' - Rydberg's Indian breadroot *''

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 ...

'' - 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 contain ...

'' - 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 contain ...

'' - 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 contain ...

'' - 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 contain ...

'' - 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 contain ...

'' - 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 contain ...

'' - small Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum reverchonii'' - 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 contain ...

'' - gulf Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum subacaule ''Pediomelum subacaule'' is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common names Nashville breadroot and whiterim scurfpea. It is native to a small area of Eastern North America, only being found in limestone cedar glades ...

'' - Nashville breadroot *'' Pediomelium tenuiflorum'' - see under other name ''

Psoralidium tenuiflorum ''Psoralidium 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. Th ...

External links

Jepson Manual TreatmentUSDA Plants Profile
Psoraleeae Fabaceae genera {{Faboideae-stub