Pediomelum cuspidatum

Pediomelum cuspidatum
Conservation status
Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Faboideae
Genus:	Pediomelum
Species:	P. cuspidatum
Binomial name
Pediomelum cuspidatum (Pursh) Rydb.
Synonyms
List Lotodes cuspidatum (Pursh) Kuntze (1891) Pediomelum caudatum Rydb. (1919) Pediomelum parksii Tharp & F.A.Barkley (1945) Psoralea caudata (Rydb.) Cory (1936) Psoralea cryptocarpa Torr. & A.Gray (1838) Psoralea cuspidata Pursh (1813) Psoralea macrorhiza Fraser ex Pursh (1813) Psoralea roemeriana Scheele (1848)

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 inflorescence 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 palmately 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.

Pediomelum cuspidatum seed

Cultivation and uses

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