''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 o ...

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 Unit ...

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 culture ...

. 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 u ...

''. 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'' - large Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum humile'' - Rydberg's Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum hypogaeum'' - subterranean Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum latestipulatum'' - Texas Plains Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum linearifolium'' - narrowleaf Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum megalanthum'' - intermountain Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum mephiticum'' - skunktop *'' Pediomelum pariense'' - Paria River Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum pentaphyllum'' - 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 contai ...

'' - rock Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum rhombifolium'' - gulf Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum subacaule'' - Nashville breadroot *'' Pediomelium tenuiflorum'' - see under other name '' Psoralidium tenuiflorum''

External links

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