''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 ''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 ...

'' - California Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum canescens'' - buckroot *'' Pediomelum castoreum'' - beaver Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum cuspidatum'' - largebract Indian breadroot *'' Pediomelum cyphocalyx'' - turniproot *''

Pediomelum digitatum ''Pediomelum digitatum'' is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name palmleaf Indian breadroot. It is found in the central United States. References Psoraleeae {{Faboideae-stub ...

'' - palmleaf Indian breadroot *''

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

'' - large Indian breadroot *''

Pediomelum humile ''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 ...

'' - 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'' - 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 ''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''

External links

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