Fabaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Pediomelum esculentum

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

All parts of the plant, especialy the root, are known to contain furanocoumarins, particularly psoralen and angelicin. These compounds can be found in low concentrations in many common foods including citrus fruirs, celery, parsley and parsnips. Ingestion or skin application of these compounds in larger quantities can cause skin photosensitization followed by hyperpigmentation[ 65 Title A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Publication Author Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J. Publisher Wolfe Year 1984 ISBN 0723408394 Description Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far. , 1572 Title Furocoumarins and Other Secondary Metabolites from Psoralea canescens Publication International Journal of Pharmacognosy, 1997 , Vol 35, 4 pp 232-236 Author Innocenti G.; Bourgaud F.; Piovan A. & Favretto D. Publisher Year 1997 ISBN 0925-1618 Description ].

Botanical Description

Pediomelum esculentum is an erect, usually unbranched, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a spindle-shaped, tuberous rootstock 5 - 10cm long and 2 - 4cm wide; it can grow up to 50cm tall. The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. Within its native range, this starchy, nutritious root was one of the most important wild foods of the native N. Americans, and is still often harvested for food. The plant has often been recommended as a good potential crop for cultivation. Psoralea esculenta is common and widespread in its natural range and no major threats to the species are currently known. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2012)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeCentral N. America - Alberta to Manitoba, south to New Mesico, Texas and Louisiana.

HabitatRocky woods and prairies, on calcareous soils[ 43 Title Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition Publication Author Fernald. M. L. Publisher American Book Co.; New York Year 1950 ISBN 0442222505 Description A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America. ]. Prairies, open pine forest and grasslands; at elevations from 500 - 2,000 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].