Dalea candida oligophylla

Taxonomy and growth

Family

Leguminosae

Genus

Dalea

Life cycle

perennial

Height

0.7 m

Flower type

hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - raw or chewed for its pleasant sweet flavour^[9][2][3]. The root can be dried, ground into a powder and stored for later use^[6]. Leaves - cooked^[10]. The peeled stems have been used as a food^[6]. A tea-like beverage is made from the dried leaves^[2].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is a strong emetic^[5]. A poultice of the plant has been used to treat wounds^[6].

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the roots has been used as a hair wash to prevent the hair from falling out^[6]. The plant has been used for making light brooms^[6].

Ecology and functions

Environment

Range

Central N. America - southwards from Canada.

Habitat

Dry desert and alluvial soils to 2000 metres^[8][4]. Prairies and open wods on sandy, clayey and rocky soils^[7].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Soil textures

sandy, loamy

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerances

drought

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

No

Drought

tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained soil in full sun^[4]. A deep-rooted plant, it prefers a sandy loam with added leaf mould^[1]. This species is well-suited to informal and naturalistic plantings, especially as part of a collection of native species^[4]. We are not sure how hardy this plant is in Britain, but judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. Plants are monocarpic, living for a number of years without flowering and then dying after flowering^[4]. The stems, leaves and flowers are dotted with glands, making the plant look blistered^[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby^[4].

Related plants

• Dalea candidaWhite Prairie Clover
• Dalea gattingeri
• Dalea purpureaPurple Prairie Clover
• Acacia aneuraMulga Acacia

References

1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

   ↩

2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

   ↩1↩2

3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

   ↩

4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

5. Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art 1939-00-00

   ↩

6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

   ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

7. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

   • Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas
   ↩

8. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

   ↩

9. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

   ↩

10. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩