Practical
Plants

Lesquerella fendleri

Bladder Pod

a perennial member of the Lesquerella genus in the family Brassicaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Material uses

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

The seed yields up to 28% oil and 22% protein[1]. Average yields of 1.1 tonnes per hectare have been postulated and in small-scale experiments 1.6 tonnes has been attained[1]. The oil has possibilities in the manufacture of grease thickeners due to the hydroxy-acid content. Major amounts of hydroxy-acids occur in the obscure seed oils, among them Lesquerella, but few of them have been subjected to development. According to Osman and Ahmad (1981), the only hydroxylated vegetable oil commercially available is castor oil. Other potential sources include Castalis, Coriaria, Dimorphotheca, Hiptage, and Osteospermum[1].

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - east to Kansas and south to N. Mexico.
Habitat
Roadsides in open, sandy or rocky often calcareous soils[2].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Seed - we have no information for Britain, but in its native range the plant germinates in the autumn. Thus direct sowings in situ could be tried both in the autumn and in the spring in Britain[K]. Seeds can germinate after being dormant up to 5 years[1]. Under normal situations, light is required for germination[1]. Optimum germination temperature is 20°C[1].

Cultivation

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

Bladderpod is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 30 to 110cm, an annual temperature range of 13 to 15°C and a pH in the range of 5.6 to 8.3[1]. The seeds germinate in the autumn, flower in the spring, and seed is harvested in late spring. This is indicative of its requirements for cool, semi-arid conditions during growth. The plant thrives in areas with 25 - 40 cm rainfall from September through April, suggestive of the requirements of winter grains. The plant responds well to irrigation. In Texas, massive populations thrive on calich soil. The plant is a pioneer on disturbed soils which are dry, open, well-drained sites. It will tolerate soils with basic reaction (pH 8.2 - 8.3) but not those with salt or gypsum. The plant is reported to tolerate frost and high pH[1]. Bladder-pod is cultivated for the seed which yields up to 28% oil and 22% protein[1]. A relatively new crop, bladder-pod has no recognized cvs. Because it is very polymorphic, \"certainly the most polymorphic in the genus\", it offers genetic material for selection and breeding[1]. In its native range, the plant is cold tolerant at altitudes of 1,200 - 2,100 m, suggesting its use for more northern cultivation. At seed maturation or failing moisture, the plant dries and the taproot breaks off, allowing the dried plant to blow about like tumbleweeds, thus dispersing the seeds[1].

References

  1. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

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  2. 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

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