Practical
Plants

Psoralea esculenta

Breadroot

a perennial member of the Psoralea genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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

This species contains furanocoumarins, these substances can cause photosensitivity in some people[13].

Edible uses

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

Root - raw or cooked[4][8][10][11][2]. It can also be dried for later use[3]. The dried root can be ground into a powder and used with cereals in making cakes, porridges etc[3]. Starchy and glutinous, the raw root is said to have a sweetish turnip-like taste[3]. The plant is best harvested as the tops die down at the end of the growing season[14]. This food is a staple and also considered to be a luxury item by many native North American Indian tribes[4][12]. The root contains about 70% starch, 9% protein and 5% sugars[15].

Plant part
Root

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.

An infusion of the dried roots has been used in the treatment of gastro-enteritis, sore throats and chest problems[7]. The roots have been chewed by children as a treatment for bowel complaints[7]. A poultice of the chewed roots has been applied to sprains and fractures[7].

Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

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

The plant is a good soil stabilizer in its natural environment[5].

Product or use
Oil

Ecology and functions

Earth stabiliser

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
N. America - Manitoba to North Dakota and Wisconsin, south to Missouri and Texas.
Habitat
Rocky woods and prairies, on calcareous soils[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

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

Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in early to mid spring in a greenhouse. Either sow the seed in individual pots or pot up the young seedlings as soon as possible in order to avoid root disturbance. Grow them on in the pots until planting out in their final positions. It is usually impossible to transplant this species without fatal damage to the root[5]. Division in spring. With great care since the plant resents root disturbance. It is virtually impossible to divide this species successfully[5].

Cultivation

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

Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil[1]. Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position[5]. Plants are very intolerant of root disturbance, they are best planted out into their permanent positions whilst still small[5]. This plant has been recommended for improvement through breeding and selection for its edible root[3]. It was sent to Europe around the year 1800 as a potential food crop but was not well received[6]. 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[5].

References

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

    ↩

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

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  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  5. 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

  6. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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

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

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  11. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

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

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  13. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  14. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

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  15. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

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