Pediomelum digitatum

(Palmleaf Indian Breadroot)

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Pediomelum digitatum, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7942

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Pediomelum digitatum, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7950

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Pediomelum digitatum, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7947

Scientific Name Pediomelum digitatum USDA PLANTS Symbol PED19
Common Name Palmleaf Indian Breadroot, Palmleaf Scurfpea ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 504176
Family Fabaceae (Pea) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Plains (3500 to 4800 ft.); sandy or clay soils in open areas in prairies, valleys, hillsides.
Plant: Perennial with erect or ascending, pubescent stems 12 to 32 inches tall; branching in upper portions.
Leaves: Alternate, palmately-divided leaves with 3 to 5 leaflets that are linear or linear-oblanceolate and 5/8 to 1-5/8 inches long and ~1/4-inch or less wide; leaflet surfaces are gland-dotted, the upper mostly hairless and the lower with appressed hairs; tip rounded or pointed and often with a short spine; petioles are 3/4 to 2-3/4 inches long; lanceolate stipules ~1/4 inch long.
Inflorescence: Interrupted, slender spike-like raceme at the ends of long stalks arising from leaf axils; 3 to 11 pea-like flowers are blue, purple, rarely white, fading to yellowish-brown; banner ~1/2 inch across and wings ~1/4 inch long; calyx tube ~1/8 inch long or less with 5 pointed lobes, glandular and silky-hairy.
Bloom Period: May to July.
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, "Shinners & Mahler’s Flora of North Central Texas" by Diggs, Lipscomb and O’Kennon and Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains