| Pediomelum esculentum | |
|---|---|
| |
| In bloom in Badlands National Park, South Dakota | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Pediomelum |
| Species: | P. esculentum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pediomelum esculentum | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Pediomelum esculentum, synonym Psoralea esculenta,[2] common name prairie turnip or timpsula, is an herbaceous perennial plant native to prairies and dry woodlands of central North America, which bears a starchy tuberous root edible as a root vegetable. English names for the plant include tipsin, teepsenee, breadroot, breadroot scurf pea, large Indian breadroot, prairie potato and pomme blanche. The prairie turnip continues to be a staple food of the Plains Indians.
A related species, Pediomelum hypogaeum (syn. Psoralea hypogaea), the little breadroot, is also edible, although the plant and root are smaller. Another species, Pediomelum argophyllum (syn. Psoralea argophylla), was probably harvested for food only in times of famine.[a]
- ^ NatureServe (2024). "Pediomelum esculentum". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ a b "Pediomelum esculentum (Pursh) Rydb". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ Kaye & Moodie 1978, p. 329.
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