Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses of North Dakota

Breadroot

Bonnie Heidel photo: Breadroot
Bonnie Heidel Breadroot
(Psoralea esculenta)
Distribution: statewide
Habitat: dry prairie hillsides
Flowers: light, bluish purple in color, fades with age, flowers are arranged on short, dense stalks, leaves are hairy, 5 per stalk
Height: 5-9 inches
Blooms: May to early June
Family name: Legume (Fabaceae)
Other names: Prairie turnip
Plant uses and other interesting facts: Plains Indians used the starchy, tuberous root as a staple in their diet.

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