Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures by color ( Other & Bicolor ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Gulf Indian Breadroot, Brown-Flowered Psoralea, Redflower Scurfpea (Pediomelum rhombifolium), Papilionaceae Family, native, perennial, blooms March through July

Gulf Indian breadroot a native of the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau is typically found growing in sandy soils; however, it also is found in rocky soils as well. It is a trailing herb that grows from a large tuber and branches at the crown. The branching can be up to a meter long and it grows to about 6 inches tall. The leaves are pinnately trifoliate (have 3 leaflets) and vary in shape depending upon what part of the branch the leaves are located. Some are sort of arrow shaped, others are roundish-oval and others are of various shapes inbetween. The bloom clusters are small; however, they are worth a close look. The colors are very unusual. It waa difficult to find the plant's identity due to it having a bloom color that is so different from other members in the Pediomelum genus as well as its differing growth habit. I finally found it at a website based in Mexico. The corolla may be brick-red, rust colored, an orangey-rust, an orangey-pink or very rarely white with the banner (top petal) having a nice splotch that sets off the other colors. The banner is a somewhat paler or lighter color than the other petals. A beautiful plant that is very suitable for wildscapes, rock gardens and other landscape uses. I don't know if it would be suitable for containers unless they are very deep due to its deep growing rootstock.

Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefip...

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/139084/index.html

A very small bloom cluster - notice that the upper petal (the banner petal) is a somewhat lighter color than the other petals.


This message was edited Apr 30, 2007 2:23 AM