Lance Leaf Scruf Pea
Psoralea lanceolataNutt.
It is an erect, freely branched perennial from 30-60 cm high with varied herbage, which ranges from smooth and hairless to glandular or covered with appressed hairs all pointing the same direction. The stem leaves are compound ternate (3 leaflets) which are narrowly obovate to elliptic-oblanceolate in shape, each ranging from 2-3 cm long. The leaves become much reduced in size towards the top of the stem. The inflorescence is a closely flowered raceme of 10-40 white to blue flowers. Individual flowers range from 4-7 mm long with a bell-shaped calyx with short, ovate-triangular teeth which are equal in size. It is found in sandy soils. It may be found on the windward side of active sand dunes or among bunchgrasses or sagebrush. It is found throughout the Western United States.
Food Uses
Root may be eaten raw or cooked. The root can also be dried,
ground into a powder and used in soups or with cereals for making bread etc. One
report says that the root of this species is not tuberous.