Common Name: Purple Dalea

General Information

Dalea lasiathera is a low-growing, perennial plant with several to many decumbent stems radiating from a forking orange root with a woody caudex[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - Texas, northern Mexico

Habitat

Stony plains and hillsides, mesquite savannah, commonly on limestone,; mostly at elevations from 160 - 1,550 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Root - raw[]. Chewed as a snack, especially by children, and greatly enjoyed[].

Flowers - used as a flavouring[]. Crushed by hand and sprinkled on a stew after cooking[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in early spring in a greenhouse. The seed has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer[].