Peteria scoparia
A.Gray
Fabaceae
The record of edibility mentioned here quite possibly should belong to Peteria glandulosa and not this species[
1554- Title
- The Genus Peteria (Leguminosae)
- Publication
- Rhodora 58, pp 344 - 353, 1956
- Author
- Porter C.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. The two species are, however, quite closely related and so this plant is probably worthy of examination for potential edibility[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Common Name: Camote del Monte
General Information
Peteria scoparia is a much-branched, herbaceous perennial plant, probably growing from a tuberous rootstock; it can grow 50 - 100cm tall, most commonly around 60cm[
1554- Title
- The Genus Peteria (Leguminosae)
- Publication
- Rhodora 58, pp 344 - 353, 1956
- Author
- Porter C.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is possibly harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1554- Title
- The Genus Peteria (Leguminosae)
- Publication
- Rhodora 58, pp 344 - 353, 1956
- Author
- Porter C.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
Range
South-western N. America - Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, eastern Texas and northern Mexico (Chihuahua).
Habitat
Dry hills, mesas, and rolling; plains; at elevations up to 1,380 metres[
1554- Title
- The Genus Peteria (Leguminosae)
- Publication
- Rhodora 58, pp 344 - 353, 1956
- Author
- Porter C.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.30 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Peteria scoparia is native to the semi-arid warm temperate to subtropical regions of southwestern N. America.
Requires a sunny position. Found in the wild on dry, gravelly and sandy soils, sometimes on limestone[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
,
1554- Title
- The Genus Peteria (Leguminosae)
- Publication
- Rhodora 58, pp 344 - 353, 1956
- Author
- Porter C.L.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1956
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. soils
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Root[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
106- Title
- The Dictionary of Useful Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Coon. N.
- Publisher
- Rodale Press
- Year
- 1975
- ISBN
- 0-87857-090-x
- Description
- Interesting reading but short on detail.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. Rather small[
161- Title
- Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Yanovsky. E.
- Publisher
- U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
- Year
-
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit 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[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
