Pediomelum argophyllum (Silverleaf Scurfpea)
Also known as: | Silverleaf Indian Breadroot |
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Genus: | Pediomelum |
Family: | Fabaceae (Pea) |
Life cycle: | perennial |
Origin: | native |
Habitat: | sun; dry prairies |
Bloom season: | June - August |
Plant height: | 1 to 3 feet |
Wetland Indicator Status: | none |
MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
National distribution (click map to enlarge): | ![]() |
Pick an image for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Detailed Information
Flower:
The small dark blue-violet flowers are in open spikes from upper leaf axils, each spike with 1 to 5 leafy bracts where 2 to 8 flowers whorl around the stem. Flowers are less than ¼ inch wide, with a flaring upper lip and two lateral wings of same length as upper lip with a small keel shaped lower lip obscured underneath. Flower stalks, bracts and calyx tubes are densely covered in silvery hairs.
Leaves and stem:
Leaves are palmately compound in groups of 3 to 5, on a stalk to 1½ inches long. Leaflets are oval to lance elliptic, unequal in size, ¾ to 1¼ inch long, ¼ to ½ inch wide, toothless, pointed on both ends. Stems are erect, many branched and spreading laterally. Both leaves and stems are covered with dense, shiny hairs that give the plant a silvery appearance.
Fruit: 
Fruit is a 1-seeded pod less than ¼ inch long.
Notes:
Both Silverleaf Scurfpea and Prairie Turnip (P. esculenta) are restricted to open prairie habitats and are relatively common. Like White Sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), the light colored foliage helps it stand out at a distance. While this species has observed many places in western Minnesota, most images here came from near Garrison North Dakota. This species was formerly known as Psoralea argophylla.
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More photos
Silverleaf Scurfpea plant
Silverleaf Scurfpea plant
Silverleaf Scurfpea plants
Silverleaf Scurfpea habitat
more flowers
Photos by K. Chayka taken at Strandness Prairie, Pope County. Photos by Peter M. Dziuk taken in central North Dakota.
Comments
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
on: 2011-06-07 15:34:53
Minnesota River National Wildlife Refuge, Louiseville Swamp unit.
on: 2014-07-23 11:20:53
Many blooming at the SNA this week.
on: 2015-07-04 20:31:42
These are growing in a protected area in Grant Co. I thought they were a variety of Lupine, but your site helped me see otherwise. Awesome. They are so beautiful with their silvery leaves.
on: 2016-07-15 09:24:40
Found a large colony by the vault toilet in the campground. I don't know if they are remnant or seeded.
on: 2018-07-15 18:47:20
Growing at roadside.
on: 2019-08-03 07:04:07
Seems to be in abundance along the roads and ditches in NW Polk County and southern Marshall County.
on: 2020-07-02 09:41:04
Found one gorgeous plant on the North Country Trail in Fergus near the Ottertail river.