Fabaceae FAMILY

Hedysarum boreale mackenzii

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

This species is widely regarded as toxic and warnings about confusing it with its edible cousin Hedysarum alpinum Richardson (Eskimo potato) abound. After exhaustive research, no chemical basis for toxicity could be found. In addition, a critical examination of the literature could find no credible evidence that this species is toxic in spite of these widespread rumours[ 1490 Title Is Hedysarum mackenziei (Wild Sweet Pea) Actually Toxic? Publication Ethnobotany Research & Applications 6:319-321 (2008) Author Treadwell E.M. & Clausen T.P. Website http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/vol6/i1547-3465-06-319.pdf Publisher Year 2008 ISBN Description ].

Botanical Description

Hedysarum boreale mackenzii is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a thick, fibrous taproot; it produces several erect to spreading stems, growing 15 - 40cm tall. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeN. America- Alaska to Northwest Territories, through Canada, south through western USA to Oregon; Asia - E. Siberia, Russian Far East

HabitatCalcareous gravels and slopes[ 172 Title Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. Publication Author Schofield. J. J. Publisher Alaska Northwest Books; Alaska Year 2003 ISBN 0882403699 Description A nice guide to some useful plants in that area. ]. Dry tundra, dry limestone barrens, on flats and slopes, in gravel to clay soils with a preference for calcareous soils