Pig-nut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pig-nut
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Genus:	Hoffmannseggia
Species:	H. glauca
Binomial name
Hoffmannseggia glauca (Ortega) Eifert
Synonyms
Caesalpinia chicamana Killip & J. F. Macbr. 1943 Caesalpinia falcaria (Cav.) Fisher 1893 var. capitata (Fisher 1892) Fisher 1893 var. densiflora (Benth. 1852) Fisher 1893 var. falcaria (Cav.) Fisher 1893 var. pringlei (Fisher 1892) Fisher 1893 var. rusbyi (Fisher 1892) Fisher 1893 var. stricta (Benth. in A. Gray 1852) Fisher 1893 Caesalpinia glauca (Ortega 1797) Kuntze 1898 Hoffmannseggia chicamana (Killip & J. F. Macbr.) Eifert 1972 Hoffmannseggia densiflora Benth. in A. Gray 1852 Hoffmannseggia falcaria Cav. 1798, nom. illeg. var. capitata Fisher 1892 var. demissa (A. Gray 1852) Fisher 1892 var. falcaria Cav. 1798 var. pringlei Fisher 1892 var. rusbyi Fisher 1892 var. stricta (Benth. in A. Gray 1852) Fisher 1892 Hoffmannseggia stricta Benth. in A. Gray 1852 var. demissa A. Gray 1852 var. stricta Benth. in A. Gray 1852 Larrea densiflora (Benth. 1852) Britton 1930 Larrea glauca Ortega 1797

Hoffmannseggia glauca is a dicot found in the legume family, Fabaceae. Its common names include Indian rushpea, hog potato, and pig nut.

It is a California native which prefers alkaline desert flats, creosote bush communities, and disturbed areas. It prefers elevations of less than 900 metres (3,000 ft). Hoffmannseggia glauca is found outside California in Western Nevada, Texas, Mexico and South America. In California H. glauca may be found in the San Joaquin Valley, Southern Coastal Ranges, and Western Transverse Ranges.

Description

Hoffmannseggia glauca is an erect perennial herb and can measure up to 30 cm tall. Branches are slender, growing out from the base of the plant, and have stalked glands. The foliage is composed of compound leaves with primary and secondary leaflets. Primary leaflets (5–20 mm) are odd-pinnate while secondary leaflets (4–6 mm) are even-pinnate.

The inflorescence measures 5–15 cm and is glandular. Flowers are orange-red with spreading petals and are produced between the months of April and June. The fruit that develops is 1.5–4 cm, glandular, curved, and short-stalked. The fruit may or may not be deciduous.

The USDA indicates that Hoffmannseggia glauca is considered a noxious weed in Kansas.

Uses

The Pima, Apache, Cocopa, and Pueblo ate the tubers or bulbs raw, boiled or roasted.

Images for kids

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  Hoffmannseggia glauca, sometimes called “Indian rushpea”