Semi-desert, foothills. Openings, shrublands. Spring.
Top photograph: Lower Cross Canyon, April 21, 2015.
Left: Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 7, 2009.

Pediomelum megalanthum spreads over large areas from root sprouts.  Since the plants cling close to the ground they require wildflower enthusiasts to belly down if they wish to appreciate the lovely and delicate blue and white flowers.  While bellying down one can also see that the sage-green cast to the leaves comes from a myriad of hairs that are fine and appressed.  Fine hairs of other orientations are also abundant on the rest of the plant, even when the flowers fade and seeds develop, as the photograph immediately above shows.

The genus name, "Pediomelum", comes from the Greek "pedion" and "mylon", "flatland apple" and refers to the swollen and edible roots.

The plant was first collected for science by Charles Baker near Aztec, New Mexico around 1900 and in 1913 it was named Psoralea megalantha by Wooten and Standley.  In 1919 Rydberg created a new genus, "Pediomelum", and placed this species in it as Pediomelum megalanthum.

Pediomelum megalanthum variety megalanthum  (Large-flower Breadroot)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, May 7, 2009.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 23, 2009.

Pediomelum megalanthum variety megalanthum  (Large-flower Breadroot)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 23, 2009 and
Lower Cross Canyon, April 7, 2016.

Hairs abound on calyces and are so abundant on the rest of the plant that they impart a sage-green cast to the leaves and a white cast to stems.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 23, 2009.

Pediomelum megalanthum variety megalanthum  (Large-flower Breadroot)
Fabaceae (Pea Family)

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings, shrublands. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, April 23, 2009.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Pediomelum megalanthum