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Psoralea pinnata Seeds
Fountain bush; Fonteinbos
Psoralea is a genus in the legume family, Fabaceae. Although most species are poisonous, the starchy roots of P. esculenta (breadroot, tipsin, or prairie turnip) and P. hypogaea are edible. A few species form tumbleweeds. The South African species are mostly shrubs or small trees. Leaves 3-foliolate or pinnate, sometimes reduced, dotted with black or red glands, stipules clasping the stem and joined to the base of the petiole. Flowers in groups of 1-5, each subtended by a lobed cupule that is itself subtended by two bracts. All of the 50+ Southern African species are fynbos. Psoralea pinnata is an erect shrub or small tree, which grows up to 4 m high, with blue, lilac and white, pea-shaped flowers which bloom from October to December. The "P" in Psoralea is silent and the name is pronounced as if it began with the "s". The common names fountain bush or 'fonteinbos' refer to the fact that it grows along streams and in wet places. There are 130 species worldwide with 50 species occurring in southern Africa. Psoralea pinnata is one of the earliest South African plants to have been cultivated. In 1690 it was growing in England from seed collected in the Cape. One of the outstanding characteristics of this genus is its strong scent, and the resinous, dark or transparent dots which cover the leaves.
