Prairie Mimosa, Illinois bundleflower
Desmanthus illinoensis

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae

What it is like

Desmanthus illinoensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.3 m (4ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 1.3

Where it is found

Prairies, river banks and fields. Ditches, stream bottoms, fields, roadsides and low areas, often on clay soils.

N. America - Ohio to N. Dakota, New Mexico to Mississippi.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Countries/locations it is found in

North America, USA, Belgium.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 4

Seed - cooked. Rich in protein but without much flavour. The seedpods are about 25mm long and contain 3 - 5 small seeds. They are freely borne in the plants native environment, but will have to be very freely produced in this country if it is to be a worthwhile crop.

Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.

Medicine

Rating: 1

A leaf tea has been used in the treatment of itchy skin. Five seeds have been placed in the eye at night and washed out in the morning to treat trachoma.

Antipruritic: Treats itching of the skin.

Ophthalmic: Treats eye complaints.

Other

Rating: 1

Root bark of D. illinoensis has been found to contain N,N-DMT, NMT, N-hydroxy-N-methyltryptamine, 2-hydroxy-N-methyltryptamine, and gramine (toxic). The root bark is mixed with a native source of beta-Carbolines to produce a hallucinogenic drink called prairiehuasca, which is an analog of the shamanic brew ayahuasca.

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen: Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Staple Crop: Protein: (16+ percent protein, 0-15 percent oil). Annuals include beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, and pigeon peas. Perennials include perennial beans, nuts, leaf protein concentrates, and edible milks.

Under Development: Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen: Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Staple Crop: Protein: (16+ percent protein, 0-15 percent oil). Annuals include beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, and pigeon peas. Perennials include perennial beans, nuts, leaf protein concentrates, and edible milks.

Under Development: Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

Nitrogen Fixer: Plants that fix nitrogen in the soil

How it is grown

Requires a moist but well-drained soil in full sun. Plants are often found growing in clay soils in the wild. Suitable for the wild garden or other naturalistic plantings. In favourable situations this plant can self-sow to the point of nuisance. This plant is being evaluated by the Land Institute of Salina, Kansas, as an edible legume for growing with perennial grains in a non-tillage permaculture system. It is certainly worthy of more attention in this country, though the small seed size mitigates against its use. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby.

Propagating it: Seed - pre-soak for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in a cold frame in the spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer. If you have sufficient seed then it is probably worthwhile sowing some in situ in mid to late spring.

Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 4-8

Growth:

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

This plant can be weedy or invasive.

Its other names

Local names

Prairie Mimosa, Illinois bundleflower, prickleweed.

Synonyms

D. brachylobus. Acuan illinoensis. (Michx.)Kuntze.