American pipeweed, Desert trumpet
Eriogonum inflatum
Family: Polygonaceae
What it is like
A herb. The stem is inflated. It grows 30-90 cm tall. There is a ring of round crinkled leaves at the base. The flowers are very small and yellow and pink.
There are 150 Eriogonum species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in arid places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Central America, Mexico, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The leaves are boiled for 5-10 minutes then eaten. The seeds are pounded and eaten mixed with water. They are also eaten dry.
Edible parts
Leaves, stem, seeds
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Desert Trumpet, "Pickles"