Fabaceae
Desert False Indigo; false indigo bush
Amorpha virgata Small
Indigenous Names: sзhaλiaβiv, ziŋtkála tȟačháŋ, Khawdl-pa’
Traditional Food Use
Lakota
Straight branches used to make arrow shafts There are two types of fruit on this vine. Fruit that hangs from the upper part of the vine is not edible, but fruits that hang from the lower part of the vine actually extend underground as a sort of root pod. Lakota women would always sing songs to ask the voles (mice) permission to take the beans and they would also leave a gift of corn meal or some other food in exchange for American hog the makatominica.
Botanical Reference
Parts Documented: root, seed, fruit_or_berry, seedpod