# Indian Rushpea (*hoffmannseggia glauca*) The Indian Rushpea (Hoffmannseggia glauca), also commonly known as hogpotato, is a resilient perennial herb native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Belonging to the pea family (Fabaceae), this low-growing plant is famous for its nutritious underground tubers, which resemble tiny potatoes and were historically harvested as a valuable food source by indigenous peoples, including the Navajo and Apache. It thrives in harsh, dry environments where few other plants can survive, utilizing a deep, creeping root system to anchor itself and store moisture. Though it is sometimes considered an agricultural weed due to its aggressive spread, the Indian Rushpea plays an important role in its native ecosystem, stabilizing sandy soils and providing food for various local wildlife species. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Typically found in dry, sandy, or clay soils, often in alkaline flats, desert grasslands, and disturbed roadsides across arid regions. ![Indian Rushpea](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/813428/medium.jpg) Photo: no rights reserved, CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/813428) ## Appearance This herb typically grows low to the ground, reaching heights of 10 to 30 centimeters. It features pale, dusty-green bipinnate leaves that resemble miniature fern fronds or mesquite leaves. During its blooming period from spring to summer, it produces small, upright clusters of attractive yellow flowers. Each flower has five petals, often adorned with tiny, glandular red dots or streaks, and orange-red stamens that protrude from the center. The seed pods are flat, slightly curved, and turn a brownish color as they mature, hanging conspicuously from the stems. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Fabales - **Family:** Fabaceae - **Genus:** Hoffmannseggia ## Interesting facts - Historically, Native American tribes roasted the sweet-tasting tubers or ground them into flour for nutritional sustenance. - Its deep and creeping root system can extend several feet underground, making it incredibly difficult to remove once established in agricultural fields. - The common name 'hogpotato' comes from the small, underground tubers which pigs and other animals eagerly dig up and eat. ## Special abilities - **Drought-Resistant Tubers:** The plant develops swelling nodes or tubers on its roots that store water and nutrients, enabling it to survive long periods of extreme drought. - **Nitrogen Fixation:** Like other members of the legume family, it partners with soil bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable nutrient form. - **Glandular Defenses:** Its stems, leaves, and flowers are covered in tiny, sticky glandular hairs that deter hungry insects and reduce water loss. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10-30 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.05 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-10 years ## Diet & Feeding Synthesizes its own energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, assisted by root nodules that fix nitrogen. - **Primary Foods:** Sunlight, Water, Carbon dioxide, Soil minerals ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Botta's Pocket Gopher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bottas-pocket-gopher) (*Thomomys bottae*) — The underground tubers are dug up and eaten by pocket gophers. - **Mutualism:** [Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/alfalfa-leafcutter-bee) (*Megachile rotundata*) — The flowers are visited and pollinated by native bees looking for nectar. - **Eaten by:** Domestic Cattle (*Bos taurus*) — Provides occasional forage for livestock, though sometimes considered a nuisance weed in pastures. ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Indian Rushpea? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Indian Rushpea? 10-30 cm ### How much does Indian Rushpea weigh? 0.01-0.05 kg ### How long does Indian Rushpea live? 3-10 years ### What does Indian Rushpea eat? Synthesizes its own energy from sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, assisted by root nodules that fix nitrogen. ### Where is Indian Rushpea usually found? Typically found in dry, sandy, or clay soils, often in alkaline flats, desert grasslands, and disturbed roadsides across arid regions. ## Where to spot - [Metropolitan Park Bathhouse and Pool Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/metropolitan-park-bathhouse-and-pool-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Glenrio](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glenrio) — Texas, US · Neighborhood ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Indian Rushpea: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/indian-rushpea)