Hedysarum mackenzii Richardson
(Hedysarum boreale subsp. mackenzii (Richardson)Welsh)
hed-ee-SAR-um (alt. Hee-DISS-ar-um) mac-KEN-zee-eye (alt. muh-KEN-zee-eye)
hed-ee-SAR-um (alt. Hee-DISS-ar-um)  bor-ee-AL-ay

Leguminosae (Pea Family)

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Definitions

* Note: H. boreale of some authors. This plant can be confused with Eskimo Potato (Hedysarum alpinum) which has smaller flowers flowing down the side of the stem and prominent veins on the leaflets. Hedysarum refers to the jointed shape of the seed pod called “loments”. The members of the pea family produce pods with fleshy seeds or “peas”. Hedysarum means "hedys" (sweet) and aroma (smell).  Additional common names:  mackenzie's sweet vetch, northern sweet vetch, boreal sweet vetch and sweet-broom.

* Stem: Mostly unbranched, stout, upright plant, 18" to 24" from shorter less branched root than Hedysarum alpinum.

* Flower: Showy, bright pink to deep purple, very aromatic with sweet scent, 1/4" to 3/8" wide, 3/4" to 1-1/4" long, pea shaped, clustered at the top of the stem each on a curved arching stalk, 5 petals. Seed pod with 6 round sections having horizontal veins.

* Leaves: Pinnately divided with 7 to 15 oval to lance shaped leaflets, round at both ends, smooth above, covered with silver hairs below showing only the mid vein with the lateral veins hidden.

* Habitat: Rocky slopes and river bars usually low elevations throughout most of interior Alaska and the north slope.

* Uses: Dena’ina call this plant brown bear’s wild potato.

* Caution: Root is reportedly poisonous. During early Arctic explorations Sir John Richardson reported that all his men who harvested this plant mistaking it for Hedysarum alpinum became ill after eating it.