Arizona yellowshow is a traditional food plant of the Seri and other native peoples of northwestern Mexico. Almost every part of the plant can be used, including the roots, leaves, flowers, immature fruits, and seeds [2-3]. The roots are the most important edible part, forming a substantial and reliable food source. They are thick, white, and covered with thin, weakly attached brown skins. Their flavor is mild and pleasantly earthy, reminiscent of parsnips with a unique yellow show character. The roots are fully chewable, even when older, and produce a sweet, aromatic broth when simmered, making them ideal for soups or stews. Roots can be gathered any time the aboveground parts are visible, from early summer to late autumn [2-3]. The leaves can be eaten fresh, but are better cooked as potherbs. They have a spinach-like taste with a slightly mucilaginous texture, which becomes more appealing when boiled. The cooking water produces a thick, mildly flavorful broth. Leafstalks and stems are tough and fibrous, but the blades are tender and easily chewable. Leaves appear early in summer after rains and persist into late autumn [2-3]. The flowers are among the best-tasting parts of the plant. Bright orange-yellow, they add color and a touch of sweetness to salads. Unlike the leaves, they are low in mucilage and free of harsh flavors. Blooming mainly between July and September, the flowers close by midday to avoid heat damage [2-3]. The fruits are hollow, balloon-like capsules. Young fruits, gathered before drying, have a mild flavor reminiscent of green beans with a fruity, incense-like accent. They are best used in stir-fries or as a cooked vegetable. Mature fruits become papery and are suitable only for seed harvest [2-3]. The seeds are initially white and tender but become reddish- to blackish-brown and shiny as they mature in autumn. While the seeds were not sampled directly for this reference, they were used traditionally as food. Care should be taken not to confuse the elongated seeds of A. palmatifida with the spherical seeds of Amoreuxia gonzalezii (Santa Rita yellowshow), which should not be harvested [2-3]. Edibility Rating: 4/5 – A versatile desert wild food, with particularly valuable roots and flowers, though the plant is uncommon in the U.S. and more significant in Mexico.

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