"Hedysarum" species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (moth and butterfly) species including "Coleophora accordella".Some species, such as "Hedysarum alpinum" also known as Alpine sweetvetch or wild potato, were eaten by the Inuit to help ward off the effects of scurvy due to it being rich in vitamin C, containing about 21 mg/100g.