Location
In front of Visitor Center on edge of parking lot (N35D33'00.732 X W105D41'10.662)
Flowers first observed: 6/14/17
Plant w/Flowers
The Flower
Distribution
"Found on sandy plains, arroyos, outwash slopes and disturbed areas from 1,000-5,500 ft (305-1676 m); flowers April-October. Distribution: WA and ID south to CA east to NC; south to S. Amer. ; also in Afrca, Europe, Asia and Australia." (SEINet)
Description
"Perennial herbs, rhizomatous, without tubers, to 1 m tall, sparsely to copiously armed with prickles, these to 5 mm long, thin, delicate; surfaces covered with stellate hairs throughout. LEAVES: alternate, simple, linear to oblonglanceolate, to 10 cm long and 2.5 cm wide, the margin entire, sinuate-repand or 6 CANOTIA Vol. 5 (1) 2009 shallowly lobed; blade coriaceous, the lower surface densely covered with stellate hairs; petiole to 5 cm long; base attenuate, oblique, or rounded; apex acute. INFLORESCENCE: panicles, 5-8-flowered; peduncles to 15 mm long. FLOWERS: zygomorphic (Fig. 3C); pedicels to 2 cm long; calyx to 1 cm long, the lobes 1/2 as long to as long as the tube, unequal, linear; corolla rotate, purple or sometimes white, to 3.5 cm in diam., having stellate hairs along the midveins of the outer surfaces of the corolla lobes; stamens equal, to 13 mm long, the anthers 4 times as long as the filaments, not adherant; style exceeding the anthers by 2-10 mm; stigma clavate, to 1 mm wide. FRUITS: to 1.5 cm in diam., not invested in the calyx, green with pale green to greenish grey markings when immature, yellow when mature, pendant; seeds lenticular, pale to dark brown, shiny and minutely pitted." (SEINet)
Ethnobotanical Uses
Food:
"Cochiti Substitution Food Fruits used as a substitute for rennet is curdling milk. Navajo Cooking Agent Dried or fresh berries added to goat's milk to make it curdle for cheese. Pima Fruit Berries powdered, placed in milk, a piece of rabbit or cow stomach added, and a liquid eaten as cheese. Substitution Food Berries used as a substitute for rennet. Spanish American Substitution Food Fruits used as a substitute for rennet in curdling milk. Zuni Beverage Berries mixed with curdled goat milk and considered a delicious beverage." (Moerman 535)
Medicine:
"Apache, White Mountain Unspecified Plant used for medicinal purposes. Isleta Laxative Raw seedpods eaten or boiled into a syrup and taken as a laxative. Keresan Gynecological Aid Infusion of plant taken by nursing mothers to sustain milk flow. Navajo Eye Medicine Plant used for sore eyes. Nose Medicine Plant used for nose troubles. Pima Cold Remedy Crushed, dried berries used for colds. Zuni Snakebite Remedy Fresh or dried root chewed by medicine man before sucking snakebite and poultice applied to wound. Toothache Remedy Fruit chewed over sore tooth. Chewed root placed in cavity of aching tooth." (Moerman 535)
Other Uses:
"Hopi Jewelry Yellow fruits made into necklaces for clowns. Keresan Jewelry Fruit made into a necklace worn by women." (Moerman 535)
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