| Thelesperma megapotamicum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Thelesperma |
| Species: | T. megapotamicum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thelesperma megapotamicum | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Thelesperma megapotamicum is a perennial species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name wild tea[1] and rayless greenthread. It is native to sections of the Americas, including the central United States, where it grows in many types of habitat.
Description[edit]
It is a perennial herb producing a slender, branching stem 30 to 60 centimeters tall or more. The leaves are narrow, mostly compound with linear or threadlike segments measuring a few centimeters long. The inflorescence bears several flower heads each in a cuplike involucre of phyllaries with purple-tinged, pointed lobes with white edges. The head contains many yellow or orange disc florets, and sometimes one or more yellow ray florets, although these may be absent.
Human uses[edit]
Native American groups such as the Hopi and Navajo use this plant to make herbal teas, as a medicinal remedy and a yellow dye.[2] The Hopi name for this plant is hohoysi. The plant can be boiled whole until the water turns a rusty color and used as a tea. In addition, the Hopi people also add the plant, along with water, into large glass jars and place in the sun to make sun tea.[3]
It is known as izeets'ósé in Apache.
References[edit]
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Thelesperma megapotamicum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
- ^ "BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database". naeb.brit.org.
- ^ Healthy Hopi recipes and native edible plants. Hopi Tribe of Arizona, Office of Community Health Services. September 1, 2008. OCLC 610218338 – via Open WorldCat.
Further reading[edit]
- Tso, Zoncho. "Medicinal Plants of the Southwest Thelesperma megapotamicum". New Mexico State University. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 26 February 2014.
- Yazzie, Shalene. "Thelesperma megapotamicum (Spreng.) Kuntze". Northern Arizona University. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
- Dharmananda, Subhuti. "GREENTHREAD: NAVAJO-HOPI TEA". Institute for Traditional Medicine. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
External links[edit]
Media related to Thelesperma megapotamicum at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Thelesperma megapotamicum at Wikispecies
