Stephanomeria pauciflora
(Torr.) A, Nelson
Brownplume wire-lettuce
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Steve Jones, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Steve Jones
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Fred Melgert / Carla Hoegen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Fred Melgert / Carla Hoegen
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jan Thompson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jan Thompson
Summary
Source: WikipediaStephanomeria pauciflora is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names brownplume wirelettuce, few-flowered wirelettuce, and prairie skeletonplant. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in many types of habitat, including many desert areas, woodlands, and plains. It is a perennial herb or bushy subshrub producing one or more sturdy, stiff stems with many spreading branches, taking a rounded but vertical form. The leaves are mostly basal and ephemeral, with smaller, scale-like leaves occurring on the upper stem. Flower heads occur at intervals along the mostly naked stems, especially near the tips. Each has a cylindrical base covered in hairless phyllaries. It contains 3 to 6 florets, each with an elongated tube and a flat pink ligule. The fruit is an achene tipped with a spreading cluster of plumelike pappus bristles. These are usually brownish, but are sometimes white. The specific epithet pauciflora, refers to the Latin term for 'few flowered'.
Description
An herb in the aster family found in temperate regions.
This description is brief — help expand it
Edible Uses
The thick liquid is used as a chewing gum.
Traditional Uses
The thick liquid is used as a chewing gum.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
It is a temperate plant.
Where It Grows
North America, USA,
References (1)
- Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 544
