Amsinckia tesselata

A.Gray.

Bristly Fiddleneck

Boraginaceae Edible: Leaves, Seed Potential hazards — see below

gbif· cc0

Kate Harper

gbif· cc0

Kate Harper

gbif· cc0

Kate Harper

Description

Amsinckia tesselata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Edible Uses

Like all fiddlenecks, Amsinckia tessellata contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), cumulative liver toxins that are not destroyed by cooking or drying. Despite this, historical records show that the Kawaiisu Indians of southern California boiled and ate the leaves as a spring vegetable, and the Pima Indians of southern Arizona ate them raw. The Gosiute of Utah and Nevada ate the seeds, but both leaves and seeds should be considered unsafe. Boiled leaves taste mild and spinach-like, but their texture is mushy and gritty. The nutlets (seed units) are small, hard, bitter, and medicine-like in flavor—unpleasant and unsafe as food. Edibility rating: 1/5 – historically used, but unsafe for modern foraging due to toxic alkaloids. Seed. No more details are given, but the seeds of other members of the genus is dried then ground into a powder and make into cakes which are eaten raw. If this species is like most other members of the family Boraginaceae, the seed is likely to ripen over a period of time and individual seeds fall from the plant when they are ripe. This will make harvesting any quantity of seed very fiddly and time-consuming. Leaves - raw. Sometimes the leaves are bruised by rubbing them between the hands and are then eaten with salt.

Medicinal Uses

Limited cultural uses outside of food; no documented medicinal uses, likely due to toxicity.

Known Hazards

Like all fiddlenecks, Amsinckia tessellata contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), cumulative liver toxins that are not destroyed by cooking or drying.

Distribution

South-western N. America - Utah.

Where It Grows

Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, California, Chile Central, Idaho, Mexico Northwest, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington

Cultivation

Prefers open, sunny, and dry habitats. Found in deserts, sandy flats, grasslands, and disturbed soils. Tolerates poor soils and arid conditions; thrives after winter and spring rains. We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in full sun. Habitat: Widespread across the deserts and drylands of the western United States and northern Mexico. Common in Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts, often forming brilliant yellow carpets in spring. A fast-growing annual. Germinates quickly after winter rains, produces dense stands, and flowers prolifically in spring.