Encelia farinosa
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Encelia farinosa (commonly known as brittlebush, brittlebrush, or incienso), is a common desert shrub of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has a variety of historical uses.
Description
Brittlebush grows up to Script error: No such module "convert". tall,[1] with fragrant leaves Script error: No such module "convert". long, ovate to deltoid, and silvery tomentose.[2] Arranged in loose panicles above the leafy stems, the capitula are Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter. Each has 8–18 orange-yellow ray florets, Script error: No such module "convert". in length,[2] and yellow or purple-brown disc florets. The fruit measures Script error: No such module "convert". and no pappus is visible.[3] During dry seasons the plant goes drought deciduous, shedding all of its foliage, relying on the water stored in its thick stems.[4]
Encelia californica is similar, but has only one flower head per stalk.[2]
Chemistry
The leaves contain 3-Acetyl-6-methoxybenzaldehyde.[5]
Taxonomy
Varieties
Two varieties of E. farinosa are recognized by Flora of North America.[3]
- Encelia farinosa var. farinosa – yellow disc florets
- Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta (Blake) I.M.Johnston – purple-brown disc florets
Varieties formerly included E. f. var. radians, now regarded as a separate species E. radians Brandegee.[6]
Etymology
The common name "brittlebush" comes from the brittleness of its stems. Other names include hierba del vaso (Spanish) and cotx (Seri).[7] Another Spanish name for it is incienso because the dried sap was burned by early Spanish missions in the New World as incense.
Distribution and habitat
Encelia farinosa is common in the southwestern United States (California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada) and northern Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Hidalgo).[3][8][9]
It can be found in a variety of habitats from dry, gravelly slopes to open, sandy washes[2] up to Script error: No such module "convert". above sea level. It requires a very sunny position in a deep very well-drained soil, and minimal winter frost.[4]
It does well in cultivation often being used for border, erosion control, ground cover and massing.[10] Recently the plant has spread dramatically in areas not natural to its distribution in large part because Caltrans has begun to use it in hydroseeding.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Uses
Brittlebush has a long history of uses by indigenous and pioneer peoples, including:
- Glue: The resin collected from the base of the plant, yellowish to brown, can be heated and used as a glue. The O'odham and Seri use it for hafting, to hold points on arrows and harpoons.[7]
- Sealer: A different sort of resin collected from the upper stems is more gummy and generally a clear yellow. The Seri use this to seal pottery vessels.[7]
- Incense: Early Spanish friars learned that the resin made a highly fragrant incense, akin to frankincense in odor.[11]
- Gum: The Sells area Tohono O'odham children use upper stem resin as a passable chewing gum.[12]
- Toothbrush: Oldtime cowboys used brittlebush stem as a fine toothbrush.[12]
- Medicinal: Seri use brittlebush to treat toothache; the bark is removed, the branch heated in ashes, and then placed in the mouth to "harden" a loose tooth.[7] The Cahuilla used brittlebush to treat toothaches as well,[13] and used it as a chest pain reliever by heating the gum and applying it to the chest.[13][14]
- Waterproofing: It has been used to waterproof containers.[10]
- Varnish: It has been melted then used as a varnish.[10]
References
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- ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (ed.) Template:EOL. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
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External links
- Pages with script errors
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- Encelia
- Flora of the Southwestern United States
- Flora of Northwestern Mexico
- Flora of the California desert regions
- Flora of the Sonoran Deserts
- Flora of the Coachella Valley
- Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands
- Natural history of the Colorado Desert
- Natural history of the Mojave Desert
- Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges
- Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains
- Plants used in traditional Native American medicine
- Drought-tolerant plants
- Garden plants of North America
- Plants described in 1848
- Taxa named by Asa Gray
- Taxa named by John Torrey
- Flora without expected TNC conservation status