Eriodictyon

Eriodictyon is a genus of plants known by the common name yerba santa within the Hydrophylloideae subfamily of the borage family, Boraginaceae. They are distributed throughout the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Eriodictyon
Eriodictyon californicum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Subfamily: Hydrophylloideae
Genus: Eriodictyon
Benth.
Species

see text

Description

Most species grow as either perennial herbs or shrubs. They grow in a prostrate to ascending or erect stance. The stems are characterized by shredding barking. The leaves are cauline and alternate. The inflorescence is generally open and terminal. The corolla is funnel to urn shaped, and white, lavender or purple, and generally hairy on the abaxial surface. The sexual organs of the plant, including the stamens, filaments, and ovaries, are also generally hairy.[1] The fruits are 1 to 3 mm wide. The fruits are schizocarpic, and not all mericarpids are fertile.[2] The seeds are striated, and colored a dark brown or black.

Taxonomy

Etymology

It includes California yerba santa (Eriodictyon californica), along with other similarly named plants. Yerba santa means "sacred herb" in the Spanish language. The name Eriodictyon, from the Greek erio + dictyon refers to the wooly surface of the abaxial leaves.[1]

Subdivisions

There are 11 species native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. 6 species are used by indigenous peoples.[2]

  1. Eriodictyon altissimum — Indian Knob mountainbalm
  2. Eriodictyon angustifolium — Narrow-leaved yerba santa
  3. Eriodictyon californicum — California yerba santa
  4. Eriodictyon capitatum — Lompoc yerba santa
  5. Eriodictyon crassifolium — Thick-leaved yerba santa
  6. Eriodictyon lobbii — Dwarf yerba santa, also known as Nama lobbii.
  7. Eriodictyon parryi — Poodle-dog bush
  8. Eriodictyon sessilifolium — Baja California yerba santa
  9. Eriodictyon tomentosum — Woolly yerba santa
  10. Eriodictyon traskiae — Pacific yerba santa
  11. Eriodictyon trichocalyx — Hairy yerba santa

References
  1. Jepson eFlora, The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley. Accessed 14 December 2021
  2. Richard W., Spjut (June 2016) [August 2006]. "Eriodictyon". WORLD BOTANICAL ASSOCIATES. The World Botanical Associates. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
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