Thelesperma megapotamicum

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.

Thelesperma megapotamicum
Scientific classification Edit this 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 gracile (Torr.) A.Gray

Description

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

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
  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Thelesperma megapotamicum". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  2. "BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database". naeb.brit.org.
  3. 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


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