- Sphaeralcea incana
-
Sphaeralcea incana Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Rosids Order: Malvales Family: Malvaceae Subfamily: Malvoideae Genus: Sphaeralcea Species: S. incana Binomial name Sphaeralcea incana Synonyms Sphaeralcea laxa
Sphaeralcea ribifoliaSphaeralcea incana, Grey Globemallow, is a perennial Southwestern United States desert plant. It is also known as Soft Globemallow, Caliche Globemallow, and Sore Eye Mallow.
"Desert Globemallow" is also sometimes used for this species, but often refers to Sphaeralcea ambigua. It is also sometimes known as "Sore Eye Poppy," in error as it is not related to true Papaveraceae - Poppies.
Contents
Description
Sphaeralcea incana blooms with brilliant orange flowers in the spring. There are also pink, and white, flowering forms. The plant can form carpets of orange in some locations, following a heavy winter rainy season. The fine fuzz from the leaves can cause irritation of the eyes.
Uses
Eating
Sphaeralcea incana - Grey Globemallow has been used for food and medicinal purposes by Native Americans and other peoples. The top of the plant was made into a beverage or eaten, said to be nourishing and tasty. The leaf and flower tea is gentle, and was used for respiratory irritations and flu. A formula can be made by mixing flowers and leaves with Creosote Bush - Larrea tridentata or "chaparral": 1 part "chaparral" to 6 parts Grey Globemallow.
Healing
People pounded the Sphaeralcea incana roots and leaves and soaked them in water, making a sticky mass, to put on sores to stop bleeding. The preparation was used as a lotion for skin diseases. The roots and leaves are demulcent and emollient. People have used a poultice of fresh crushed leaves for skin injuries or inflammations, or to line their shoes or fill their socks while hiking. The dried powder was also used as a dusting powder. People used the root in the same manner as marshmallow root. It was also used as a tonic to improve appetite. It is said to soothe and heal all irritated body parts. It is considered very effective when mixed with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi for urinary tract problems.
Please note: use caution and consult a trained herbalist before using medicinal plants. Like pharmaceutical medications, they may not be well-studied, or may be harmful in the wrong amounts or for people with certain conditions. For example, Larrea tridentata - "chaparral" may be linked to kidney and liver damage, severe allergic reactions in some, and miscarriage and birth defects. Furthermore, medicinal herbs may interact with medicinal pharmaceuticals.
External links
- Aetna's InteliHealth website: A general search provides references on "chaparral" and other herbs.
This Malvales-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
