Amsonia tomentosa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amsonia tomentosa |
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| Amsonia tomentosa - woolly form | |
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Amsonia
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| Species: |
tomentosa
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Amsonia tomentosa is a type of flowering plant. It is also known as woolly bluestar or gray amsonia. This plant grows naturally in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. You can find it in places like southern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, and the state of Chihuahua.
Contents
What Does Woolly Bluestar Look Like?
Amsonia tomentosa is a small, woody plant. It has many straight stems that usually grow less than half a meter (about 1.5 feet) tall.
This plant can appear in two main forms:
- One form is green and smooth, meaning it has no hairs.
- The other form is gray and "woolly," covered in soft hairs.
Its leaves are shaped like an oval but come to a point. They are usually about 3 centimeters (a little over an inch) long.
Flowers and Fruits
The flowers of the woolly bluestar are white. They often have a slight green or blue tint. Each flower is shaped like a tube at the bottom. The top part opens up flat with five petals. These flowers often grow together in a cluster called a cyme.
After the flowers, the plant produces fruits. These fruits are like small pods called follicles. They can sometimes split into sections, and each section holds a seed.
Varieties of Amsonia Tomentosa
Within the Amsonia tomentosa species, there are different types called varieties. These varieties have small differences, often based on where they grow.
- Amsonia tomentosa var. stenophylla is found in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, and Chihuahua.
- Amsonia tomentosa var. tomentosa grows in southern California, southern Nevada, and northwestern Arizona.
Traditional Uses
Long ago, the Zuni people, a Native American tribe, used the tomentosa variety of this plant. They would prepare a special paste from its root. This paste was used in a ceremony for rattlesnake bites.
