Hairy yerba santa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hairy yerba santa |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Eriodictyon
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| Species: |
trichocalyx
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Eriodictyon trichocalyx, also known as hairy yerba santa, is a cool flowering plant. It belongs to the borage family.
Where It Grows
This plant naturally grows in Southern California and Baja California in Mexico. You can find it in different places, like dry chaparral areas and open grasslands. It looks a lot like another plant called E. crassifolium, and they often grow in the same spots.
What It Looks Like
The hairy yerba santa is a shrub. It can grow straight up to about 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) tall. Its leaves are shaped like a spear or an oval. They can be up to 14 centimeters (about 5.5 inches) long. Some leaves are smooth and sticky, while others are very fuzzy.
The plant produces clusters of flowers. These flowers are shaped like bells. They can be white or a light purple color. When this plant grows in higher, cooler places, it often looks smaller. It might also seem thinner or a bit messy. Very large plants in these areas are usually old. They can have a thick, tree-like trunk at their base. They might also have many dead branches.
Traditional Uses
Native American people have used this plant for a long time. The Cahuilla people from California used it as a medicine. They used it to help with coughs, colds, and sore throats. It also helped with breathing problems like asthma. They used it for tuberculosis and stuffy noses too.
The Cahuilla also made it into a liniment (a rub for the skin) and a poultice (a soft, moist pack). They even used it in a tea bath. This bath helped with rheumatism, tired legs, fevers, and sores. The Chumash also used it as a liniment. They rubbed it on their feet and chests.
