Arrowweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arrowweed |
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Pluchea
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P. sericea
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| Pluchea sericea Nutt.
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Pluchea sericea, also known as arrowweed or Cachanilla (in Mexico), is a special type of shrub. It's an evergreen plant, meaning it stays green all year round. This plant has underground stems that help it spread.
Arrowweed loves to grow in areas near rivers or streams. You can find it in the lower Sonoran Desert and nearby places. It's very common in the lower Colorado River valley, which goes through California, Nevada, and Arizona. It also grows as far east as Texas and in northern Mexico. In these areas, arrowweed often forms very thick, hard-to-walk-through bushes.
How People Used Arrowweed
Long ago, Native Americans used arrowweed for many things. They used it as a medicine to help with stomach problems like diarrhea. They also used it to make an eyewash.
Besides medicine, arrowweed had other important uses. People used its strong stems for thatching, which means making roofs from plant material. As its name suggests, it was also used for making arrows. The plant's root was even eaten as food.
See also
In Spanish: Cachanilla para niños
