| Eriogonum
is an immense genus, with over 100 species in California alone. Some species
are annuals and others are perennial. Eriogonums are phosporus
concentrators and are high in this mineral. Eriogonum comes in
three basic shapes.
Bush types are found
in foothills and chaparral of California from Monterey County and Inyo
county, south to Baja California, and east to Nevada and Arizona. They
are woody towards the base and reach 2 - 4 feet in height. Tight bundles
of green, rosemary-like leaves are on the stems. Pink-white flowers form
compound umbels on skinny stems above the leaves. The second bush type
has short, woody branching stems with downy thin leaves and white flowers.
As the season progresses, both bush types of Eriogonum take on
a red-brown color in the stems, flowers and leaves. |
| The
second kind of Eriogonum has many lower basal rosettes, with long,
usually leafless, flowering stalks,covered in white, pink, or yellow umbels
or pom-poms of flowers. This type is found throughout the West, generally
in the mountains and foothills.
The third type of
Eriogonum is an annual. They are generally found in the desert,
east of the Sierra. They have few basal leaves and intricate, lacy branches
with hundreds of inconspiciuous pink flowers.
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Eriogonum
features in both the native American and Mexican herbal traditions. It has
a variety of uses including an anti-inflamatory, diuretic, and eye wash.
In his book, "Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West", Michael Moore
says "Sick headaches, accompanied by coated tongue and pain predominantly
around the eyes, will sometimes respond to the hot tea, especially when
it is the result of consuming too much booze or too much fried port rind
and (bleh) generic lite beer while watching Monday night (nite?) football."
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