Science notes



Scorpion Weed




SCORPION WEED - Phacelia sp. Miltitzia sp. Bueschelblume, Phacelia, Phacelie, Phlox, Scorpionweed, Wild Heliotrope. Russian: Fatseliya. Some species are also called Caterpillar Weed. The flowers of some of these plants resemble Fiddleneck, but they have purple. blue, or white flowers instead of orange. Contact with species having glandular pubescence, such as this one, causes dermatitis.

P. bombycina. Wild Heliotrope, a false designation. True wild heloptrope smells better and has flowers pale to white in color.

P. campanularia (P. minor, whitlavia, Whitlavia m., grandiflora): California Blue Bell, Desert Bell, Wild Canterbury Bell. This ornamental has intense blue flowers.

P. congesta: Tomasita. This ornamental has lavender flowers.

P. coerulea (P. crenulata, ambigua, corrugata, invenusta, minutiflora): Heliotrope Phacelia, Wild Heliotrope. Seri: Cahaahazxot ctam "male desert marigold", Najmis. This species has an unpleasant odor resembling onion.

P. grandiflora (Eutoca g., speciosa). The flowers of this ornamental are lavender with violet veins.

P. integrifolia (P. palmeri, douglasii, stellaris, E. d.): Palmer Phacelia, Scalloped Phacelia. Dine: Azeentchiiitshoh "big medicine that irritates the skin".

P. magellanica (P. heterophylla, mutabilis, nemoralis, virgata, californica, imbricata, hastata, leucophylla, leptosepala, frigida, compacta, dasyphylla): California Phacelia, Changeable Phacelia, Purple Fiddleneck, Rock Phacelia, Shade Phacelia, Silverleaf Phacelia, Varileaf Phacelia, Virgate Phacelia, Whiteleaf Phacelia, Woodland Phacelia. Kashaya: Thunkuhtu. Kawaiisu: Tuhukidibi "black", Tuhkwidi tinaagadi "having a black root". The roots gathered in summer may be stored three years. Diuretic. The decoction is drunk warm for weakness and upset stomach, coughs and colds. The fresh leaves are crushed and the juice rubbed in cold sores or impetigo. The flowers attract bees. It is an ornamental.

P. ramosissima (P. decumbens, suffrutescens, bifurca, polystachya, hispida, eximia, cicutaria, heterosepala, tanacetifolia, cryptantha, eremica, distans, scabrella, arthurii, arthuri, leptostachya, commixta, umbrosa, ammophila): subsinuata, cinerea): Branched Phacelia, Branching Phacelia, Caterpillar Phacelia, Common Phacelia, Fern Phacelia, Fiddle Neck, Wild Heliotrope. Kawaiisu: Yuhwitibi, Yugwitibi, Sawidoovi. The stem and leaves are gathered in the spring before the flowers appear. Lay them on a flat rock and put hot rocks on top, and then more plant. Sprinkle water on the rocks to steam them. Put on more hot rocks as needed. The leaves can be prepared more traditionally as spring greens. They can be boiled. The boiled root yields a liquid drunk for gonorrhea. Emetic. It is supposed to be a treatment for the stomach problems that accompany gonorrhea.

P. viscida (E. viscida): Musgrave, is grown for its blue flowers.

Nemophila sp. Hainblume, Nemophila, Nemophile. Russian: Nemofila.

N. menziesii (N. insignis, atomaria): Baby Blue Eyes, Pale Baby Blue Eyes. This is an ornamental with light blue flowers.



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