Eriodictyon

Eriodictyon angustifolium

Eriodictyon is a plant genus of the subfamily of the water -leaved plants ( Hydrophylloideae ) in the family of Boraginaceae ( Boraginaceae ). Its distribution area is located in the southwestern United States and adjacent areas in Mexico. Some Eriodictyon types are used in Indian folk medicine. The scientific name is derived from the Greek words erion ριον for wool and δ_χτνον diktyon for safety net, this refers to the densely matted hairs on the underside of leaves. As for many other plant species is the Spanish common name Yerba Santa, " Holy Plant ".

Description

Eriodictyon species are evergreen, branched, vigorous shrubs. The plant parts are hairless hairy to woolly or glandular. The change-constant leaves are thick, petiolate or sessile with a smooth or toothed margin.

In terminal, branched inflorescences many flowers are borne. The hermaphrodite flowers are fünfzählig with double perianth. The unequal sepals are fused only at their base. The purple to purple or white petals are fused funnel - up tubular and usually longer than the sepals. The stamens do not protrude beyond the crown. The stamens arise in the base of the corolla tube. Two carpels are fused into a superior ovaries. There are two to four ovules in each ovary chamber.

The carpels divided into four distinct dark brown to black, ovoid, angular to more or less winged nutlets.

Dissemination

The distribution of most species is located in the southwestern United States and adjacent areas in Mexico. A larger area inhabited Eriodictyon angustifolium, which extends into the northeastern United States.

Species

Species ( selection):

• Eriodictyon altissimum P.V.Wells
• Eriodictyon angustifolium Nutt.
• Eriodictyon californicum ( Hook. & Arn. ) Torr.
• Eriodictyon capitatum Eastw.
• Eriodictyon crassifolium Benth.
• Eriodictyon tomentosum Benth.
• Eriodictyon trichocalyx A.Heller ( Syn: Eriodictyon lanatum (fire ) Abrams )