Thelesperma gracile
| Thelesperma gracile | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Thelesperma gracile
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in situ, only just covering the seed. In dry weather the seed should be watered in.
Division might be possible.
Cultivation: Succeeds in any moderately fertile well-drained soil in full sun[1].
This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, usually requiring cold greenhouse treatment[2].
Range: Central and western N. America - Nebraska and Wyoming to Texas, Mexico and Arizona.
Habitat: Dry plains, prairies and roadsides[3].
Edibility: Flower buds[4]. No further details are given.
A tea is made from the leaves and dried flowers[5][6][7]. The flowers and leaf tips are dried in an oven and then boiled for a very short time[8]. When well made it is delicious, with just a hint of mint in its aftertaste[4].
Usage: A fine reddish-brown basketry and textile dye is obtained from the plant[8]. No more details.
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Whiting, Alfred. Ethnobotany of the Hopi. North Arizona Society of Science and Art, 1939.