Genus Eriodictyon Higher classification Eriodictyon | Order (unplaced) Subfamily Hydrophylloideae Scientific name Eriodictyon crassifolium Rank Species | |
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Similar Eriodictyon, Eriodictyon californicum, Eriodictyon trichocalyx, Hydrophylloideae, Malosma | ||
Eriodictyon crassifolium, or thickleaf yerba santa, is a shrub in the borage family.
Contents
Description
Eriodictyon crassifolium is a hairy to woolly shrub growing one to three meters tall. The leaves are up to 17 centimeters long by 6 wide, gray-green with a coat of woolly hairs, and sometimes toothed along the edges. The inflorescence is a cluster of bell-shaped lavender flowers.
Distribution
It is endemic to California, where it grows in several types of habitat, including chaparral, in the coastal and inland hills and mountains, mainly in the Southern California part of the state.
Use in traditional medicine
It was traditionally used by the Chumash people to keep airways open for proper breathing.
References
Eriodictyon crassifolium Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA