Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Eriogonum inflatum

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Kingdom
  
Family
  
Scientific name
  
Eriogonum inflatum

Rank
  
Species

Genus
  
Eriogonum

Higher classification
  
Eriogonum

Eriogonum inflatum Southwest Colorado Wildflowers Eriogonum inflatum

Similar
  
Eriogonum, Polygonaceae, Eriogonum deflexum, Chaenactis fremontii, Eschscholzia minutiflora

Eriogonum inflatum desert trumpet plant


Eriogonum inflatum, the desert trumpet, is a perennial plant of the family Polygonaceae. The plant possesses very small yellow or pink flowers and an inflated stem just below branching segments. Eriogonum: from the Greek erion, "wool", and gonu, "joint or knee", in reference to the hairy or woolly joints of some of the species of the genus, but not particularly inflatum. It is found in the Mojave Desert and other deserts.

Contents

Eriogonum inflatum Desert Trumpet Eriogonum inflatum

Stems

Eriogonum inflatum Eriogonum inflatum Desert Trumpet

The swelling of the stems was assumed to have been influenced by the presence of gall insects, most notably of the genus Odynerus. The female wasp produces a small hole on the inflated portion of the Desert Trumpet, packs the cavity with larvae and lays her eggs upon them, providing a food source, and a protected environment for the offspring. Irritation caused by this process was said to have enlarged the cavity over time. Recently, research performed by a world authority on the genus Eriogonum, Dr. J. L. Reveal of the University of Maryland, College Park, revealed the swollen stem of Eriogonum inflatum is due to high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the solid stem and seems to be related to gas regulation.

Eriogonum inflatum httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Some insects utilize the swollen stem as a larder, but the inflation is not caused by the larval feeding of gall insects.

Uses

Eriogonum inflatum Southwest Colorado Wildflowers Eriogonum inflatum

It is known that some Native American tribes that once inhabited the surrounding areas of the Las Vegas Valley (most commonly Paiute) would remove the stalk of E. inflatum at the base, and then cut the inflated bulb in half, producing a makeshift pipe. A mixture of Indian tobacco and mistletoe would be smoked primarily for leisure purposes.

Eriogonum inflatum FileEriogonum inflatum 4jpg Wikimedia Commons

References

Eriogonum inflatum Wikipedia


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