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- Arizona Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus wislizeni)
Common name: Barrel Cactus, Candy Barrel, Compass Barrel, Fishhook Barrel Cactus Scientific name: Ferocactus wislizeni Description: Squat barrel-shaped cactus with long, curved spines, yellow to orange colored flowers, and yellow fruit. Dye: None. Other uses: The Seri and other groups use this particular barrel cactus as an emergency water source; Seris have survived on it for as long as a month. The Tohono O’odham eat the fruit as an emergency food (year-round). The Seri also eat the flowers and buds. - Beargrass (Nolina microcarpa)
Common names: Beargrass Scientific name: Nolina microcarpa Description: Beargrass is a large clumping grass with narrow fibrous leaves. Dye: None. Other uses: Widely used in basket and/or mat weaving. - Big Bursage (Ambrosia ambrosioides)
Common names: Bursage, Canyon Ragweed Scientific name: Ambrosia ambrosioides Description: A perennial shrub with large gray-green leaves triangular leaves; develops spiny burs (the fruit). Dye: None. Other uses: The Tohono O’odham (Papago) used canyon ragweed in sweat baths to relieve arthritic pain. No known uses among the Pima, however, the plants are largely associated with arroyos - a'akĭ. - Cholla (Cylindropuntia spp.)
Common names: Cholla, Chain Fruit Cholla; Jumping Cactus; Teddy Bear Cholla, Staghorn Cholla, among others Scientific name: Cylindropuntia spp. Description: A branching cactus with a woody base and segmented "branches" and excessive spines Fruits and flowers vary. Dye: None. Other uses: Various parts (bud, fruit, root) prepared as food/beverage by Acoma, Apache, Laguna, Cocopah, Hano, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Laguna, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Papago, Pima, Yavapai, and Zuni. Acoma use(d) spines for tattooing and sewing. Several groups also use(d) plant parts for medicinal/ceremonial/symbolic purposes. Cholla buds are still eaten by the Tohono O'odham (Papago). Archaeological evidence also suggests the Hohokam cultivated the plants near residences. - Christmas Cholla (Opuntia leptocaulis)
Common names: Christmas Cholla, Desert, Christmas Cactus; sometimes confused with Pencil Cholla Scientific name: Opuntia leptocaulis Description: A narrow-stemmed cactus with pale yellow flowers, small bright red fruit, and long golden spines. The fruit remains on the plant even in the winter. Dye: None. Other uses: May be prepared as a food or beverage by Acoma, Hopi, Laguna, Maricopa, Navajo, Papago, Pima, and Yavapai. Considered a famine food by Acoma/Laguna. - Cliffrose (Cowania mexicana)
Common names: Cliffrose, Quinine-bush Scientific name: Cowania mexicana Description: Small shrub with cream-colored, small rose-like flowers in the early summer and fall. Dye: When mixed with pounded juniper branches, cliffrose produces a tan dye. Other uses: shredded bark padding, arrows, and as medicine. - Creosote (Larrea tridentata)
Common name: Creosote, Greasewood, Covillea Scientific name: Larrea tridentata Description: Creosote is a tough desert evergreen shrub with flexible stems, small greasy or waxy green leaves, and small yellow flowers. The leaves have a distinctive smell, especially following rain. The Tohono O’odham (Papago) and Pima say it was the first plant created. It is the single most widely-used and frequently-employed medicinal herb in the Sonoran Desert. This plant is known as “greasewood” among the O’odham and many ranchers, but to most other people greasewood is Sarcobatus, a Mohave and Great Basin shrub. The Spanish name "gobernadora" is a political commentary - this fairly new name was invented in northern Mexico and meant to be associated with the already established name of "hediondilla" (little stinker). The Pima name is shegoi. Uses: Widely used for medicinal purposes by Acoma, Apache, Gosiute, Hopi, Jemez, Keres, Navajo, Pima, and Southern Paiute. Also used variously for construction, as tools (such as digging sticks and handles), ceremonial/ritual purposes, and carved into knitting needles (Navajo). The Seri smoked the galls like tobacco. The sap (or lac, actually a scale insect) is also used as a sealant (Pima and Papago). - Desert Broom (Baccharis sarothroides)
Common name: Desert Broom Scientific name; Baccharis sarothroides Description: An evergreen shrub with dense thin branches, fine green new-growth twigs, and small fall-blooming flowers. Dye: None. Other uses: As suggested by the English names, the thin terminal twigs have been bundled at the end of a pole to make a broom. Also used by the Pima to create a roof thatching. - Desert Cattail (Typhus dominguensis)
Common name: Cattail Scientific name: Typhus dominguensis Description: Tall reed-like perennial with long narrow leaves and soft, dense flower spikes. Uses: The Pima use the split, dry stalks for coiled basketry. The cattail flower, wupdaj, can be used to make pillows - mo'ochkud is 'pillow.' Both the roots and flowers/pollen are also edible. Pollen also played(s) a role in ceremony for many Native American people. - Desert Honeysuckle (Anisicanthus thurberi)
Common names: Desert Honeysuckle Scientific name: Anisicanthus thurberi Description: A woody shrub with oval somewhat hairy leaves and bright orange-red tubular flowers with petals that curl back from the center, exposing long similarly colored stamens and a white pistil. - Desert Mistletoe (Phoradendron californicum)
Common name: Desert Mistletoe Scientific name: Phoradendron californicum Description: A parasitic shrub that grows in ironwood, mesquite, palo verde, and acacia. The stems appear segmented because of the scale-like leaves. This shrub produces tiny fragrant flowers and small white berries with red seeds. The Pima, Seri, and Tohono O’odham (Papago) eat the berries (from mistletoe growing on specific tree species). May also be used for medicinal purposes - the Seri prepare a medicinal tea from the stems. - Dried Bottle Gourds (Lagenaria siceraria)
Common name: Calabash; Bottle Gourd; Long Melon; Opo Squash Scientific name: Lagenaria siceraria Description: Bottle gourds grow in a variety of shapes and sizes. The leaves are large and broad, flowers are white to yellow, and the mature gourds are typically shades of green. Uses: Often carved into bowls/cups,dippers,spoons, or masks - by Acoma, Apache, Cochiti, Havasupai, Hopi, Keres, Mohave, Navajo, Papago, Pima, and Yuma). Predominantly used as a container or utensil, however, also used for ceremonial/ritual purposes (as a trumpet and/or rattle). - Englemann Prickly Pear (Opuntia engelmannii)
Common names: Prickly Pear, Cactus Apple Scientific name: Opuntia engelmannii Description: Englemann prickly pear is the largest of Arizona's prickly pear species, with large pads and dark-red to purple pear-shaped fruits. Dye: Rose-colored from fruits. Other uses: Food and medicine. - Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex canescens)
Common names: Saltbush, chamisa Scientific name: Atriplex canescens Description: Common Southwest shrub with golden flowers in the summer and early fall, followed by winged seeds in late fall and winter. Dye: Bright yellow from the flowers and twigs. Other uses: in baking and as medicine. - Fremont Cottonwood (Populus fremontii)
Common name: Cottonwood Scientific name: Populus fremontii Description: A fast-growing deciduous tree with furrowed gray bark on mature tree parts and light green smooth bark on new stems. Leaves are broad based and roughly triangular, with toothed edges. Uses: Predominantly used as fuel and for construction. Parts may be processed for use as chewing gum (Apache, Acoma/Laguna, Navajo). Also used for a wide variety of medicinal/ceremonial/symbolic purposes (including hair/textile dyes), in addition to carvings (such as kachina dolls), basketry, and tool parts (esp. handles for lithic blades).