Thelesperma subnudum, commonly known as Navajo tea,[2] is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is found from west central Canada to central United States. It grows in openings in pinyon/juniper or yellow pine forests.
| Thelesperma subnudum | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Thelesperma |
| Species: | T. subnudum
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| Binomial name | |
| Thelesperma subnudum | |
| Synonyms | |
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Description edit
Thelesperma subnudum is a perennial herb that typically grows between 10 and 40 cm (3.9 and 15.7 in) tall. The cauline leaves are "mostly crowded over proximal 1/4(–1/2) of plant heights".[3] The calyculi are "of 7–9 deltate to lance-linear bractlets 2–4+ mm". There are 0 or 8 ray florets per flower head. The ray laminae are yellow, typically 12 to 20 mm (0.47 to 0.79 in) long. The disc corollas are yellow, sometimes with red-brown nerves. The cypselae are 5 to 7 mm (0.20 to 0.28 in) long.[2][3]
It typically blooms from May to September.[3]
Distribution and habitat edit
It is native to Alberta, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.[4][3][5]
Habitat edit
It grows at elevations of 1000–2900 meters from sea level in openings in pinyon/juniper or yellow pine forests.[3]
Uses edit
The Navajo have used the flower to produce a yellow to orange dye solution for dyeing woolen yarns.[6]
Taxonomy edit
Varieties edit
As of July 2023, Plants of the World Online has 2 varieties listed for this taxon:[4]
- Thelesperma subnudum var. subnudum – west central Canada to central United States
- Thelesperma subnudum var. maliterrimum S.L.Welsh & N.D.Atwood – Utah
References edit
- ^ "Thelesperma pubescens Dorn | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ a b "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center – The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ a b c d e "Thelesperma subnudum – FNA". floranorthamerica.org. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ a b "Thelesperma subnudum A.Gray | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ SAR School for Advanced Research, Navajo Cultural Uses of Native Plants in the Four Corners Region on YouTube, 2016, minutes 10:25–12:11.
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