Indian Tea (2)
Indian Tea, of the Thelesperma genus, is widely used as a beverage, for medicinal purposes and as a dye by Native American peoples. It also known as Greenthread for its narrow, dissected green leaves. Thelesperma have two rows of bracts; the inner one fused together, the outer ones stick out at 90 degrees. See also Stiff Greenthread.
Hopi Tea Greenthread
Thelesperma megapotamicum
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Cota, Indian Tea, Zuni Tea, Rayless Greenthread
Photo taken on:
June 4, 2009
Location:
Bandelier National Monument, NM
Life Zones:
Plains and foothills
Habitat:
Dry areas, roadsides
Grows to 2 ½ft with smooth, wiry stems and threadlike, divided leaves. There are no ray flowers, only disk flowers.
Flora of North America reference.
Navajo Tea
Thelesperma subnudum
Family:
Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA:
Scapose Greenthread
Photo taken on:
June 13, 2014
Location:
Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Gravely areas, pinyon-juniper
Grows from 4"-16" tall, this plant was about 4". Flower heads ½"-1 ½" across with 8 ray flowers around the yellow disk flowers.
Flora of North America reference.