Yerba Mansa
Scientific Name:
Anemopsis californica
Type:
Herbaceous Plant
Habitat:
Saline or alkaline soil in damp or wet places; examples include valley grassland, saltgrass flats, and desert fan palm oases
Range:
Mainly in the southwestern United States including, Texas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, California, and Arizona
Status:
No listed status
This species is
NATIVE
to the Truckee Meadows.
Identification:
Yerba mansa is a ground cover which can be recognized by its thick, dark leaves which lay close to the soil. Its leaves are alternate and simple, and have a spicy smell to them. Small white flowers bloom from the top of stems. The plant prefers moist soil and therefore is often found near stream beds or other damp natural areas.
Fast Facts:
The root of the plant has been used for medicinal purposes by many native people including the Wukchumni Yokuts, Kawaiisu, Paiute, Shoshone, and Pima. When soaked or boiled, it has been known to aid with colds, upset stomachs, and menstrual cramps. It has also been used as a wash to cleanse sores and wounds.
Wukchumni Yokuts have been known to burn yerba mansa periodically to “maintain their quality and abundance,” (USDA).
Yerba mansa grows through rhizomes which causes it to spread easily. Rhizomes are stems which grow continuously under the soil and put out lateral shoots which we see above ground. Another plant that grows this way is bamboo!
Sources:
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=anca10
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/home/plantProfile?symbol=ANCA10
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/cs_anca10.pdf
Image: BLM Nevada, https://www.flickr.com/photos/blmnevada/8952556517/, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/, cropped from original.
Image: Cliff Hutson, https://www.flickr.com/photos/themarmot/4693850652/, license https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/, cropped from original.
Contributor(s):
Bridget Mulkerin (research & content)
Alex Shahbazi (edits & page design)