About Pluchea sericea (Nutt.) Coville
Pluchea sericea (Nutt.) Coville, commonly known as arrowweed, or called cachanilla in Mexico, is a rhizomatous evergreen perennial shrub that grows in riparian areas. It is found in the lower Sonoran Desert and surrounding regions, including the lower Colorado River valley spanning California, Nevada, and Arizona, extending east to Texas, and also occurs in northern Mexico. It grows along watercourses, and frequently forms dense, impenetrable thickets. Native Americans historically used this plant for medicinal purposes as an antidiarrheal and an eyewash. Additional traditional uses include thatching, arrow making, and food, particularly its edible root. The gum resin that exudes from the plant was used by the Papago Indians as mending glue to repair broken pottery.
