Psilostrophe tagetina (Nutt.) Greene

Nomenclature and Classification

Psilostrophe tagetina, formally named Psilostrophe tagetina (Nutt.) Greene, is a flowering plant species belonging to the daisy family. It is commonly known by the name woolly paperflower.

Native Distribution

This species is native to Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah in the United States, as well as to northwestern Mexico.

Traditional Use Overview

Multiple Indigenous groups of the American Southwest have traditional uses for this plant.

Ramah Navajo Medicinal Uses

The Ramah Navajo use a strong infusion of the plant as a cathartic; this infusion is also used to treat stomachache, as an eyewash, and as a lotion to relieve itching. A cold infusion can be gargled for a sore throat, and a poultice made from the plant's leaves can also be applied to treat this condition.

Dye Production Use

Keres, Zuni, and White Mountain Apache peoples use the flowers of Psilostrophe tagetina to produce yellow dye.

Additional Zuni Medicinal Use

The Zuni additionally prepare a compound poultice from the plant's root to treat rattlesnake bite.