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Anemopsis californica

Anemopsis californica (Nutt.) Hook. & Arn.

Yerba Mansa, Yerba-mansa, Lizard Tail

Saururaceae (Lizard's-Tail Family)

Synonym(s): Anemopsis californica var. subglabra

USDA Symbol: anca10

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Woolly stems, 4-30 in. high, are subtended by large, waxy, dull-green basal leaves that lie flat on the ground. Stems root as they grow along the surface, forming an unusual, solid ground cover. Spikes of odd, whitish flowers occur at the top of the flowering stem. The plant exudes a unique fragrance on warm days.

Yerba is an alternate spelling of hierba, the Spanish word for herb or weed. Mansa in Spanish means "mild" or "tame". The whole name might mean "tame weed" or "mild weed" or possibly as has been suggested, "herb of the tamed Indian." The aromatic rootstock has been put to many medicinal uses: treatment of abrasions, cuts, and burns; a cure for a variety of gastrointestinal upsets; a poultice for rheumatism; a tonic for blood purification.

From the Image Gallery

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , KS , NM , NV , OK , OR , TX , UT
Native Distribution: Santa Clara Co., CA & the Sacramento valley to NV, s.w. UT & TX, s. to Mex.; introduced in e. CO
Native Habitat: Wet, alkaline marsh & creek edges below 6500 ft.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Wet or moist alkaline soils.

Benefit

Use Food: Leaves used in teas.
Use Medicinal: The aromatic rootstock has been put to many medicinal uses: treatment of abrasions, cuts, and burns; a cure for a variety of gastrointestinal upsets; a poultice for rheumatism; a tonic for blood purification.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Sow seed.
Seed Treatment: No treatment.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			OBL			FACW				OBL

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Tohono Chul Park, Inc. - Tucson, AZ
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 1218 - Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California's Natural Resources (2006) Anderson, M. Kat

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Anemopsis californica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Anemopsis californica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Anemopsis californica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-18
Research By: TWC Staff

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