Growth Form: Low growing forb/herb; mounding plants from many slender branches; forms clumps or mounds of plants connected by underground rhizomes; stems numerous with many branches, surfaces covered with short, soft, erect hairs (pubescent; sometimes glandular.
Leaves: Green; short, narrow, scant, heath-like, arranged alternately on stems; leaves without supporting stalks or stems (sessile); densely overlapping; leaf blades linear to oblanceolate.
Flower Color: White with yellow disk flowers; flowers small, both ray and discoidflorets; flower heads singles (solitary) on numerous slender branches; flat-topped inflorescence; fruit is a cypsela with a white pappus of barbed stiff hairs.
Flowering Season: March or April to August, September, October; earlier and later in adjacent states.
Elevation: 2,000 to 7,500 feet (600-2,280 m).
Habitat Preferences: Mid to upper Sonoran Desert, Juniper to Pinyon-juniper woodland communities, grasslands, Creosote flats, open sites over shale, gypsum, limestone, open dry mesas and dry rocky slopes and hillsides and along roadsides.
Recorded Range:Chaetopappa ericoides is found in the southwest part of North America in AZ, CA, CO, KS, NE, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT, WY. In Arizona, this species is found in both the northern and southern parts of the state. It is also native throughout most of Mexico.
North America species range map for Chaetopappa ericoides:
North American range map courtesy of Virginia Tech, Dept. of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation
Click image for full size map
Genus Information: In North America there are 8 species and 10 accepted taxa overall for Chaetopappa. World wide, The Plant List includes 11 accepted species names and includes a further 8 of infraspecific rank for the genus.
The genus Chaetopappa was published by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1836.
In the Southwestern United States: Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah each have 1 species of Chaetopappa, New Mexico has 2 species and Texas has 8 species. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.
Comments: As evidenced in the recorded range above, and Flora of North America, this species is "widespread and highly variable in the type and amount of pubescence as well as other features." Perhaps this species has acquired, or is in the process of acquiring more facultative strategies which enable it to expand its geographic area beyond that of the typically more limited obligate desert species.
It thrives in much larger geographic areas, and in higher elevations than most desert species.
Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock
Tiny seeds of Chaetopappa ericoides may possibly be eaten by birds and small mammals.
Special Value to Native Bees, Butterflies and Insects
Chaetopappa ericoides flowers may be visited by butterflies, bees and other small insects.
Etymology:
The genus Chaenactis (Chaetopap'pa:) is from the Greek words chaete or chaite, "bristle, mane, crest or foliage," and pappos, "pappus, fluff or downy appendage," and meaning loose, flowing hair from the pappus of barbed bristles.
The genus Chaetopappa was published by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1836.
The species epithet ericoides (erico'ides:) means resembling Erica (from the genus Erica, which means "heath") or heath, thus the common names Heath-leaved Chaetopappa, Rose Heath.
Ethnobotany
Rose Heath is used for many purposes by southwestern United States indigenous peoples.
Havasupai Drug, Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Aid; Decoction of whole plant or roots taken or used as a wash by adults and children for digestive troubles.
Hopi Drug, Nose Medicine, Panacea and Stimulant; Infusion of root used to 'aid a sore nose.' and root used as a universal panacea; plant used as a stimulant.
Hopi Drug, Pediatric Aid; Infusion of herb used to 'quiet the baby.'
Hopi Drug, Reproductive Aid; Plant used to determine the sex of a child. This is quite an ambiguous reference. The text says this: 'This plant is used by the Hopi Indians as genetic factor among the Indian clans. Genetic factor refers to the choice of a small (female) or large (male) plant to assist in determining the sex of a child.' It is, therefore, unclear if the plant is used to detect whether the fetus is male or female, or to cause the child to be one or the other. Elsewhere, this author tells us that the Hopi make a decoction of the leaves of juniper 'which is said to be a laxative and is taken by women who desire a female child.' This suggests that the second possibility may be the correct one, with administration of large plants if you want a son and small ones if you want a daughter.
Keres, Western Drug, Antirheumatic (External); Poultice or infusion of plant used for swellings.
Navajo, Kayenta Drug, Kidney and Urinary Aid; Infusion of plant with sumac berries taken for kidney disease; infusion of plant with sumac berries taken for bladder disease.
Zuni Drug, Gynecological Aid; Warm infusion of plant taken to 'hasten parturition.'
See complete listing of ethno-botanical uses at Native American Ethnobotany, University of Michigan, Dearborn.
