Psorothamnus emoryi

 Psorothamnus emoryi (Emory indigo bush) ( )

Fabaceae

  • Is a legume shrub with a Sonoran Desert distribution. Has leaves and stems that are whitish due to a thick matt of hairs that cover their surface. It favors desert flats, sandy washes, and dunes in creosote bush scrub at lower elevations of the Sonoran Desert and into the southern Mojave Desert. It generally forms a broad shrub no more than 3 feet in height but twice as wide with purple flowers dotted with white.  In addition to the scent present in all of the species of indigo bush, the foliage of Emory indigo bush will stain one’s hand a saffron color. “California Desert Plants, Philip W Rundel, Robert J Gustaffson, Michael E Kauffmann.”
  • This low, spreading shrub has grayish foliage which imparts a yellow stain when rubbed. It is common along coastal dunes and sandy places on the mainland from Tastiota northward and on Tiburon Island. Dye: the flowering stems and foliage were boiled in salt water and the resulting liquid used to dye basketry splints a pale yellowish color. However, basket splints stained prior to weaving soon became soft and broke. Therefore the leafy twigs and flowers were rubbed directly on a plain basket to stain it yellow. The color easily rubbed off, and this method of staining was seldom employed. Facepaint: the twigs were used as brushes for applying facepaint. Shelter: it was incorporated into roofing of brush houses because it is spineless. "People of the Desert and Sea, Ethnobotany of the Seri Indians".

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Lupinus arizonicus

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