Ruellia californica ( ) ( )

Acanthaceae

• This small shrub has slender, brittle stems, and showy lavender flowers. It is common in the southern part of the Seri region and certain parts of Tiburon Island, especially on rocky bajadas and hills near the mountains. R. peninsularis from the Baja California peninsula is similar and closely related to R. californica but differs in having dull oily glandular-pubescent foliage and not glabrate foliage which is glutinous and somewhat shiny. These characters might have an effect on the medicinal and smoking qualities of the plant. Food: nectar was sucked from the base of the corolla. Medicine: tea made from the leaves was taken for dizziness, and put on the face of one who was tired out. The same liquid was used as shampoo to relieve a headache, and also as eyedrops. As another means to cure a headache, the leaves or leafy branches were put on moderately hot or warm coals; then the toasted leaves were put in an olla with warm water and the resulting tea was drunk. To counteract dizziness, fresh leaves were soaked in water, and the resulting yellowish water was used to wash the face. After the bark was removed, the root was boiled and the resulting tea was drunk to cure a cold or a stuffy nose. Smoking: smoking the plant was said to "make one crazy" or cause hallucinations, although it was not as strong as Datura. It was smoked, others said the flowers were smoked. Rosa Flores broke the calyx and ovary off the flower and showed us that only the corolla was dried and smoked. "People of the Desert and Sea, Ethnobotany of the Seri Indians".