Stegnosperma halimifolium

    

Stegnosperma halimifolium ( ) ( )

Phytolaccaceae

  • It is a common shrub along the shores of the Gulf including the major islands, and often ranges inland through arroyos and washes. The nearly evergreen foliage consists of simple, semi-succulent leaves. At various times of the year it bears fragrant, star-shaped flowers and juicy red fruit. Medicine: to relieve a headache, the leaves were cooked with leaves of Bursera microphylla and the mixture uses as shampoo. It was said that women going for firewood should carry leaves of this plant in their clothing or tied in their head scarves. If bitten by a rattlesnake, they were to chew the leaves to make a paste, then rub it on the bite. It was said that one would not die if treated in this manner. Oral Tradition: this plant features in the story of two brothers who became angry with their people and went to Baja California. The brothers were found by two giant women who turned them into giants by rubbing their feet, hands, and heads with whale brains. After a long time one brother said "brother, the end of the year has come. The plant (S. halimifolium) is bearing fruit. Let's return home". This story was well known among the Seri. The end of the year would have been June, and their home was Tiburon Island. Pigment: the bark of the root was sometimes substituted for Ambrosia dumosa in the making of Seri blue.. "People of the Desert and Sea, Ethnobotany of the Seri Indians".

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