Encelia farinosa (commonly known as brittlebush, brittlebrush, or incienso), is a common desert shrub of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has a variety of historical uses.

Description

Brittlebush grows up to 30 to 150 cm tall, with fragrant leaves 3 – long, ovate to deltoid, and silvery tomentose. Arranged in loose panicles above the leafy stems, the capitula are 3–3.5 cm in diameter. Each has 8–18 orange-yellow ray florets, 6-15 mm in length, and yellow or purple-brown disc florets. The fruit measures 3–6 mm and no pappus is visible. During dry seasons the plant goes drought deciduous, shedding all of its foliage, relying on the water stored in its thick stems. Encelia californica is similar, but has only one flower head per stalk.

Chemistry

The leaves contain 3-Acetyl-6-methoxybenzaldehyde.

Taxonomy

Varieties

Two varieties of E. farinosa are recognized by Flora of North America. Varieties formerly included E. f. var. radians, now regarded as a separate species E. radians Brandegee.

Etymology

The common name "brittlebush" comes from the brittleness of its stems. Other names include hierba del vaso (Spanish) and cotx (Seri). Another Spanish name for it is incienso because the dried sap was burned by early Spanish missions in the New World as incense.

Distribution and habitat

Encelia farinosa is common in the southwestern United States (California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada) and northern Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Hidalgo). It can be found in a variety of habitats from dry, gravelly slopes to open, sandy washes up to 1000 m above sea level. It requires a very sunny position in a deep very well-drained soil, and minimal winter frost. It does well in cultivation often being used for border, erosion control, ground cover and massing. Recently the plant has spread dramatically in areas not natural to its distribution in large part because Caltrans has begun to use it in hydroseeding.

Uses

Brittlebush has a long history of uses by indigenous and pioneer peoples, including: