Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands
Navajo tea
Ch’ilgohwéhí’deí
(a.k.a. Thelesperma subnudum)
Navajo tea is native to Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada up through Idaho. It is a member of the aster family. The plants grow to a height of about one foot. The leaves are primarily basal, thin and long, growing in a tuft. Leaves are smooth in texture. Like other asters, the flowers have outer florets (called ray flowers) and a central disk with tiny flowers (called disk flowers).
Thelesperma subnudum, a close relative of Thelesperma megapotamicum, is also known as Navajo tea.
This plant was traditionally used to make tea and dye. Navajo tea flowers May to September and makes fruit July to September.
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