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Marsh Fleabane
Pluchea camphorata (Pluchea purpurascens) Salt-marsh fleabane
Pluchea sericea (Pluchea purpurascens var. purpurascens) Arrowweed, Cachanilla Description Pluchea camphorata is a tall, herbaceous annual. Its upper, multi-branched portion accentuates its robust appearance. With age, the stems become reddish-brown. The leaves are large, serrated, and ovoid. They are of varying sizes and alternate along the stem; the lower leaves are petioled. The mature flower clusters form in large corymbs and are purplish-pink. The whole plant is somewhat sticky to the touch and has a strong camphor-like odor. When not in flower the plant may easily be confused with Camphorweed. The reddish stems are a useful distinguishing characteristic in that they are absent in Camphorweed.
Pluchea sericea is a thicket-forming shrub. Its wand-like stems can reach 10 feet in height, but usually are less. The leaves are lanceolate, have a prominent mid-vein, and alternate along the upper stems. There is a very distinctive coating of leaf and twig hairs on the newer branch growth. These appressed hairs coat the plant making it somewhat silvery in appearance. The flower clusters are situated at the branch ends and are reddish-purple to lavender. Moreover, like others in the Sunflower family, the mature seeds are wind carried by their delicate tufts.
Distribution Pluchea camphorata grows throughout most of the United States. In the west it is typically found in low-elevation, saline-alkaline moist soils. Look to the edges of slow moving rivers, around ponds, lakesides, and on moist alluvial fans.
Pluchea sericea is found in low-lying moist soils, along drainages, streams, and on river and pond sides. It is well distributed throughout the low elevation southwest. It is found throughout southern California, east to southern Nevada, Utah, southern Colorado, south through much of Arizona, along the Rio Grande in New Mexico, and finally to the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. Often both species are found side by side.
Chemistry Flavonoids, triterpenes and sesquiterpenes
Medicinal Uses The uses of Pluchea camphorata and P. sericea generally overlap, although different parts of the plants are used. P. camphorata, being the more stimulating of the two, moves blood to surface tissues more so than P. sericea. The roots of P. sericea and the herb portion of P. camphorata made into various topical preparations are decidedly antiinflammatory and antioxidant to damaged tissues. Both plants are well applied to wounds. They facilitate healing, and resolve fluid build up and swelling.
Internally both plants are sedating to gastrointestinal tract cramps associated with diarrhea. The tea, used longer-term, is diminishing to irritative-inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract walls, such as gastritis or colitis. If feverish, the hot tea of P. camphorata is diaphoretic; as a cold tea, it is diuretic. The plant may also stimulate menses as well as sedate period cramps.
Indications Wounds/cuts/abrasions (external) GI tract cramps with associated diarrhea GI tract inflammation Fevers, dry
Collection Gather the roots of Pluchea sericea and the herbage of P. camphorata, minus the flowers if allergic to Sunflower family pollen.
Preparations and Dosage FPT/DPT (60% alcohol): 30-60 drops 3 times daily Leaf/root tea: 4-6 ounces 3 times daily External preparations: as needed
Cautions Do not use either plant internally during pregnancy since fluid dynamics and uterine vascularity are shifted by the plant. |