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Indian Tea (2)

Indian Tea, of the Thelesperma genus, is widely used as a beverage, for medicinal purposes and as a dye by Native American peoples. It also known as Greenthread for its narrow, dissected green leaves. Thelesperma have two rows of bracts; the inner one fused together, the outer ones stick out at 90 degrees. See also Stiff Greenthread.

Thelesperma megapotamicum

Hopi Tea Greenthread
Thelesperma megapotamicum

Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA: Cota, Indian Tea, Zuni Tea, Rayless Greenthread
Photo taken on: June 4, 2009
Location: Bandelier National Monument, NM
Life Zones: Plains and foothills
Habitat: Dry areas, roadsides

Grows to 2 ½ft with smooth, wiry stems and threadlike, divided leaves. There are no ray flowers, only disk flowers.

Flora of North America reference.

Thelesperma subnudum

Navajo Tea
Thelesperma subnudum

Family: Sunflower (Asteraceae)
AKA: Scapose Greenthread
Photo taken on: June 13, 2014
Location: Plaza Blanca, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones: Plains to montane
Habitat: Gravely areas, pinyon-juniper

Grows from 4"-16" tall, this plant was about 4". Flower heads ½"-1 ½" across with 8 ray flowers around the yellow disk flowers.

Flora of North America reference.

Yellow Round Clusters