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

thumb|Brittlebush flower, in [[Sabino Canyon, Tucson, Arizona]]

Brittlebush grows up to tall, with fragrant leaves long, ovate to deltoid, and silvery tomentose. Arranged in loose panicles above the leafy stems, the capitula are in diameter. Each has 8–18 orange-yellow ray florets, in length,

Encelia californica is similar, but has only one flower head per stalk.

Taxonomy

Varieties

thumb|var. phenicodonta

Two varieties of E. farinosa are recognized by Flora of North America.

  • Encelia farinosa var. farinosa – yellow disc florets
  • Encelia farinosa var. phenicodonta <small>(Blake) I.M.Johnston</small> – purple-brown disc florets

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

thumb|E. farinosa in California's Menifee Hills

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 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:

  • Glue: The resin collected from the base of the plant, yellowish to brown, can be heated and used as a glue. The O'odham and Seri use it for hafting, to hold points on arrows and harpoons.
  • Gum: The Sells area Tohono O'odham children use upper stem resin as a passable chewing gum.
  • Toothbrush: Oldtime cowboys used brittlebush stem as a fine toothbrush.<!-- Simply select a largish branch and peel off the bitter bark, no need for toothpaste. --> and used it as a chest pain reliever by heating the gum and applying it to the chest.
  • Waterproofing: It has been used to waterproof containers.