Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures by color ( Yellow ), 0 by htop

htop wrote:
Greenthread, Plains Greenthread, Threadleaf Thelesperma, Navajo Tea, False Golden Wave (Thelesperma filifolium), Asteraceae Family, Texas native, annual or short-lived perennial, blooms in March through June and often into the fall

It can be found growing along roadsides and on dry hills in the South Texas Plains and Edwards Plateau. The eight ray flowers are yellow and the numerous disk flowers are reddish to dark brown. The leaves are scattered along the whole stem and the blades are very thin. It does not appear to be ravaged by deer. It is also a good larval and nectar plant for butterflies and is a larval food for the dainty sulphur butterfly.

Being used to make a beverage tea which is sometimes used medicinally by several Native American tribes, especially those in the southwest the names Navajo Tea, Hopi Tea, or Indian tea reflect its use by these populations. But, its main use is in the Southwest. How to make the tea: (1) harvest the plant just as the flower buds open, cutting it to within 2-3 inches above the soil and then wash the plants. (2) Let it dry. Fold the dried plant into uniform 4 inch lengths. (3) Bundled with string into units of about 6 grams each for storage and use. (4) Boil a bundle of the herb in about 6 cups of water for about 5 minutes. A sweetener can be added. The taste is somewhat like that of standard green tea, but has a very slight aromatic taste. It may be enjoyed without any sweetener.

For more information see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/68433/index.html