Chaetopappa ericoides is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae known by the common names rose heath and heath-leaved chaetopappa. It is native to the southwestern and western Great Plains regions of the United States, plus northern Mexico. It is found in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, and Nuevo León.Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution mapSEINET Southwestern Biodiversity, Arizona Chapter, Chaetopappa ericoides photos, description, range map
Chaetopappa ericoides is a petite perennial herb reaching heights between 5 and 15 centimeters (2–6 inches). The hairy, glandular stem grows from a woody caudex and branches several times. The green leaves are up to about a centimeter long and are glandular and bristly. The tiny flower head is 1 or 2 centimeters wide with white or pinkish ray florets around a center of yellow disc florets. Each head has a base of pointed purple-tipped greenish phyllaries. The fruit is a hairy, round achene with a bristly white pappus.Flora of North America, Rose-heath, Chaetopappa ericoides (Torrey) G. L. NesomNuttall, Thomas 1840. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, new series 7: 299 as Eucephalus ericoides
Uses Among the Zuni people, an infusion of whole pulverized plant applied is rubbed on the body for the pain from a cold, swellings, and rheumatism. A warm infusion of the plant is also taken to hasten parturition.Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30, p.55
References
External links USDA Plants Profile forChaetopappa ericoides (rose heath) {http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Chaetopappa+ericoides Calflora Database: Chaetopappa ericoides (Rose heath, Heath leaved chaetopappa)] Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Chaetopappa ericoides Southwestern Colorado Wildflowers Czech Botany: Chaetopappa ericoides photos — captions in Czech.
UC Calphotos Photos gallery of Chaetopappa ericoides