grassy tarweed
Madia gracilis
Indigenous peoples, including the Miwok, harvested the protein-rich seeds of this plant, roasting and grinding them into a highly nutritious, peanut-butter-like meal called pinole.
- Scientific name
- Madia gracilis
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Asterales › Asteraceae › Madia
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Dry, open grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral, and disturbed roadsides.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis, drawing water and nutrients from the soil).
- Range
- Western North America, California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia
- Size
- 10 to 100 cm (4 to 40 inches) tall
- Lifespan
- 1 year (annual)
- Active
- crepuscular
- Threats
- Invasive weed competition, urban development, and intensive livestock overgrazing.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can safely observe this plant at any distance. Touching it is safe, but be aware that its glandular hairs exude a highly sticky, aromatic resin that can easily stain clothing and skin. If you get the sticky sap on your hands, wash with soap and water or use an oil-based cleanser.
Madia gracilis is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names grassy tarweed , slender tarweed , and gumweed madia .
Photo: Amy, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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