Practical
Plants

Micromeria chamissonis

Yerba Buena

a perennial member of the Micromeria genus in the family Labiatae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.1 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried leaves, steeped in boiling water, make a palatable mint-flavoured tea[4][6][8][9]. The dried leafy spines are used according to other reports[2][3].

Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is aphrodisiac, blood purifier, mildly digestive, febrifuge, sedative and tonic[6][8][9]. An infusion can be used in the treatment of insomnia, colic, upset stomachs, kidney problems, colds and fevers[9]. A decoction of the plant has been used to get rid of pinworms[9]. The decoction has also been used as an aphrodisiac[9]. A poultice of the warm leaves have been applied to the jaw, or the plant held in the mouth, as a treatment for toothache[9].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Aphrodisiac
Product or use
Blood purifier
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Kidney
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves have been placed in clothing as a perfume[9].

Product or use
Essential

Environment

Range
Western N. America - southern British Columbia to southern California.
Habitat
Coniferous woods[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Basal cuttings in early summer. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Division of the rooted prostrate stems in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers an open position in a well-drained soil[1]. Succeeds in poor soils[5]. Plants grow best and live longer when grown in an open sunny position and a dry sandy soil[7]. A prostate plant, the stems forming roots at the leaf axils wherever they come into contact with the soil[7]. The bruised leaves release a most refreshing lemony scent resembling verbena[7].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  6. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  10. Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00

    ↩

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