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Larrea tridentata
  • Creosote Bush

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Larrea genus in the family Zygophyllaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 8
    Zone 8
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Larrea tridentata has 0 edible uses listed
Larrea tridentata has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The flower buds are pickled in vinegar and used as a caper substitute[1].

The stems and leaves are a tea substitute[1]. The twigs are chewed to alleviate thirst[2][1].

A resin is obtained from the leaves and twigs, it delays or prevents oils and fats from becoming rancid[1].

Unknown part

Condiment
Tea

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Larrea tridentata.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Creosote bush was widely used by various North American Indian tribes. A decoction of the leaves was used to treat diarrhoea and stomach troubles whilst the young twigs were used to treat toothache and a poultice of the leaves was used to treat chest complaints and as a wash for skin problems[3]. It continued to be widely used as a treatment for rheumatic disease, venereal infections, urinary infections and certain types of cancer, especially leukaemia until its sale was banned in North America due to concern over its potential toxic effect upon the liver[3]. There have been a number of cases of acute or sub-acute hepatitis attributed to the use of this herb and so its internal use is not recommended until further research has been carried out[3].

A tea made from the leaves is used as an expectorant and pulmonary antiseptic[4].

Some N. American Indian tribes heated the shoot tips of this plant and dripped the sap (probably the resin[K]) into tooth cavities to treat toothache[4].

Unknown part

Expectorant
Odontalgic

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings of new growth in spring in a frame[5].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Larrea tridentata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a moderately fertile moisture-retentive soil in full sun or light shade[5].

This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[5].

The plant is resinous and aromatic[5].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Larrea tridentata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Larrea tridentata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Larrea tridentata
Genus
Larrea
Family
Zygophyllaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
[3][4]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[5]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
8
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    4 x meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.4 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.35.4 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

    "image:Larrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Larrea_tridentata&oldid=78112"
    Facts about "Larrea tridentata"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyZygophyllaceae +
    Belongs to genusLarrea +
    Has binomial nameLarrea tridentata +
    Has common nameCreosote Bush +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +
    Has edible useCondiment + and Tea +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone8 +
    Has imageLarrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has mature height4 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useExpectorant + and Odontalgic +
    Has primary imageLarrea tridentata Furnace Creek.jpg +
    Has search namelarrea tridentata + and creosote bush +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameLarrea tridentata +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Larrea tridentata +, Larrea tridentata +, Larrea tridentata + and Larrea tridentata +