Sand-aster
Corethrogyne filaginifolia
Synonyms: Corethrogyne flagellaris, Corethrogyne californica var. obovata, Corethrogyne californica var. tomentella, Corethrogyne incana var. rigida, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. virgata, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. glomerata, Corethrogyne californica var. spathulata, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. bernardina, Corethrogyne linifolia, Corethrogyne californica var. rigida, Corethrogyne virgata var. bernardina, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. linifolia, Corethrogyne sessilis, Corethrogyne rigida, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. typica, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. peirsonii, Corethrogyne caespitosa, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. robusta, Corethrogyne viscidula var. greenei, Corethrogyne californica var. lyonii, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. rigida, Corethrogyne floccosa, Corethrogyne californica var. recurva, Corethrogyne lavandulacea, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. viscidula, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. brevicula, Corethrogyne californica var. virgata, Corethrogyne leucophylla, Corethrogyne virgata, Corethrogyne obovata, Lessingia filaginifolia var. californica, Haplopappus haenkei, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. californica, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. latifolia, Corethrogyne scabra, Corethrogyne racemosa, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. hamiltonensis, Corethrogyne californica var. filaginifolia, Corethrogyne californica var. leucophylla, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. pinetorum, Corethrogyne brevicula, Corethrogyne viscidula, Corethrogyne filaginifolia var. sessilis, Diplopappus leucophyllus, Corethrogyne spathulata, Aster filaginifolius, Corethrogyne tomentella, Lessingia filaginifolia, Corethrogyne californica
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Corethrogyne filaginifolia, the sand-aster or California-aster, is a variable perennial or sometimes biennial herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae native to California and adjacent Baja California and Oregon, where it grows in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, open woodland, and disturbed sandy or rocky ground from sea level to about 2400 metres. Plants form a basal tuft of oblanceolate to spatulate, grey-tomentose leaves and produce one to several erect or ascending, much-branched, woolly stems 20 to 100 centimetres tall. The alternate cauline leaves are linear to narrowly oblanceolate, sessile, entire or sparsely toothed, and clothed (like the stems) in a dense felt of fine white hairs that give the foliage a silvery appearance. The capitula are borne in loose panicles or solitary on branch tips, each 1 to 2 centimetres across with 15 to 60 pale pink to lavender ray florets surrounding a yellow disc. The fruit is a small, finely pubescent, ribbed cypsela bearing a tawny pappus of barbed bristles.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
The Kawaiisu prepared an infusion of the twigs and leaves of Corethrogyne filaginifolia as a hot steambath taken to induce sweating for the relief of colds (Zigmond, 1981).
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.