''Dyssodia papposa'' is a species of annual herbaceous

forb A forb or phorb is an herbaceous flowering plant that is not a graminoid (grass, sedge, or rush). The term is used in biology and in vegetation ecology, especially in relation to grasslands and understory. Typically these are dicots without woo ...

in the genus '' Dyssodia'', commonly known as fetid marigold or prairie dogweed. It is native to North America and parts of the Southwest, extending into the Northeast. The plant has been used by Native Americans to treat multiple medical conditions.

Description

Fetid marigold is a erect multi-branching annual with a large taproot, common to anthropogenically disturbed areas such as roadsides, fields, and meadows, at elevations from 3000–6500 ft (914–1981 m). Its height is 4–16 inches (5–70 cm). The leaves are simple and opposite, 3/4 in to 2 in (15–50 mm) long and linearly lobate. The flowers have the disk and ray structure characteristic of the

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

family; both are yellow-orange, up to 1/2in long with 5–8 ray flowers which are up to 3.5cm long and 1.5 cm wide, with tubular disk flowers and greenish outer and inner bracts. Seeds are small, hairy, narrowly conical with a tuft of bristle at the top, dark brown in color when mature. Distinctive orange odor glands dot the stalk, leaves and stems of the plant, which are the source of its characteristic scent. It flowers in summer to fall. The name ''dyssodia'' is from the Greek δυσοδια (''dusodia''), meaning "bad odor", while ''papposa'' is from the Latin meaning "with pappus". Its native range includes the central plains of North America and parts of the Southwest, extending into the Northeast. It has recently been documented in Canada, where it is expected to expand its range via adventitious growth.

Ecology

The plant is host to the dainty sulphur butterfly. It is commonly found in

prairie dog Prairie dogs (genus ''Cynomys'') are herbivorous burrowing ground squirrels native to the grasslands of North America. Within the genus are five species: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison's, Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs. In Mexico, p ...

towns and is among their preferred food sources.

Ethnobotany

Fetid marigold was given to horses for coughs by the

Dakota Dakota may refer to: * Dakota people, a sub-tribe of the Sioux ** Dakota language, their language Dakota may also refer to: Places United States * Dakota, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Dakota, Illinois, a town * Dakota, Minnesota, a ...

, used as a

febrifuge An antipyretic (, from ''anti-'' 'against' and ' 'feverish') is a substance that reduces fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override a prostaglandin-induced increase in temperature. The body then works to lower the temperature, which ...

and smoked for epilepsy by the

Keres In Greek mythology, the Keres (; Ancient Greek: Κῆρες), singular Ker (; Κήρ), were female death-spirits. They were the goddesses who personified violent death and who were drawn to bloody deaths on battlefields. Although they were pre ...

, applied to red ant bites by the

Navajo The Navajo (; British English: Navaho; nv, Diné or ') are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States. With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members , the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United ...

, and was used by the

Lakota Lakota may refer to: *Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes *Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples Place names In the United States: *Lakota, Iowa *Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County *Lakota ...

as a treatment for headaches, internal bleeding and breathing difficulties. The

Omaha Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest city ...

reportedly used it to induce nosebleeds to cure headache. Seeds were ground into flour for bread or roasted without grinding and combined with other foods by the

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...

, who also ate the tops of the plant as greens.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15579513 Tageteae Flora of North America Taxa named by Étienne Pierre Ventenat