Blow wives
Achyrachaena mollis
Family: Asteraceae
What it is like
A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.
There is only one Achyrachaena species.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It is native to California in the USA. It grows between sea level and 300 m in California.
Countries/locations it is found in
North America, USA
How it is used for food
The seeds are roasted and eaten.
Edible parts
Seeds