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| ## coast tarweed {#coast-tarweed .Title-Header}                       |
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| *Madia sativa* Molina                                                 |
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| Plant Symbol = MASA                                                   |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center & the Rancho Santa
Ana Botanic Garden

###### Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: Coast tarweed seeds were one component in pinole, which
was a staple food of the Indians of the Pacific coast. There are several
*Madia* species, called "tarweed" because of the intense stickiness of
the plant. The tarweeds produce abundant seed and are agreeably aromatic
and oily. The Miwok, Hupa, Cahuilla, Digueño, Chumash, Costanoan,
Kawaiisu, and Maidu tribes in California made pinole from *Madia*
species.

Women harvested coast tarweed seeds in late summer during a period of a
fortnight. A seed beater and a basket were used to gather the seeds.
Then, the seeds were winnowed and ground very fine in a bedrock mortar
with a stone pestle. Both winnowing and sifting were done in a flat
circular basket plaque. The sifting was done by jiggling the plaque so
that large fragments separated from the fine meal. The large fragments
were pulverized into meal, which was eaten dry. The seeds were kept in
storage in every household, and eaten all year. Coast tarweed roots were
also eaten.

When the seeds had matured but the plants were still green, the Hupa
burned the areas where *Madia* grew. Seeds gathered from the scorched
plants needed no further parching before being crushed into flour. The
Yokuts added *Madia sativa* seeds to manzanita cider for flavoring.

*Wildlife*: The dark seeds (achenes) of tarweeds are used as food by
many birds and small mammals, including mourning doves, quail,
blackbirds, finches, Oregon juncos, California horned larks, western
meadowlarks, American pipits, sparrows, towhees, chipmunks, ground
squirrels, and mice. Cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, and chipmunks
eat the plants.![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.2284722222222224in"
height="3.1756944444444444in"}

###### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status
and wetland indicator values.

###### Description

*General*: Sunflower Family (Asteraceae). *Madia sativa* is an annual
herb, 2-24 dm tall, and strongly scented. The stems are stiff and very
leafy, with glandular hairs throughout the plant producing a very sticky
substance that covers the stems and leaves. The small (7-15 mm
involucre), greenish-yellow, sunflower-like heads are sessile in dense
cymes or panicle-like clusters. The fruits are small (2.5-5 mm) black or
dark brown achenes.

###### Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site. *Madia sativa* grows in coastal
grasslands at elevations below 950 m. The distribution is quite
widespread along the pacific coast, from Alaska to northern Baja
California and southwestern South America.

###### Establishment

*Madia sativa* seeds ripen in late summer, usually in August in
California. After gathering, seeds can be stored in a cool, dry place
for at least a year and still maintain viability. Coast tarweed requires
well-drained, fairly dry soils with full sun. These annual species
produce prolific seeds, and can be planted directly in the soil or in
seed flats. Plant seeds at the soil surface or plant 1/8\" to ¼\" in a
well-drained soil. As the soil dries, water seedlings stimulate growth.
It is best to plant seeds in the fall. Fertilization stimulates growth
and seed production. Seeds germinate rapidly. Plant the seedlings into
2" or 4" pots after they grow 2-4 leaves beyond thee cotyledons. Water
as needed, but do not overwater.

###### Management

*Traditional Resource Management*: Resource management of coast tarweed
includes the following:

-   Seeds were distributed during the process of gathering seeds through
    seed beating.

-   Burning occurred during September-October after seeds were
    harvested. Grassland species were burned for plant improvement by
    the tribes throughout California.

-   Seeds were planted from wild plants. A Diegueño woman reported her
    people always cleared a small spot near their dwelling to plant
    seeds of plants with greens, seeds, and roots.

-   Ownership of seed-gathering grounds promoted long term care and
    sustainable harvest practices.

###### Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

This species is somewhat available from native plant nurseries within
its range. Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service
(formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for more information. Look
in the phone book under "United States Government." The Natural
Resources Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading
"Department of Agriculture."

###### References

Abrams, L. & R.S. Ferris 1960. *Illustrated flora of the Pacific
states*. 4 Vols. Stanford University Press, Palo Alto, California.

Anderson, K. 1993. *Native Californians as ancient and contemporary
cultivators*. IN: T.C. Blackburn and K. Anderson (eds.) *Before the
wilderness. Environmental management by native Californians*. 151-174
pp. Ballena Press.

Barrett, S.A. & E.W. Gifford 1933. *Miwok material culture Indian Life
of the Yosemite region*. Yosemite Association, Yosemite National Park,
California. 388 pp.

Barrows, D.P. 1977. *Ethno-botany of the Coahuilla Indians*. Malki
Museum Press. Morongo Indian Reservation, Banning, California. 82 pp.

Bean, L.J. & H.W. Lawton 1993. *Some explanations for the rise of
cultural complexity in native California with comments on
proto-agriculture and agriculture*. IN: T.C. Blackburn and K. Anderson
(eds.) Before the wilderness. Environmental management by native
Californians. 27-54 pp. Ballena Press.

Hartmann, H.T., D.E. Kester, & F.T. Davies, Jr. 1990*. Plant propagation
principles and Practices*. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.
647 pp.

Hickman, J. C. (ed.) 1993. *The Jepson manual. Higher plants of
California*. University of California Press. 1400 pp.

Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, & A.L. Nelson 1951. *American wildlife and
plants. A guide to wildlife food habits*. Dover Publications, Inc., New
York. 500 pp.

Mayer, K.E. & W.F. Laudenslayer Jr. (eds.) 1988. *A guide to wildlife
habitats of California*. USDA Forest Service, California Department of
Fish and Game, and PG&E.

Murphy, E.V.A. 1959. *Indian uses of native plants*. Mendocino County
Historical Society. 81 pp.

Strike, S.S. 1994. *Ethnobotany of the California Indians. Volume 2.
Aboriginal uses of California\'s indigenous plants*. Koeltz Scientific
Books, USA/Germany. 220 pp.

Timbrook, J., J.R. Johnson, & D.D. Earle 1993. *Vegetation burning by
the Chumash*. IN: T.C. Blackburn and K. Anderson (eds*.) Before the
wilderness. Environmental management by native Californians*. 117-150
pp. Ballena Press.

###### Prepared By

*Michelle Stevens*

formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

#### *Bart O'Brien*

Director of Horticulture, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont,
California

###### Species Coordinator

#### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center

c/o Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited: 05dec00 jsp; 21may03 ahv; 060802 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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