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| ## fringed redmaids {#fringed-redmaids .Title-Header}                 |
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| *Calandrinia ciliata* (Ruiz & Pavon) DC.                              |
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| Plant Symbol = CACI2                                                  |
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*Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

# Alternate Names

Red maids, desert rockpurselane, wild portulaca

# Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: Redmaid seeds and greens were an important food source
for many tribes in California including those whose territory neighbored
the Salinan. Given their importance and their abundance, they were
undoubtedly utilized by the Salinan as well. The shiny black seeds were
a major ingredient in pinole (from the Aztec word for seed flour,
*pinolli*) and were valued for their high oil content. The Chumash
called the seed x*utash* or *pil* (Timbrook 1986). The name *pil* is
reported in Onlone usage for redmaid seeds (Bocek 1984). Fages (1937)
names *pil* as the seed of a plant used by the Salinan.

The Miwok harvested the seeds in early summer (Barrett & Gifford1933).
The plants were pulled and spread out on a clean area to dry. The seeds
were separated by shaking or hitting the plants over the cleaned area or
into a basket. Then they were placed into a tightly woven winnowing
basket where they were tossed, allowing the moving air to remove any
chaff. The seeds were then dried for storage or parched in a cooking
basket along with hot coals. The contents were kept in motion to prevent
the coals from burning the basket. The parched seeds were pulverized in
bedrock mortars into an oily meal, which was then prepared into balls
and cakes.

Large quantities of *Calandrinia ciliata* seeds have been recovered by
archaeologists in burial sites in Chumash territory in the Channel
Islands of Southern California (Timbrook 1993). Not only were the seeds
used as ceremonial offerings, as evidenced by these burial sites, but
also they are often mentioned in Chumash myths (Timbrook 1990).

The Luiseño ate the tender young greens fresh (Sparkman 1908), which are
said to taste similar to arugula. Fringed redmaid greens contain oxalic
acid, like spinach, and should be eaten sparingly. Cooking reduces the
amount of oxalic acid.
![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.0395833333333333in"
height="2.0208333333333335in"}

*Wildlife*: Many insects, small mammals, and birds, including wild doves
(*Zenaida spp*), eat the seeds.

*Domestic animals*: Cattle readily graze on fringed redmaid plants.

# Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

# Weediness

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and
may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please
consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service
office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding
its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS
Web site at plants.usda.gov.

# Description

######## General: Purslane family (Portulacaceae). Fringed redmaids are annual forbs native to the Western United States, Central America, and northern South America. 

These low growing, spreading plants vary in height (15 to 33 cm)
depending on environmental conditions. The leaves are alternately
arranged leaves and lance shaped (1 to 10cm long). The flowers growing
in loose racemes appear in the early spring. The five, notched petals (4
to 15mm long) are rosy red with darker veins. The fruits bear 10 to 20
small (1 to 2.5mm wide) shiny black seeds.

*Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: Fringed redmaids thrive in open grasslands as well as
disturbed areas and cultivated fields below 2200m.

# Adaptation

*Calandrinia ciliata* is an early colonizer of disturbed areas. It
increases in abundance following a fire because of the increase in
nutrients and the decrease in competing grasses. The native Californians
burned grasslands periodically to increase harvests of redmaids as well
as other fire-following species.

# Establishment

Fringed redmaids look lovely when grouped with other low-growing
wildflowers. The plants prefer full sun and moderately dry to moist
conditions. They do best in sandy to loamy soils with low to moderate
nutrient availability.

These spring annuals do not transplant well and should be sown directly
into prepared beds in late fall or very early spring. Mix the seeds with
ten parts moist sand to ensure even broadcasting. Broadcast the sand and
seed mixture over the prepared bed and scuff or rake the seeds lightly
into the soil. Water lightly and keep the soil lightly moist until the
seeds sprout (generally within one to three weeks when temperatures
average 20°C). The plants are moderately drought tolerant once
established.

# Control

##### Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, other products may be equally effective. 

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin) {#cultivars-improved-and-selected-materials-and-area-of-origin .Header-3}

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

Barrett, S.A. & E.W. Gifford 1933. *Miwok material culture: Indian life
of the Yosemite region.* Bulletin of Milwaukee Public Museum Vol. 2, No.
4. Yosemite Association, Yosemite National Park, California. 388 pp.

Bocek, B.R. 1984. *Ethnobotany of Costanoan Indians, California, based
on collections by John P. Harrington.* Economic Botany, Vol. 38, No. 2.
Pp. 240-255.

Chartoff, K.K. 1966. *Appendix A: An ethnobotanical study of the
Paskenta-Newvill reservoir.* In J.L. Chartoff & J Childress. *An
archaeological survey of the proposed Paskenta-Newville Reservoir in
Glenn and Tehama Counties, Northern California*. Archives of California
Archaeology Paper No. 24.

Fages, P. 1937. *A historical, political, and natural description of
California*. Translation by H.I. Priestley, University of California
Press, Berkeley, California. 83 pp.

Howitt, B.F. 1999. *Calandrinia ciliata: Fringed redmaids.* CalFlora:
*Information on California plants for education, research and
conservation* \[web application\] 2001. Berkeley, California: The
CalFlora Database \[a non-profit organization\]. Available:
http://www.calflora.org/. (Accessed: Feb. 19, 2002)

Kelley, W.A. 1993. IN: J.D. Hickman, Editor, *The Jepson manual: Higher
plants of California.* University of California Press, Berkeley,
California. Pp. 895-896.

Lowry, J.L. 1999. *Gardening with a wild heart: Restoring California's
native landscapes at home.* University of California Press, Berkeley,
California. 252 pp.

Parsons, M. E. 1966. *The wild flowers of California.* Dover
Publications, Inc., New York, New York. 425 pp.

Sparkman, P.S. April 7, 1908. *The culture of the Luiseño Indians.*
University of California Publications in American Archaeology and
Ethnology Vol. 8, No. 4. Pp. 187-234.

Timbrook, J. 1993. *Island Chumash ethnobotany*. Reprint from:
Archaeology on the Northern Channel Islands of California. Coyote Press
Archives of California Prehistory NO. 34. Coyote Press, Salinas,
California. Pp 47-61.895-896.

Timbrook, J. 1990 Ethnobotany *of Chumash Indians, California, based on
collections by John P. Harrington.* Economic Botany Vol. 44, No. 2. Pp
235-253.

Timbrook, J. 1986. *Chia and the Chumash: A reconsideration of sage
seeds in Southern California.* Journal of California and Great Basin
Anthropology Vol. 8, No. 1. Pp 50-64.

Timbrook, J., J.R. Johnson & D.D. Earle 1982. *Vegetation burning by the
Chumash*. Journal of California and Great Basin Anthropology Vol.4, No.
2, pp163-186.

# Prepared By: 

######## Diana L. Immel

Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center,

c/o Environmental Horticulture Department, University of California,
Davis, California

# Species Coordinator: 

##### *M. Kat Anderson*

USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center,

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

##### 

##### Edited: 12apr02 ahv; 29apr03 ahv; 31may06 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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