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| ## tarweed {#tarweed .Title-Header}                                   |
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| *Hemizonia fasciculata* (DC.) Torr. & Gray                            |
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| Plant Symbol = HEFA                                                   |
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##### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.3944444444444444in"
height="3.1131944444444444in"}

## Alternate Names

Clustered tarweed

## Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: This tarweed is one of the tarweeds used in pinole, a
staple food in the diets of the Indian people in Santa Barbara, Ventura,
and Santa Ynez, California (Timbrook 1993). The seeds were toasted and
then pounded into a black, dry flour with an agreeable taste. The roots
of several *Hemizonia* species were eaten by the Miwok, who considered
them to be an important part of their diet. The steam from boiling
*Hemizonia fasiculata* was inhaled by the Kumeyaay to relieve headaches.

*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 pipist, sparrows, towhees, chipmunks, ground
squirrels, and mice. Cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, and chipmunks
eat the plants.

## 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). *Hemizonia fasiculata* is an
annual herb, 0.5-10 dm tall. The stems are glabrous to sparsely
short-bristly. The lower leaves are 3.5-15 cm, dentate to deeply lobed,
and bristly. The upper cauline leaves are linear, entire, and appressed
to the stem. The inflorescence is open to dense, with the 4.5-5.5 mm
bell-shaped involucre, with 5 deep ray flowers and 6 disc flowers having
yellow corollas and black anthers. The fruits are 2.5-5 mm beaked
achenes.

## Distribution

For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this
species on the PLANTS Web site. *Hemizonia fasicularis* is common in
coastal grasslands and woodlands below 900 m elevations. It grows in
southern California on the central coast, southern outer Coast Ranges,
from southwestern California to central Baja California.

## Establishment

*Hemizonia* species 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. *Hemizonia* species
require 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. Water seedlings as the soil dries to stimulate
growth. It is best to plant seeds in the fall. Fertilization stimulates
growth and seed production.

## Management

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

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

-   Burning occurred during September and October after ripened 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)

HEFA is widely available through 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. Pages
151-174. 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*. Pages 27-54. Ballena Press.

Hartmann, H.T., D.E. Kester, and 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. 1399 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. Pages
117-150. Ballena Press.

USDA, NRCS 1999. *The PLANTS database*. National Plant Data Center,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA. \<http://plants.usda.gov\> Version: 990518.

## 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 Science Department, University of California, Davis,
California

Edited: 05dec00 jsp; 20may03 ahv; 07jun06 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/)\>

*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in
all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual
orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases
apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require
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large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA\'s [TARGET
Center](http://www.usda.gov/oo/target.htm) at 202-720-2600 (voice and
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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
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or
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*Read about [Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation
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