Sphaeralcea incana

Sphaeralcea incana, Grey Globemallow, is a perennial Southwestern United States desert plant. It is also known as Soft Globemallow, Caliche Globemallow, and Sore Eye Mallow.

"Desert Globemallow" is also sometimes used for this species, but often refers to Sphaeralcea ambigua. It is also sometimes known as "Sore Eye Poppy," in error as it is not related to true Papaveraceae - Poppies.

Description

Sphaeralcea incana blooms with brilliant orange flowers in the spring. There are also pink, and white, flowering forms. The plant can form carpets of orange in some locations, following a heavy winter rainy season. The fine fuzz from the leaves can cause irritation of the eyes.

Uses

Eating

Sphaeralcea incana - Grey Globemallow has been used for food and medicinal purposes by Native Americans and other peoples. The top of the plant was made into a beverage or eaten, said to be nourishing and tasty. The leaf and flower tea is gentle.

Traditional medicine

People pounded the Sphaeralcea incana roots and leaves and soaked them in water, making a sticky mass, to put on sores to stop bleeding. The preparation was used as a lotion for skin diseases. People have used a poultice of fresh crushed leaves for skin injuries or inflammations, or to line their shoes or fill their socks while hiking. The dried powder was also used as a dusting powder. People used the root in the same manner as marshmallow root.