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Pluchea sericea
Pluchea sericea (Nutt.) Coville
Arrowweed, Arrow Weed
Asteraceae (Aster Family)
Synonym(s): Berthelotia sericea, Polypappus sericeus, Tessaria sericea
USDA Symbol: PLSE
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Tall, willowlike shrub, with slender erect branches.
Indians used this plant to make shafts for arrows because of its long, straight stems. Arrow Weed forms dense stands along some rivers, including the Colorado River in Arizona. Most of its close relatives are strong-smelling herbs.
From the Image Gallery
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Size Notes: Up to about 15 feet tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Pink , PurpleBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec
Bloom Notes: Flowers mostly Mar - Jul. May flower year-round.
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NM , NV , TX , UTNative Distribution: S. Nevada, southern third of California, extreme southwest corner and Colorado Plateau portion of Utah, south through W. Texas.
Native Habitat: Along watercourses, ditches, and in some low, flat areas, including those that are quite saline.
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | FAC | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Pluchea sericea in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Pluchea sericea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pluchea sericea
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-01-06Research By: TWC Staff