There are several kinds of Eriodictyon, shrubs, with alternate,
toothed, leathery, evergreen leaves, which are netted-veined, generally
green and smooth on the upper side and whitish and downy on the under,
with leaf-stalks; the flowers in coiled clusters; the corolla more or
less funnel-form or salver-form, without appendages in the tube; the
stamens and the two distinct styles not protruding; the capsule small,
with few seeds. The name is from the Greek for "wool" and "net," in
allusion to the netted wool on the under surface of the leaves.
[Sidenote: =Yerba Santa, Mountain Balm=
_Eriodíctyon Califórnicum_
=White, lilac
Summer
Cal., Oreg., Wash.=]
A branching shrub, from two to six feet high, with thickish leaves,
with toothed or wavy margins, from two to six inches long, dark and
shiny on the upper side, pale with close down and netted-veined on
the underside. The flowers are not especially pretty, about half an
inch long, with white, lilac, or purple corollas, and are slightly
sweet scented. The leaves are strongly and pleasantly aromatic when
they are crushed and were used medicinally by the Indians, hence the
Spanish name, meaning "holy herb." Cough-syrup is made from them and
also substitutes for tobacco and hops. This grows on dry hills and is
very variable, being sometimes a handsome shrub. There are intermediate
forms between this and the next, _E. tomentosum_, which are difficult
to distinguish.
[Sidenote: =Woolly Yerba Santa=
_Eriodíctyon tomentòsum_
=Lilac
Spring
California=]
A large leafy shrub, about five feet high and much handsomer than the
last, with velvety, light green branches and very velvety, purplish
twigs. The beautiful leaves are veined like chestnut leaves and made of
the thickest, softest, sea-green or gray velvet, like a mullein leaf in
texture, but much smoother and softer. The flowers are three-quarters
of an inch long, with a pale pinkish-lilac corolla, shading to
purple and white, downy on the outside, and form quite handsome
clusters, mixed with pretty gray velvet buds, the lilac of the flowers
harmonizing well with the gray foliage. This grows in quantities on
Point Loma, and other places along the coast, from San Diego to Santa
Barbara. There are several similar varieties.
[Illustration: Woolly Yerba Santa--E. tomentosum.