Found in moist, open areas, river banks
Seen in July by the Rio Chama

Scouring Rushes are not Rushes; they are Horsetails, which are prehistoric organisms that thrived 400 million years ago during the Paleozoic era. They grow from one to four feet tall with a ridged, hollow, bamboo-like stem. The leaves are reduced to tiny, dark teeth fused into a sheath around the joints of the stem; teeth are usually shed during the growing season. It produces spores, rather than seeds, from flowers in pine cone-like heads. Native Americans had many uses for the plant. The stems were used to do the final polishing of wooden spoons and to polish the soft rock used for pipe bowls, to give medicine to babies and used by children as whistles. It was given to thin, old horses with diarrhea after eating fresh grass in spring. It was used medicinally as a contraceptive; to stimulate the kidneys; to treat bladder ailments, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, venereal diseases, backaches, and colds; also used as an insecticide for washing hair and to treat parts of the body affected by poison ivy. Source.
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If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.   

The Bloom Blog
Blooming this week in the environs of Abiquiú
By Wildflowers of the Southern Rocky Mountains

Found at roadsides and in dry, sandy areas
Seen blooming in July near Hwy 554

Blazingstars are also called Eveningstars because they do not open until late in the afternoon, this photo was taken at 7.30 pm. During the day their flowers are tightly closed so easily overlooked. They are in the Stickleaf family, so named because their leaves have barbed hairs and stick to clothing and fur like Velcro. It grows to 2 ½ feet tall with stout white branched stems.  Flowers are 2" across with long yellow stamens. Flowers can be bright yellow, but I mostly see pale yellow, almost white flowers in this area. Traditionally, the seeds have been eaten raw or ground into a meal. Medicinally it has been used to treat tuberculosis, as a diuretic, a laxative and as a pain reliever for rheumatism and toothaches. Tewa Indians had one of the most interesting uses for the Blazingstar. When a young boy was old enough to ride a horse for the first time, the Tewa would rub the leaves of the plant over the boy’s skin. He would then dress and mount the horse. The sticky plant substance was used to help with the boy’s grip and enable him to ride without falling off. Source.
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If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.   

The Bloom Blog
Blooming this week in the environs of Abiquiú
By Wildflowers of the Southern Rocky Mountains

Found in pine forests, roadsides
Seen blooming in July by SR285, south of Tres Piedras

MacDougall’s Verbena grows over three feet tall with stiff, branched stems. Leaves are long and toothed. The whole plant is hairy and resembles some members of the mint family, but it does not have the aroma. The long, thick, dense flower spikes have a ring of small flowers at one level which moves up the spike as the flower matures. Traditionally the Navajo used MacDougall’s Verbena in various ceremonial ways as a lotion and fumigant and a cold infusion was taken and used as lotion for fever. Source.
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If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.   

The Bloom Blog
Blooming this week in the environs of Abiquiú
By Wildflowers of the Southern Rocky Mountains

Found in ditches, roadsides, pastures
Seen blooming in late June by SR 554 south of El Rito

Russian Knapweed grows in a bush one to three feet high with stiff branches and forms dense colonies with creeping roots. Flowers are ½ to ¾ inch across and thistle-like, ranging from white to pink to lavender in color. Bracts are smooth with rounded tips, green and cobwebby. It is toxic to horses and considered a highly invasive, noxious weed by the State of New Mexico and many other states. A single Russian knapweed plant can produce about 1,200 seeds per year. The findings of a recent study suggest it is a promising source of natural antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-cholinesterase and anti-amylase agents for the management of oxidative damage, and pharmaceutical, food, and cosmeceutical purposes. In folk medicine, the plant has been used for many years as an emetic, anti-epileptic and anti-malaria remedy. Source.
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If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to [email protected]. Read online for tips.