This species has often been treated as a variety of Purshia mexicana (D.Don) S.L.Welsh (syn Cowania mexicana D.Don). Many of the uses attributed to Purshia mexicana, especially uses attributed to native peoples in the USA, should more correctly be attribited to Purshia stansburyana[, ].

Common Name:

General Information

Purshia stansburyana is an aromatic, evergreen shrub or small of stiff, sparse habit and usually more than one main stem. It usually grows around 1 - 4 metres tall, but can sometimes reach 7.5 metres with a trunk that can be 15 - 20cm in diameter[, , ]. The plant has a moderately deep taproot and much-branched, widely spreading lateral roots[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental, and can be used in soil stabilization projects.
Purshia stansburyana has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Western and southwestern N. America - California to Idaho and Colorado, south to northwestern Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico

Habitat

Pinyon-juniper, Joshua tree, yellow pine woodlands, arid desert scrub, desert chaparral; at elevations from 1,000 - 2,600 metres[]. Dry slopes and mesas and in limestone canyons[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Purshia stansburyana is native to the semi-arid regions of western north America. It is unlikely to succeed outdoors in any but the mildest areas of the temperate zone, probably enjoying a mediterranean-type climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters.
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil[]. Prefers a calcareous soil[]. Established plants are drought resistant[].
Covered with its whitish, fragrant flowers, the plant is beautiful when in full bloom and should be an attractive ornamental[, ].
The flowers are fragrant[].
Plants are slow-growing and moderately long-lived, 40 - 45 years being an average lifespan[].
Plants first produce seed at about age 5 years, and produce a good seed crop about every 2 years. There is often more than one seed set per season[].
The roots of species in this genus are often associated with the nitrogen-fixing actinomycete Frankia[]. This species is easily inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the laboratory, but root infection by nitrogen-fixing bacteria does not always occur naturally. In the field the number of nodule clusters on roots differed from plant to plant, site to site, and year to year[].
This species hybridizes in the wild with Purshia tridentata, Purshia glandulosa, and rarely with Fallugia paradora. Hybrid swarms of Purshia stansburyana X Purshia tridentata are common in Utah, and hybrid swarms of Purshia stansburyana X Purshia glandulosa are common in Utah, Nevada, and southern California[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bark is emetic[].

The plant is used to make a wash with which to treat wounds[].

A decoction of the leaves is used to treat bad coughs[].

Triterpenoids extracted from the plant have been shown to have inhibitory effects on HIV and Epstein-Barr virus[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used for erosion control within its native range. It is recommended for wildlife, roadside, construction, and mine spoils plantings; and is als usedo for helping to restore a wide range of native plant communities. It can be established on disturbed seedbeds by broadcast seeding, drill seeding, or transplanting. Autumn or winter seeding is recommended[].

Other Uses

This shrub was used traditionally to obtain material for clothing. The thin, silky inner bark was removed in strips and woven or braided together[].
The bark can be spun and woven into clothing[].
The bark from larger stems can be used as a padding for cradleboards, pillows, diapers etc[].
The bark was used also for making sandals, ropes, and mats[].

The pounded leaves and stems, combined with Juniper can be used to make a tan or yellow-brown dye[].

Propagation

Seed requires overwinter stratification (or 1 - 2 months cold stratification in the laboratory) and germinates in spring. Soil-stored seed remains viable for 5 - 16 years. There is no light requirement for germination, and seeds germinate under a wide range of temperatures. Fifteen to 100% germination has been reported in the laboratory depending upon treatment and, probably, seed source. Field germination probably rarely exceeds 60% even under optimal conditions. Germination rates are usually higher in seed produced early in the season than in later-maturing seed, and seed on current-year growth may fail to mature[].