Thermopsis macrophylla
Hook. & Arn.
Fabaceae
Common Name: Santa Inez Goldenbanner
General Information
Thermopsis macrophylla is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant producing one to a few moderately-branched, thick stems from a woody, rhizomatous rootstock; it can grow from 30 - 200cm tall[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
954- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 81
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal with various articles, including a revision of the genus Petrea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
954- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 81
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal with various articles, including a revision of the genus Petrea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
Range
Southwest N. America - California
Habitat
Sandy, granitic soils; at an elevation from 1,000 - 1,400 metres[
954- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol. 81
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
- 0026-6493
- Description
- A botanical journal with various articles, including a revision of the genus Petrea. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Properties
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Thermopsis macrophylla is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -15°c when fully dormant. It grows best in areas with hot summers.
Requires a sunny position, succeeding in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Plants can spread fairly rapidly by means of rhizomes, and can out-compete less vigorous plants[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755- Title
- Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
- Publisher
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].
Edible Uses
None known
Medicinal
An infusion of the leaves is ued to slow down menstrual flow[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
A cold decoction of the leaves is used as a wash for tired and sore eyes, and for difficulties with vision[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
An infusion of the root and bark is ued to slow down menstrual flow[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Agroforestry Uses:
Thermopsis species in general have potential in soil conservation and stabilization projects. They fix atmospheric nitrogen, are drought-tolerant, deep rooting, and spread by underground root systems to form broad patches[
1309- Title
- The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation
- Publication
-
- Author
- Allen O.N.; Allen E.K.
- Publisher
- University of Wisconsin
- Year
- 1981
- ISBN
- 0-333-32221-5
- Description
- An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus.
].
The flowers are a rich source of nectar[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water and then sow in early spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually good and within a month[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring. Divided plants do not establish readily[
1- Title
- RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- Publication
-
- Author
- F. Chittendon.
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Year
- 1951
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
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Useful Temperate Plants Database 2016 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
