Amsinckia tessalata – “Checker Fiddleneck”

Also Known As: Bristly Fiddleneck, Fiddleneck, Devil’s Lettuce
Family: Borage (Boraginaceae)
Bloom Period: Mar-Jun
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Leaves: Linear, hairy; alternate
Translation: “Amsinckia: is named for Wilhelm Amsinck (1752-1831), Bürgermeister (mayor) and patron of botany in Hamburg, Germany; “tessellata” is Latin for “checkered” and describes the arrangement of warts on the backs of the nutlets (seeds).
Notes: The common name “fiddleneck” refers to the flowering stem, coiled like a violin’s neck, which is botanically termed a “scorpioid inflorescence” because it resembles a scorpion’s curved tail. It is a pioneer plant, thriving in disturbed areas such as roadsides and unused agricultural fields. Its flowers are self-pollinating so it does not depend on insects for cross-pollination and can set healthy amounts of seed in isolation. It also contains bitter-tasting alkaloids that are toxic to livestock so it thrives in grazed areas. Interestingly, Checker Fiddleneck is also native to Chile and Argentina, but is absent for the many thousands of miles between here and there.
Native American Uses: The Gosiute ate the seeds and the Kawaiisu and Pima ate the leaves.
Animal Associations: Food plant for Painted Lady butterfly.