Eriastrum eremicum – “Desert Eriastrum”

Also Known As: Desert Woollystar
Family: Phlox (Polemoniaceae)
Bloom Period: Apr-Jun
Form: Annual herb
Habitat: Sandy soils
Leaves: Pinnately-divided, leaflets linear; alternate
Translation: “Eriastrum” is Greek for “woolly star,” which refers to the fuzzy foliage and star-shaped flowers; “eremicum” is Greek for “of the desert,” but only figuratively. Literally, the word means “uninhabited” or “a lonely place”; deserts are generally uninhabited which makes them lonely places for some people.
Native American Uses: The Paiute used a tea of the plant to treat diarrhea, stomach issues, and children with tuberculosis.