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Pale Comandra
Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt.
Other names: Bastard toadflax
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Family: Santalaceae,
Sandalwood
Genus: Comandra
Description
General: hairless, rhizomatous perennial herb, parasitic on
the roots of various plants. Stems usually clustered, 5-30
cm tall, erect, from shallow to deep-seated rhizomes.
 Leaves: alternate, almost stalkless to short-stalked,
mostly elliptic, 5-40 mm long and 1-10 mm broad, in our
variety rather thick and fleshy, not at all rolled-edged, with
the veins all obscure, covered with a bluish cast.
 Flowers: perfect, 3-7 mm long, numerous in dense,
terminal clusters on branches, stalkless or flower stalks up
to 4 mm long. Calyx narrowly bell-shaped, the united part
greenish, usually somewhat shorter than the commonly 5
white to purplish, lanceolate to almost ovate, spreading to
almost erect lobes, the inner side lined with a thin to rather
thick disc. True petals lacking. The 5 stamens mostly
about 1 mm long, the anthers about 0.5 mm long.
Flowering time: April-August.
 Fruits: drupes, dry to somewhat fleshy, blue to purplish
or brown, 4-8 mm long, round to egg-shaped, tipped with
the remains of the sepals, containing 1 seed.
Distribution
In dry to moist but sandy and well-drained soil, plains to
foothills, parasitic on the roots of numerous plants, often
on sagebrush, in most parts of MT. Also over much of N.
America n. of Mexico.
 Edible and Medicinal plant, see below.
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(click on image for full size)
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(click on images for full size)
Edible Uses:
When the fruits are fully grown but still slightly green, they are sweet and oily, and make a delicious
nibble. Although they are seldom available in large quantities, they were eaten as a snack by western
native peoples. Too many can cause nausea. They are still edible, though not as tasty, when fully mature.
The flowers were sucked by children for their sweet nectar.
Medicinal Uses:
Bastard toadflax has been used medicinally by the Cherokee, Meskwaki, Navajo, Okanagan-Colville, Thompson
and Ute Indians. An infusion of the leaves has been used to treat lung pains and labored breathing caused
by a cold or other illness. The juice of the plant has been applied externally to treat cuts and sores.
A decoction of plant was used as a wash for sores and as a foot bath for corns. The plant was also used
as a mouth wash for canker sores. The fresh roots were mixed with woman's milk and used as a wash for
sore or inflamed eyes. The roots has been used for headaches as well.
Varieties:
Our specimen belong to ssp. pallida (A. DC.) Piehl. |
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