Amsinckia is a
genus of
flowering plants commonly known as fiddlenecks. The
common name is
derived from the flower stems, which curl over at the top in a manner reminiscent of the head of a
fiddle. Fiddlenecks are in the family
Boraginaceae, along with
borage and
forget-me-nots. The genus is named after the patrician
Amsinck family in honour of the Hamburg head of state and patron of botany Wilhelm Amsinck (1752–1831).[1]
Distribution and description
The fiddlenecks are
native to western
North America and south-western
South America, but they are
naturalized in other regions. They are
annuals, many of them bristly. Most have an erect stem, whose height varies from 20 to 120 cm. In most species the flowers are yellow, often with an orange tinge. Most are found at relatively low
altitudes, below 500 metres.
The seeds and
foliage of fiddlenecks are poisonous to
livestock, particularly
cattle, because they contain
alkaloids and high concentrations of
nitrates.[2] The sharp hairs of the plants can cause skin irritation in humans. However, the shoots, seeds or leaves of several species were used as food by
Native Americans, and the plant also had some
medicinal uses.
The
species are hard to
distinguish, and their
ranges overlap; furthermore, several of them have large numbers of slightly different varieties, and several of the
specieshybridise naturally. To decide which species a particular specimen belongs to, therefore, is likely to require a detailed examination with an
identification key in hand.
Amsinckia lunaris, Bent-flowered fiddleneck—Uncommon.
San Francisco Bay Area, Inner Coast Ranges and western Central Valley of California. Endemic to California and listed as fairly endangered by the state.
Amsinckia lycopsoides, Tarweed fiddleneck—Common. Found in all the Pacific coast states of the USA (though not east of the Sierra Nevada in California), and into
Idaho to the east and
British Columbia to the north
Amsinckia menziesii, Rancher's fireweed—Abundant throughout the western states of the US, in British Columbia and in
Baja California, at heights of up to 1700 metres. Also found as an alien species in eastern North America and the Old World. Several varieties recognised.
Amsinckia spectabilis, Seaside fiddleneck or woolly breeches—Found on the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to Baja California, and on offshore islands, at heights of up to 300m.
Amsinckia tessellata, Devil's lettuce or bristly fiddleneck—Common. Found at heights up to 2200 metres, in most of California, Arizona, Oregon and Washington; also found in South America. Absent from the Sierra Nevada and the north coastal regions of California. Several varieties recognised.
Amsinckia vernicosa, Green fiddleneck—Uncommon. Found at heights of up to 1500 metres, in the south Coast Ranges of California and the
Mojave Desert.
References
^Umberto Quattrocchi (ed.), CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology,
CRC Press, 2016, p. 263,
ISBN9781482250640
^Quattrocchi, Umberto (2016). CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants. CRC Press.
ISBN978-1482250640.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (
link)