Lithospermum ruderale
Encyclopedia
Lithospermum ruderale is a species of flowering plant in the borage family
known by the common name western stoneseed. It is native to western Canada and the western United States, where it can be found in many types of habitat. It is a hairy perennial herb growing from a taproot
and woody caudex
. It produces a cluster of erect leafy stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall. The stems are lined with lance-shaped leaves up to 8 centimeters long. Bunches of flowers appear toward the top of the stem amongst the leaves. The corolla is light yellow and about a centimeter long and wide. This plant was used as a contraceptive
by several Native American
groups, including the Navajo
and Shoshone
. Studies on mice
showed the plant reduced their fertility
.
Boraginaceae
Boraginaceae, the Borage or Forget-me-not family, include a variety of shrubs, trees, and herbs, totaling about 2,000 species in 146 genera found worldwide.A number of familiar plants belong to this family....
known by the common name western stoneseed. It is native to western Canada and the western United States, where it can be found in many types of habitat. It is a hairy perennial herb growing from a taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
and woody caudex
Caudex
A caudex is a form of stem morphology appearing as a thickened, short, perennial stem that is either underground or near ground level . It may be swollen for the purpose of water storage, especially in xerophytes...
. It produces a cluster of erect leafy stems 20 to 50 centimeters tall. The stems are lined with lance-shaped leaves up to 8 centimeters long. Bunches of flowers appear toward the top of the stem amongst the leaves. The corolla is light yellow and about a centimeter long and wide. This plant was used as a contraceptive
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
by several Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
groups, including the Navajo
Navajo people
The Navajo of the Southwestern United States are the largest single federally recognized tribe of the United States of America. The Navajo Nation has 300,048 enrolled tribal members. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body which manages the Navajo Indian reservation in the...
and Shoshone
Shoshone
The Shoshone or Shoshoni are a Native American tribe in the United States with three large divisions: the Northern, the Western and the Eastern....
. Studies on mice
House mouse
The house mouse is a small rodent, a mouse, one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus.As a wild animal the house mouse mainly lives associated with humans, causing damage to crops and stored food....
showed the plant reduced their fertility
Fertility
Fertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction...
.