Paleo Foraging

Sphaeralcea angustifolia (Cav.) G. Don

Synonyms: = S. lobata, Malva angustifolia

Common names: Copper globemallow, narrowleaf globemallow, copper mallow

Hopi: kopóna (Hough 1897:38)

Navajo: ts’ahtc’il – “sage plant” (Elmore 1944:63)

Tewa: ʼoḏa (Robbins et al. 1916:60)

Location in Texas: W, N, & C TX; not in Travis Co.

Form: herb, low shrub; perennial.

Flowers: Feb-Nov (white, red, pink, orange, purple).

Food

Seeds – eaten by the Navajo (Elmore 1944:63).

Stems – chewed as gum by the Hopi (Hough 1897:38).

Medicine

Roots – dried, powdered, and applied to snakebite wounds and sores with pus (Robbins et al. 1916:60).

Material

Root bark – dried, powdered, and water added to make a face paint by the Tewa (Robbins et al. 1916:60).