| Lithospermum ruderale | |
|---|---|
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| Lithospermum ruderale in Wenas Wildlife Area, Washington | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Boraginales |
| Family: | Boraginaceae |
| Genus: | Lithospermum |
| Species: | L. ruderale |
| Binomial name | |
| Lithospermum ruderale | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
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Lithospermum ruderale is a species of flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae . [2] [3] It is known by the common name western stoneseed or lemonweed. It is native to western Canada and the western United States, where it can be found in many types of habitat. A perennial herb growing from a taproot and woody caudex, it is covered with fine, more or less upright, hairs, especially on the stems. It produces a cluster of erect leafy stems ranging from 20 to 50 centimetres (7+7⁄8 to 19+5⁄8 in) centimeters in height. The stems support lance-shaped leaves ranging from 2.5–10 cm (1–4 in) in length. [4] Bunches of flowers with leaf-like bracts appear toward the top of the stem amongst the leaves. The corolla is fused at the base with five lobes [4] which are light yellow, often slightly greenish, and about a centimeter long and wide. The style is short. The fruit consists of one or two, sometimes four, clustered glossy grey nutlets, 3.5 to 6, sometimes as much as 8 mm long.
The plant was used as a contraceptive by several Native American groups, including the Navajo and Shoshone. [5] Studies on mice show the plant reduced their fertility. [6] Plains Indians also used the roots to treat respiratory issues and cooked them as food. [4]
