Anil del Muerto

Verbesina encelioides

Family:  Asteraceae
Annual.  Native to the southwestern United States and Mexico.  Makes profuse yellow sunflowers with grey-green foliage, smelling somewhat fetid.  The translation of the name is “Sunflower of the Dead.” The herb is made into an anti-inflammatory salve and as a tea is used for breaking fevers or treating mouth sores.  Cultivation:  Easy.  Sow directly in the garden in early spring.  Thin to 1 foot apart.  Grows 3 to 6 feet tall.


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