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Amsinckia tessellata

Table of Contents

Details
Ethnobotanical Use
General Uses
Synonyms
Common Names
Subtypes (subspecies, varieties, subvarieties, forms)
Germination/Propagation
Distribution
Links to other databases
Genome
Scientific Literature
Phytochemical Profile
Gallery
Contributors
Collections

Details Top

Internal ID UUID644008edba860744737313
Scientific name Amsinckia tessellata
Authority A.Gray
First published in Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 10: 54 (1875)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

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Important notice
  • Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
  • Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
  • Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
  • Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.

Amsinckia tessellata has been recorded in several North‑American ethnobotanical records as a source of traditional infusions and topical preparations. Among the Kawaiisu of southern Nevada, the plant’s leaves were gathered in spring, dried, and steeped in hot water to make a mild tea that was taken to ease coughs and bronchial irritation (Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, 1975). The Paiute of the Great Basin prepared a decoction by simmering the whole aerial parts for about twenty minutes; the resulting liquid was used internally for digestive upset and occasional low‑grade fever (Moerman, 1998). Coastal Chumash people of California applied the fresh, crushed leaves directly as a poultice to minor wounds and insect bites, believing it helped to promote healing and reduce inflammation (Timbrook, 2000).

For a simple tea, use about 1 teaspoon (≈2 g) of dried leaves per 250 ml of freshly boiled water, cover the cup and let the mixture steep for 5–10 minutes before straining. Because the plant contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can be hepatotoxic, this infusion should not be taken for longer than a week, and it is contraindicated for pregnant or nursing women, children under twelve, and anyone with existing liver disease; limit consumption to one cup per day.

Phytochemical work on A. tessellata has identified several pyrrolizidine alkaloids—including lycopsamine, intermedine and echiumine (Steenkamp et al., 2004)—as well as flavonol glycosides such as quercetin‑3‑O‑glucoside (Hamel et al., 2015). These compounds are the basis for both the reported bioactivity and the safety concerns that accompany the plant’s traditional uses.

Current research focuses on the toxicology of the plant’s pyrrolizidine alkaloids and the anti‑inflammatory potential of its flavonoid fraction, while A. tessellata remains a modest ornamental in native‑plant gardens and commercial herbal products are uncommon because of the safety profile.

General Uses Top

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Common products:
- Ornamental wildflower; cultivated as a garden and landscape plant for its bright orange tubular flowers.
- Sold in commercial native‑seed mixes marketed to support pollinator habitats and native landscaping.

Properties relevant to use:
- Annual herbaceous growth habit; produces abundant bright orange‑yellow corollas attractive to native bees and other pollinators.
- Seeds are small and readily germinate, making the species suitable for inclusion in seed‑mix products intended for habitat establishment.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Amsinckia brachysantha Suksd. Werdenda 1: 111 (1931)
Amsinckia collina Greene Man. Bot. San Francisco 262. 1894 [2 Feb 1894]
Amsinckia conica Suksd. Werdenda 1: 104 (1931)
Amsinckia deltoidea Suksd. Werdenda 1: 110 (1931)
Amsinckia douglasiana var. elegans (Suksd.) Jeps. & Hoover Fl. Calif. 3: 321 (1943)
Amsinckia dudleyi Suksd. Werdenda 1: 106 (1931)
Amsinckia elegans Suksd. Werdenda 1: 103 (1931)
Amsinckia macrosepala Suksd. Werdenda 1: 108 (1931)
Amsinckia marginata Suksd. Werdenda 1: 109. 1931
Amsinckia mojavensis Suksd. Werdenda 1: 108 (1931)
Amsinckia obliqua Suksd. Werdenda 1: 111 (1931)
Amsinckia ovaticarpa Suksd. Werdenda 1: 108 (1931)
Amsinckia platycarpa Suksd. Werdenda 1: 106 (1931)
Amsinckia pustulata A.Heller Muhlenbergia 2: 243 (1906)
Amsinckia remotifructis Suksd. Werdenda 1: 107 1931
Amsinckia rostellata Suksd. Werdenda 1: 107 (1931)
Amsinckia salebrosa Suksd. Werdenda 1: 65 (1931)
Amsinckia subintegra Suksd. Werdenda 1: 105 (1931)
Amsinckia tessellata var. elegans (Suksd.) Hoover Vasc. Pl. San Luis Obispo Co., Calif. : 245 (1970)
Amsinckia tessellata var. macrosepala M.E.Jones Contr. W. Bot. 12: 58 (1908)
Amsinckia turrita Suksd. Werdenda 1: 104 (1931)
Benthamia collina (Greene) Druce Bot. Exch. Club Brit. Isles Rep. 4: 298. 1916
Benthamia pustulata (A.Heller) Druce Bot. Exch. Club Brit. Isles Rep. 4: 299. 1916
Benthamia tessellata (A.Gray) Druce Bot. Exch. Club Brit. Isles Rep. 4: 299. 1916

Common names Top

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Language Common/alternative name
English bristly fiddleneck
English checker fiddleneck
English devil's lettuce
English tessellate fiddleneck

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

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No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

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Name Authority First published in
Amsinckia tessellata var. gloriosa (Eastw. ex Suksd.) Hoover Vasc. Pl. San Luis Obispo Co., Calif. : 245 (1970)
Amsinckia tessellata var. tessellata

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

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Forms (abbr. f.) Top

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No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

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No germination or propagation data was added yet.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
  • Northern America
    • Mexico
      • Mexico Northwest
    • North-central U.S.A.
      • Missouri
    • Northwestern U.S.A.
      • Idaho
      • Oregon
      • Washington
    • South-central U.S.A.
      • New Mexico
      • Texas
    • Southwestern U.S.A.
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Nevada
      • Utah
  • Southern America
    • Southern South America
      • Argentina Northwest
      • Argentina South
      • Chile Central

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000532259
Canadensys 3742
USDA Plants AMTE3
Tropicos 4000784
INPN 82200
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:113157-1
The Plant List kew-2635153
Open Tree Of Life 279899
NCBI Taxonomy 1037326
NBN Atlas NBNSYS0200001764
Nature Serve 2.159004
IPNI 113157-1
iNaturalist 58050
GBIF 2925877
Freebase /m/04jf2p2
EPPO AMSTE
EOL 580091
Calflora (Californian flora) 332
US Library of Congress sh2003006366
USDA GRIN 3006
Wikipedia Amsinckia_tessellata
CMAUP NPO27274
PFAF Amsinckia tesselata

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Plant networks are more connected by invasive brome and native shrub facilitation in Central California drylands Lortie CJ, Brown C, Haas-Desmarais S, Lucero J, Callaway R, Braun J, Filazzola A Sci Rep 18-Apr-2024
PMCID:PMC11026385
doi:10.1038/s41598-024-59868-w
PMID:38637667
Browsers or Grazers? New Insights into Feral Burro Diet Using a Non-Invasive Sampling and Plant DNA Metabarcoding Approach Esmaeili S, King SR, Schoenecker KA Animals (Basel) 21-Aug-2023
PMCID:PMC10451565
doi:10.3390/ani13162683
PMID:37627474
Seed Menus: An integrated decision‐support framework for native plant restoration in the Mojave Desert Shryock DF, DeFalco LA, Esque TC Ecol Evol 12-Apr-2022
PMCID:PMC9005930
doi:10.1002/ece3.8805
PMID:35432931
Combining active restoration and targeted grazing to establish native plants and reduce fuel loads in invaded ecosystems Porensky LM, Perryman BL, Williamson MA, Madsen MD, Leger EA Ecol Evol 11-Dec-2018
PMCID:PMC6309004
doi:10.1002/ece3.4642
PMID:30619563
Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) Are Selective Herbivores that Track the Flowering Phenology of Their Preferred Food Plants Jennings WB, Berry KH PLoS One 30-Jan-2015
PMCID:PMC4312072
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0116716
PMID:25635840
Profiling of Dehydropyrrolizidine Alkaloids and their N-Oxides in Herbarium-Preserved Specimens of Amsinckia Species Using HPLC-esi(+)MS Colegate SM, Welsh SL, Gardner DR, Betz JM, Panter KE J Agric Food Chem 23-Mar-2014
PMCID:PMC4117384
doi:10.1021/jf500425v
PMID:24655304
Combined effects of precipitation and nitrogen deposition on native and invasive winter annual production in California deserts Rao LE, Allen EB Oecologia 05-Dec-2009
PMCID:PMC2841273
doi:10.1007/s00442-009-1516-5
PMID:19967416
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid chemosystematics in Amsinckia Ronald B. Kelley, James N. Seiber Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/0031-9422(92)83282-4
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Amsinckia Ronald B. Kelley, James N. Seiber Elsevier BV 25-Jul-2002
doi:10.1016/0031-9422(92)83312-M

Phytochemical Profile Top

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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Alkaloids and derivatives
5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-pyrrolizin-1-ylmethyl 2-hydroxy-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylbutanoate 259729 Click to see 283.36 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83282-4
Supinine 108053 Click to see CC(C)C(C(C)O)(C(=O)OCC1=CCN2C1CCC2)O 283.36 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83282-4
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives
2,5-Dihydroxybenzoic acid 3469 Click to see 154.12 unknown via CMAUP database
3,5-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid 7424 Click to see 154.12 unknown via CMAUP database
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid 135 Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)O)O 138.12 unknown via CMAUP database
Protocatechuic Acid 72 Click to see 154.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives
Syringic Acid 10742 Click to see 198.17 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids
Gallic Acid 370 Click to see 170.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives / M-methoxybenzoic acids and derivatives
Vanillic Acid 8468 Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(=O)O)O 168.15 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Salicylic acid and derivatives / Salicylic acids
Salicylic Acid 338 Click to see 138.12 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Methoxyphenols
1,2-Ethanediol, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-, (R)- 688030 Click to see COC1=C(C=CC(=C1)C(CO)O)O 184.19 unknown via CMAUP database
> Benzenoids / Phenols / Tyrosols and derivatives / Tyrosols
Tyrosol 10393 Click to see 138.16 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Dibenzylbutane lignans / Dibenzylbutanediol lignans
Secoisolariciresinol, (+)- 6336781 Click to see 362.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty acyl glycosides / Fatty acyl glycosides of mono- and disaccharides
(Z)-3-phenyl-2-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyprop-2-enoic acid 53385591 Click to see 326.30 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives
(1S,3R,4R,5R)-3-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]-1,4,5-trihydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid 9476 Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O 354.31 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides
Syringin 5316860 Click to see 372.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrrolizidines
(2S,3R)-((1R,7aS)-hexahydro-1H-pyrrolizin-1-yl)methyl 2,3-dihydroxy-2-isopropylbutanoate 11869576 Click to see 285.38 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83312-M
(2S,3S)-2,3-Dihydroxy-2-isopropylbutanoic acid [(1R,7aR)-hexahydro-1H-pyrrolizin-1-yl]methyl ester 3454277 Click to see 285.38 unknown https://doi.org/10.1016/0031-9422(92)83312-M
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / 2-arylbenzofuran flavonoids
Dihydrodehydroconiferyl alcohol, (7R,8S)-(-)- 5274623 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC2=C1OC(C2CO)C3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)OC)CCCO 360.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids
Caffeic Acid 689043 Click to see 180.16 unknown via CMAUP database
Ferulic Acid 445858 Click to see 194.18 unknown via CMAUP database
P-Coumaric Acid 637542 Click to see 164.16 unknown via CMAUP database
Sinapinic acid 637775 Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C=CC(=O)O 224.21 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 6,7-dihydroxycoumarins
Esculetin 5281416 Click to see 178.14 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins
Catechin 9064 Click to see 290.27 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones
Luteolin 5280445 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O 286.24 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Quercetin 5280343 Click to see 302.23 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides
(2R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-6-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one 45271033 Click to see C1C(OC2=C(C1=O)C(=C(C(=C2)O)C3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O 450.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Eriodictyol-6-glucoside 102370911 Click to see C1C(OC2=C(C1=O)C(=C(C(=C2)O)C3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O 450.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Hemiphloin 160711 Click to see 434.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Isoorientin 114776 Click to see 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Isovitexin 162350 Click to see 432.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides
Eriodictyol-8-glucoside 122221847 Click to see C1C(OC2=C(C(=CC(=C2C1=O)O)O)C3C(C(C(C(O3)CO)O)O)O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O 450.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Orientin 5281675 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(O2)C(=C(C=C3O)O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Vitexin 5280441 Click to see 432.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides
3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-[2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]propan-1-one 102467789 Click to see 452.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Hyperoside 5281643 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O 464.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Isoquercetin 5280804 Click to see 464.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Quercetin 3-robinobioside 10371536 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides
Luteolin 7-O-glucoside 5280637 Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O)O 448.40 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / O-methylated flavonoids / 3-O-methylated flavonoids
Chrysoeriol 5280666 Click to see 300.26 unknown via CMAUP database
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Linear 1,3-diarylpropanoids / Chalcones and dihydrochalcones / 2-Hydroxy-dihydrochalcones
Aspalathin 11282394 Click to see 452.40 unknown via CMAUP database
Nothofagin 21722188 Click to see 436.40 unknown via CMAUP database

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