Madia


Madia is a genus of annual or perennial usually aromatic herbs with yellow flowers, in the tribe Madieae within the family Asteraceae.
They are sometimes known as tarweeds. The species in this genus are native to western North America and southwestern South America. The name Madia is derived from native Chilean name for one of the members of the genus. Tarweeds derive their common name from the intense stickiness of the plant.

Uses

Tarweeds produce abundant seed, are agreeably aromatic and oily, and form an important part of the small seeds used in pinole. Tarweed and other seeds in pinole formed a staple food in the diet of the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Coast. In particular, the seeds of gumweed were among the most valued by the Miwok people for pinole. The Hupa, Cahuilla,
Diegueño, Chumash, Costanoan, Kawaiisu, and Maidu tribes in California made pinole from Madiaspecies.

Ecology

The dark seeds of tarweeds are used as food by many birds and small mammals, including mourning doves, quail, blackbirds, finches, Oregon juncos, California horned larks, western meadowlarks, American pipits, sparrows, towhees, chipmunks, ground squirrels, and mice. Cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, and chipmunks eat the plants.

Taxonomy

Species

There are 11 accepted species of Madia.
Several genera have been split from Madia, including, Anisocarpus, Harmonia, Jensia and Kyhosia. Species include:
  • Madia bolanderi - Kyhosia bolanderi
  • Madia doris-nilesiae - Harmonia doris-nilesiae
  • Madia hallii - Harmonia hallii
  • Madia madioides - Anisocarpus madioides
  • Madia minima - Hemizonella minima
  • Madia nutans - Harmonia nutans
  • Madia stebbinsii - Harmonia stebbinsii
  • Madia yosemitana - ''Jensia yosemitana''