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Summary

The correct spelling of this plant is Amsinckia tessellata. Cobblestone or western fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata) is a widespread desert annual that covers landscapes in yellow blooms during spring. Although some Native American groups ate the boiled or raw leaves and occasionally the seeds, the plant contains toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids that make it unsafe for consumption. Boiled leaves taste mild but are mushy, while the seeds are bitter and unpleasant. It is considered toxic to livestock and can behave as a weed in disturbed areas, though it also provides nectar to pollinators and stabilizes sandy soils. Edibility rating: 1/5 – not recommended as food.

Physical Characteristics

Amsinckia tesselata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Amsinckia tessellata. Benthamia tessellata (A.Gray) Druce

Plant Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:

Like all fiddlenecks, Amsinckia tessellata contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), cumulative liver toxins that are not destroyed by cooking or drying [2-3]. Despite this, historical records show that the Kawaiisu Indians of southern California boiled and ate the leaves as a spring vegetable, and the Pima Indians of southern Arizona ate them raw. The Gosiute of Utah and Nevada ate the seeds, but both leaves and seeds should be considered unsafe. Boiled leaves taste mild and spinach-like, but their texture is mushy and gritty. The nutlets (seed units) are small, hard, bitter, and medicine-like in flavor—unpleasant and unsafe as food. Edibility rating: 1/5 – historically used, but unsafe for modern foraging due to toxic alkaloids[2-3]. Seed[161, 177]. No more details are given, but the seeds of other members of the genus is dried then ground into a powder and make into cakes which are eaten raw[257]. If this species is like most other members of the family Boraginaceae, the seed is likely to ripen over a period of time and individual seeds fall from the plant when they are ripe. This will make harvesting any quantity of seed very fiddly and time-consuming [K]. Leaves - raw[257]. Sometimes the leaves are bruised by rubbing them between the hands and are then eaten with salt[257].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Limited cultural uses outside of food; no documented medicinal uses, likely due to toxicity.

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Provides early-season pollen and nectar for pollinators. Contributes to soil stabilization in disturbed sites by rapidly covering bare ground.

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers open, sunny, and dry habitats. Found in deserts, sandy flats, grasslands, and disturbed soils. Tolerates poor soils and arid conditions; thrives after winter and spring rains. We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it should succeed outdoors in many parts of the country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in ordinary garden soil in full sun[1, 200]. Habitat: Widespread across the deserts and drylands of the western United States and northern Mexico. Common in Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts, often forming brilliant yellow carpets in spring. A fast-growing annual. Germinates quickly after winter rains, produces dense stands, and flowers prolifically in spring.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow late spring in situ[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Amsinckia tessellata. Cobblestone, smooth, bristly, or western fiddleneck (Amsinckia tessellata),

Native Range

Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Arizona, California, Chile Central, Idaho, Mexico Northwest, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Moderate to high. A prolific self-seeder that can dominate disturbed areas. Considered toxic to livestock (especially cattle and horses), so in rangeland contexts it is treated as a noxious weed. Within its natural range, it is a common spring annual rather than an invasive outside species.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Other
Amsinckia lycopsoides	Tarweed Fiddleneck	Annual	0.6	6-9		LMH	N	DM	1
Amsinckia menziesii	Small-flowered fiddleneck	Annual	0.8	6-10	F	LM	N	DM	1	2
Amsinckia menziesii var. intermedia	Common Fiddleneck	Annual	1.0	6-10	F	LM	N	DM	1	2

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Amsinckia tesselata - A.Gray.