Chamise
‘Ephii
‘Iipay Aa name: ‘ephii
Common name: chamise
Scientific name: Adenostoma fasciculatum
Chamise, or ‘ephii in ‘Iipay Aa, is a member of the rose family. It can grow to thirteen feet tall and eight feet wide. This shrub has very small, hard, shiny leaves that grow in clusters and keep their olive-green color all year round. In spring, the small white flowers of the chamise bloom in bunches at the ends of its branches. The tiny leaves of the chamise limit water loss during the dry months. The shrub also has wide-spreading and deep roots to access deep ground water sources year-round. If it gets burnt down in a fire, the chemise can resprout from its stump. This plant can live to be more than 100 years old.
Photo courtesy Linda Vista Native Plants.
The chamise plant provides cover and nesting places for small birds. The young branches provide food for deer, rabbits, and other mammals. Woodrats gather chamise leaves and bark and store them in dens to be eaten year-round. Many California moths and butterflies lay their eggs on this plant, which then provides food for their larva.
Kumeyaay People use chemise branches to make hardwood points for arrows. They fire treat the points to make them very hard. The branches are whittled to produce tools and shelter material.