Flower · GBIF taxon 3095931
Stiff Greenthread
Thelesperma filifoliumAlso known as Plains Greenthread, Navajo Tea, Hopi Tea
Stiff greenthread is a drought-adapted native wildflower of the North American plains, recognized by its delicate, thread-like leaves and vibrant golden blooms with red-brown centers. It serves as an essential nectar reservoir for native bees, butterflies, and skippers through the heat of summer. Historically brewed into an aromatic tea by Indigenous peoples across the Southwest and southern Great Plains, it readily pioneers dry, calcareous soils and disturbed roadsides where little else thrives.
WildflowerDrought TolerantPollinator Magnet
Licensed reference(c) Laura Gaudette, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Photoautotrophic
Predators
- Grasshoppers
- White-tailed Deer
- Cattle
ThreatsHabitat conversion to intensive agriculture, heavy herbicide application, and competition from invasive exotic grasses
HabitatsDry prairies, calcareous slopes, disturbed sandy soils, open pastures, and roadsides
Life spanAnnual or biennial
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsterales
- FamilyAsteraceae
- GenusThelesperma
- SpeciesThelesperma filifolium
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Optimal Viewing: Search dry, limestone-rich soils, caliche banks, and sunny prairie roadsides between March and October.
- Foliage Identification: Look closely at the stem leaves, which are deeply dissected into wiry, thread-like segments.
Look-alike (c) Thayne Tuason, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Pollinator (c) Pablo F. Domínguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Reid Hardin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family Dr Photographer / PUBLIC DOMAIN · public domain
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