Lithospermum ruderale

Lithospermum ruderale is a species of flowering plant in the borage family, Boraginaceae.^[2][3] It is known by the common name western stoneseed or lemonweed. It is native to western Canada and the western United States, where it can be found in many types of habitat. A perennial herb growing from a taproot and woody caudex, it is covered with fine, more or less upright, hairs, especially on the stems. It produces a cluster of erect leafy stems ranging from 20 to 50 centimetres (7+7⁄8 to 19+5⁄8 in) centimeters in height. The stems support lance-shaped leaves ranging from 2.5–10 cm (1–4 in) in length.^[4] Bunches of flowers with leaf-like bracts appear toward the top of the stem amongst the leaves. The corolla is fused at the base with five lobes^[4] which are light yellow, often slightly greenish, and about a centimeter long and wide. The style is short. The fruit consists of one or two, sometimes four, clustered glossy grey nutlets, 3.5 to 6, sometimes as much as 8 mm long.

The plant was used as a contraceptive by several Native American groups, including the Navajo and Shoshone.^[5] Studies on mice show the plant reduced their fertility.^[6] Plains Indians also used the roots to treat respiratory issues and cooked them as food.^[4]

• Media related to Lithospermum ruderale at Wikimedia Commons
• Data related to Lithospermum ruderale at Wikispecies
• Jepson Manual Treatment
• "Lithospermum ruderale". Plants for a Future.
• Lithospermum ruderale in the CalPhotos photo database, University of California, Berkeley