In California, it occurs in portions of both the Mohave and the Colorado Deserts, and in Arizona is restricted to the western part of the state. It is fairly abundant near Quitobaquito in the southwestern corner of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Other species of Indigobush, of which there are many, are less famous than the Smoketree, but all have purple or indigo flowers and most of them are beautiful and noticeable when in blossom. Indians used an extract from the twigs for dyeing basket material and ate the roots of D. terminalis.
BLUE
Rumex hymenosepalus
Common names: WILD-RHUBARB, DOCK, SORREL, CANAIGRE Arizona and California deserts: (Rumex hymenosepalus). Pink-green. March-April. Texas desert: (Rumex mexicanus). Pink-green. Summer. Buckwheat family. Size: Coarse perennial up to 2 feet tall.
Sturdy, conspicuous flower and seed heads together with the large leaves of these coarse, roadside plants, although hardly to be considered as beautiful, attract considerable attention and arouse the curiosity of the observer. Some species are garden weeds introduced from Europe. In the desert, the large, coarse leaves and pinkish flower stalks make quite a showing in sandy washes and along the roadsides as early as March and April. The plant is being considered as a source of tannin (from its tubers) to replace that formerly obtained from Chestnuts.
GREEN
Simmondsia chinensis
