Bobea

• Botanical Name(s): Ceanothus americanus

• Popular Name(s): New Jersey Tea, Wild Snowball, Jersey Tea, Mountain-Sweet, Red Root, Walpole Tea

• Parts Used: Root or bark of the root

• Habitat: Bobea is found in North America.

Description: Bobea is a small, deciduous shrub with a round, slender, reddish stem and grows to a height of 0.5-3 m. Its root is red inside and brownish or reddish on the outer side. The shrub bears alternate, ovate or oblong-ovate, finely serrate leaves that are dull green on top and finely hairy beneath. Its small white flowers grow in long- stalked clusters.

Uses: Bobea has astringent, antispasmodic and anti-syphilitic properties. It is used as an expectorant and sedative. It curesasthma, chronic bronchitis, whooping-cough and dysentery. It is used as a mouth-wash also.