About Allenrolfea occidentalis (S.Watson) Kuntze
Allenrolfea occidentalis, commonly called iodinebush, has knobby, fleshy green stems that look jointed at the internodes between stem segments. The segments are often so short that they are nearly round in shape. Its leaves take the form of small, flaky scales scattered across the surface of the stems. This plant can grow up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall. The genus Allenrolfea was named in honor of English botanist Robert Allen Rolfe. Prehistoric peoples in North America used the seeds of iodinebush as a food source.
