Naming
Eriogonum: from the Greek "erion", "wool", and "gonu", "joint or knee", in reference to the hairy or woolly joints of some of the species of the genus, but not particularly "inflatum". It is found in the Mojave Desert and other deserts.Uses
It is known that some Native American tribes that once inhabited the surrounding areas of the Las Vegas Valley would remove the stalk of "E. inflatum" at the base, and then cut the inflated bulb in half, producing a makeshift pipe. A mixture of Indian tobacco and mistletoe would be smoked primarily for leisure purposes.This plant makes a brief appearance in "Star Trek: Voyager", in Season 3, episode 1, at around the 3 minute 47 second mark, when the character "Neelix" is shown to be looking at a picked specimen.
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