eriodictyon

The dried leaves of E. californicum (family Hydrophyllaceae); the fluidextract and the syrup have been used as an expectorant and flavoring agent to mask the taste of bitter substances. SYN: mountain balm, yerba santa.

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er·i·o·dic·ty·on -tē-.än n

1 a) cap a small genus of resinous shrubs (family Hydrophyllaceae) of southwestern No. America having finely reticulated leaves often woolly beneath and white or bluish flowers

b) any plant of the genus Eriodictyon

2) the dried leaves of yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) used as a flavoring in medicine esp. to disguise the taste of quinine

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Er·i·o·dic·ty·on (er″e-o-dikґte-on) [Gr. erion wool + diktyon net] a genus of resinous shrubs of the family Hydrophyllaceae that grow in the southwestern United States and Mexico. The most important species is E. califorґnicum, the source of the flavoring called eriodictyon. Called also mountain balm and yerba santa.