Most people probably pronounce the name Hoita as HOY-ta which is the way it would be pronounced if it were an English name, however the name Hoita was recorded by Victor King Chesnut (1867-1938) as a name for Psoralea in the ConCow (or KonKow) Maidu language spoken by a Native American people of the Feather River region (Butte County, California). In their language it was spoken with a short 'i', long 'a' and accent on the middle syllable, hence ho-IT-ay,

Horehound *
Marrubium vulgare
Lamiaceae

Horehound candies which were made with sugar and an extract from this plant were one of my grandfather's favorite candies and my least favorite. Their bittersweet flavor has been compared to menthol, licorice and root beer. As far back as the 1st century BC, this plant has been utilized to alleviate all kinds of physical problems. Native to Europe, Northern Africa and southwestern and central Asia, the name derives from the Old English 'hoar,' white or light-colored, referring to the hairs that lend it its 'hoary' appearance, and 'hune,' a generic word for plant. One of its common names was houndsbane. Horehound candy probably originated as a medicine, which is perhaps one of the reasons I didn't like it.

California black walnut
Juglans californica
Juglandaceae
[Picture on left shows male flowers]