Hound’s-tongue grows on the roadsides and waste places in both Europe and America. It is a biennial herb rough, bristly and medium in size about 2–3 ft. high. Stems are hairy, leafy about 1-2 feet high, branched above arising from amidst large, radical, narrow and stalked leaves. The leaves are tongue-shaped, hoary with soft down on both sides. Flowers are blue to lavender, funnel form on terminal panicles, growing in clusters. The fruit, like Burdock, when dry sticks to livestock and hunting dogs. The leaves are bitter, and the root when fresh has an unpleasant heavy odour, diminishing when dry.…
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Indigenous, perennial plant found in high, dry places along the margins of dry woods, mostly on poor sandy soil. The evergreen plant, with slender stem, is of a reddish colour and from 4–7 in. high. Stems are reddish with grey-green leaves with distinctive red-brown tip. Leaves are lanceolate and upright spreading when dry and moist and wide spreading. Slender leaves are distributed all around and along the entire length of the stems and eventually turn brown and break off as they ages. Leaves are widely spreading to ascending when moist and dry leaves are slightly incurved and strongly ascending to erect. Leaves…
Bowman’s Root is a perennial flowering plant in the rose family and is inherent to eastern United States and Canada and spans from Southern Ontario to Georgia. It could be found west to Kentucky, Arkansas and Lousiana. This indigenous shrub can be found scattered in North America: Canada to Florida, on the eastern side of the Alleghenies. Does well in open hilly woods, in light gravelly soil. The root is quite thick with thin bark and many fissured rootlets, of bitter taste. The several erect, slender and smooth stems are 2–3 ft. high, and of a reddish or brownish colour.…
Yellow Jessamine is a climbing vine inherent to the Southeastern United States. It is also known as Poor man’s rope, Carolina Jessamine and Yellow Jasmin. Abounding throughout North America, from Vancouver to Florida. The beautifully woody climber with its yellow flowers in March through May has an agreeable odour, and is cultivated as an ornamental vine. The plant has a twining stem with perennial leaves, which are dark green above and pale beneath. The roots are numerous, tough and splintery, containing Gelsemium as its active principle, also fixed oil, acrid resin, yellow colouring matter, a heavy volatile oil, a crystalline…
This flowering plant, with its large, bright yellow face, is indigenous to all parts of the United States, growing in dry, sandy soils and blossoming from May to July. The flowers open in sunshine and cast their petals the next day. When seen growing you will notice some with petals and some without. The Rock rose is a perennial herb, simple, ascending downy stems about 1 ft. high. The leaves are alternate, from ½–1 in. long, and about a quarter as wide. The leaves, as well as the stem, are covered with a white down, hence its name. The whole…
The species is native in the eastern United States, from Pennsylvania to the Gulf of Mexico. A shrub or small tree of the Oleaceae, or olive, family. The plants are 10–30 ft. high, possess oval, smooth, entire leaves, and bear snow-white flowers which hang down like a fringe, hence the common name and synonyms. Fruit fleshy, purple, ovoid drupe. They form an attractive feature in garden shrubbery, growing well on river banks and on elevated places, presenting clusters of snow-white flowers in May and June. Root about ⅛ in. thick, dull brown with irregular concave scales on outer surface, inside…
This so-called annual weed naturalized in the United States of America; especially thrives where areas have been cleared by burning, also in moist woods. Height from 1–6 ft., with thick, rough, fleshy, branching stems. The white flowers bloom from July to October, somewhat resembling the Sowthistle. The fruit, an achenium, oblong and hairy. The plant has a strong unpleasant odour and bitter, disagreeable taste. Leaves on stalks are divided into three or five oval leaflets and toothed towards their tips. It is considered as the safe and most powerful of native aromatic astringents and for its tonic properties it is…
Fireweed is a plant in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is inherent to Americas but can be found in many places. It is introduced in Hawaii, China and Southeast Asia. This so-called annual weed naturalized in the United States of America; especially thrives where areas have been cleared by burning, also in moist woods. Height from 1–6 ft., with thick, rough, fleshy, branching stems. The white flowers bloom from July to October, somewhat resembling the Sowthistle. The fruit, an achenium, oblong and hairy. The plant has a strong unpleasant odour and bitter, disagreeable taste. Plant description It has herbaceous annual,…
Polybody is a fern which belongs to Polypodiaceae family and is found throughout the year. It is inherent to Europe and found in eastern Asia, Africa predominantly in northern areas. It is common in France upto an altitude of 2000 meters. It is also found in Scandinavia mostly in southern part of the area and some species are found in America and eastern Asia. The fern family is common throughout the United States in shady woods and on mountains. This perennial has a creeping, irregular brown root which has a peculiar and rather unpleasant odour and somewhat sickening taste. The…
Marsh Eryngo is a flowering plant species belonging to carrot family which is also known as Button Snakeroot, Rattlesnake Master, Eryngo, Corn-snakeroot, Marsh eryngo, Bitter snakeroot and Sea holly. It is inherent to eastern North America.There are about 220 species in the genus, of which about twenty- two are found in America. E. aquaticum grows in wet soil and in the pine barrens, from New Jersey south to Florida; and west to Texas, Missouri and Minnesota. The herb is biennial or perennial growing to the height of 2 meters. Leaves are alternately arranged, lance shaped and toothed on the edges.…
Jack in the pulpit is a native plant which belongs to Arum family Arisaema triphyllum grows on different parts. Leaves grow on one stalk and blossom grows on another. Stalks grow to the same height of 1-3 feet. Leaves are trifoliate with three leaves which grows together at the top of one lone stem which forms from a corm. Each leaflet is 8-15 cm long and 3-7 cm broad. Blossoms are green and there are brown stripes on inside of the pulpit. Inflorescences are irregularly shaped and grows to the length of 8 cm. It is greenish-yellow or fully green…
Dogwood, the common name of many of the larger of the forty or so species frequently cultivated, of hardy shrubs, trees and herbs that comprise the genus Cornus (family Cornaceae). The above species grows from 12–30 ft. high in Canada and the United States. The slow growing and compact wood is covered with a rough and brownish bark used for many purposes. The leaves are smooth ovate, dark green above and pale beneath; the flowers are in bloom April to May, and are of a greenish-yellow colour and constitute the chief beauty of the tree in the springtime. The action…
This singular, leafless plant has a collection of small, fleshy tubers as roots; the stalk is coral-like, of pale yellow colour, with a covering of sort of sticky wool and scales, answering for leaves. An ovary is greenish to yellow and about ¼ inch long.The flowers, from ten to twenty, are of a brownish-green colour in bloom from July to October, and the fruit is a large oblong capsule. Resembles Beechdrops, growing from 10–20 in. high, and depends on roots of trees and the rich soil of the woods for survival, as does Beechdrops. The root is small, dark brown,…
Guelder Rose is indigenous to the northern part of the United States and Canada. It is a handsome shrub, growing in low rich lands, woods and borders of fields, presenting a showy appearance of flowers in June. The flowers are succeeded by red, very acid berries, resembling low cranberries, and sometimes substituted for them. They remain on the bush after the leaves have fallen and throughout the winter. The bark has no smell, but has a peculiar bitterish and astringent taste, which leaves a clean feeling in the mouth. Viburnine is the active principle found in the dried bark of…
There are many different species of Gossypium, a member of the Malvaceae, or Mallow, family. Economically, cotton is one of the most valuable of all plants. The biennial or triennial herb is a branching shrub about 5 ft. high, with woody roots, and branches. The flower seems to open only for pollination, as it withers after one day. The boll grows to golf ball size with pointed tip. The boll cracks and splits from the tip showing locks, or 8–10 seeds with fibres attached. The open dried boll, which holds the fluffed-out cotton is called the burr. Native to Asia,…
Bitter Berry is a native perennial, woody, deciduous and thicket forming large erect shrub or small tree. It reaches to the height of over 30 feet. The tree has irregular crown which measures 10 to 20 feet wide when mature. Stems are slender and numerous. The outside bark is blackish and rugged. The young branches are smooth, red or purplish; flowers appear after the leaves in May and June, followed by the delicious Cherry in August. Individual flowers are 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter with 5 white petals. Leaves are glossy and dark green, alternate, glabrous, simple, oval to…
Chaparral belongs to a group of desert Artimesia. It is an Indian term referring to over one hundred different botanical plant types growing in alkali soil, from narrow strips to over 100 sq. miles in the south-western part of the United States. Beginning at La Joya, California, extending eastward through California, across Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. The dark-green stems and leaves (if drought season, pale or yellowish-green) provide a 4–8 ft. miniature desert-forest. Distinguished from the usual grey green colour of the other desert species. The strong-scented leaves are opposite and are divided into two leaflets. The bright yellow,…
This plant is common to most parts of the United States. There are many species and colours: the English distinguish between them by using the red Centaury in diseases of the blood, the yellow in choleric diseases, and the white in those of phlegm and water. Variety and habitat is not only limited to colour; the Centaury family will grow in many soil conditions—moist meadows, among high grass, on the prairies and in damp ditch soil. It flowers from June to September and is best gathered at this time. The flowers close at night and the American variety is considered…
Mountain Laurel is found in rocky hills or elevated ground in most parts of United States measuring 4-8 ft. high with crooked stems and rough bark. Leaves are evergreen measuring 2-3 inches long. Flowers are numerous, white found in June and July. Flowers are round which ranges from light pink to white forming in clusters. Several named cultivars have darker shades of pink, maroon and near red pigment. Naturally it is found on rocky slopes and mountainous forest areas. It thrives well in acidic soil and prefers soil pH in the range 4.5 to 5.5. It is used to cure…
It is one of several species called Indian hemp. The root grows deep in the soil, supporting a plant 1–5 ft. tall with erect, smooth and pointed leaves and resembling Bitter root (Apocynum androsaemifolium). They are distinguishable by their leaves and flowers. The leaves of this species are oblong and sharper pointed at both ends, while those of the Bitter root are pointed only at the outer end and quite round at the stalk end. The flowers of this species are greenish-yellow, a light pink or purple inside, while those of the Bitter root are white, tinged with red. Poisonous…
A parasite of the family Orabanchaceae (broom-rape family). The name Cancer root is applied to several of the root parasites but more specifically to the Beechdrop or cancer drops of the beech tree roots. The low wiry plant has pale brown, dull red, or light brown stems usually marked with fine brown purple lines. The stem has leaf scales but no leaves. The root is scaly and tuberous. Altogether the taste is disagreeably astringent. The August and September flowers are white in the upper corolla, about 1 cm long, striped with brown-purple and are sterile; the less conspicuous lower flowers…
This perennial 39 inches (1 m) tall plant is in the carrot family and needs copious sun and well-drained soil. Stem is slender, flexous with spreading branches. It resembles fennel or dill in its yellow flower clusters in autumn, and has long sickle-shaped leaves (“hare’s ears”). It is the long, brown, branched, wrinkly root (up to 8 inches/20 cm) of Bupleurum chinense that is considered the original chai hu (pharmaceutical name in Chinese herbal medicine is Radix bupleuri) but other species are used, including B. falcatumv in Japan. One related species is toxic (B. longiradiatum). Basal leaves are lanceolate, upper…
Huperzia serrata is a rare species which is considered a medicinal herb in Western countries and is used in a wide range of functional foods. It is used to prevent aging diseases. It is propagated by spores. It is a type of moss which is found in subtropical parts of India, Southern China and the United States. The herb is used as a cognitive enhancer and treats organophosphate poisoning and neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. This traditional Chinese medicine for memory took the world by storm fifty years ago. Clinical studies show its ingredient huperzine is…
Other names for Autumn Crocus are meadow saffron, naked ladies and naked boys. The herbaceous perennial of the meadows of Europe originated in Colchide on the eastern bank of the Black Sea. Autumn Crocus is a bulb growing to 0.2 m by 0.2 at a medium rate. It is in flower from August to October and seeds ripen from April to June. Species are hermaphrodite and is pollinated by bees and flies. It prefers well-drained soils with suitable pH: acid, alkaline and neutral soils. It is grown as an ornamental plant and naturalized in parts of United States. Flowers are…
Cauliflower Fungus is parasitic on roots of conifers especially on dead and dying coniferous stumps and standing trees. It is infrequent in southern parts of Finland, Norway and Sweden. It is especially cultivated in South-East Asia. Generally, it is shaped like an irregular sphere on a short stem. The color of the spores ranges from white to pale yellow. It grows in coniferous woods close to various different species. It is found throughout Europe and North America. Cauliflower Fungus has the shape of globe with diameter upto 61 cm. Individual lobes are white/yellow to lasagna noodles due to its flat…
Beech Mushroom is a most gourmet of Oyster like mushrooms due to its fine texture. The mushroom is hemispheric to plane and marbled with water spots on the cap. It measures 2-7 cm. The cap margin is inrolled to incurved. They have crunchy texture which provides delicately mild flavor both satisfyingly sweet and nutty. In the wild, it grows on fallen Beech trees in Japan. It is used for stews, soups and sauces. It is consumed in clusters or individually separated. Cap Cap is 4-8 cm, convex and becoming broadly convex with slightly inrolled margin. It is whitish to buff…
Nameko mushroom also known as Butterscotch Mushroom, Forest Nameko and Namerako. It was originally cultivated in Japan. It was introduced to the southern part of Liaoning Province, China. The cultivated mushrooms are light dull pale yellow to yellow brown pileus and white to creamy stipe. Pileus is fleshy, 2-3.5 cm broad, light yellow to yellow brown and orange brown at maturity. Margin fades to yellow brown. Fully grown is light brown to fugacious brown. Pellicle is thin, separable and yellowish to yellowish brown. Flesh is white to slightly creamy. Stipe is slender, stuffed hollow, 5-6 cm long, 0.5 cm broad,…
[php snippet=1]Tawny Milkcap, also scientifically known as Lactarius volemus is a fungus species in the family Russulaceae. It is widely distributed in northern hemisphere, in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, North America and some subtropical and tropical regions of Central America and Asia. The fruit bodies grow on a ground at a base of various species of trees from summer to autumn either individually or in groups. It produces a white spore print and has roughly spherical spores which measures 7–8 micrometers in diameter. The color of the mushroom varies from apricot to tawny and the cap is upto 11…
Velvet apple is endemic to the low and medium altitude forests of the Philippine Islands from the islands of Luzon to the southernmost of the Sulu Islands and also found in southern Taiwan and Celebes in Indonesia. The tree was introduced into Malaysia, Java, India and subsequently elsewhere in the tropics. It thrives in areas with tropical, monsoonal climate. It is a slow growing and evergreen tree with drooping branches to an erect, straight tree normally which grows normally upto 18 meters tall with exceptional specimens’ upto 33 meters with a stout, black and furrowed bole which can be 80…
With its scientific name Dillenia philippinensis, this plant is also known as Katmon, Philippine Dillenia and Elephant apple. It is native to Philippines and used for urban greening. It can be found on Babuyan Islands, Polillo, Luzon, Mindoro, Leyte, Masbate, Guimaras, Negros Island, Cebu and Basilan. It grows in low to medium altitude forests throughout Philippines but does not survive in cold climates of uplands. This evergreen tree grows 15 meters high. The trunk is erect and bark is smooth. Leaves are shiny, leathery and oblong about 12-25 centimeters long. Flowers are large, showy, white and about 15 centimeters in…