other uses Archives - The Cargo Cult Café

Wild Balsam Apple: Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

September 14, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Wild Balsam Apple, Echinocystis lobata, is a medicinal vine that can be misidentified as grapes due to similar leaves. The fruit resembles and smells like a cucumber but can cause vomiting and diarrhea. It was used by American Indians for rheumatism, chills, fever, headache, obstructed menstruation, kidney ailments, stomach troubles, as a tonic and panacea (cure-all). The seeds were used to make beads for jewelry.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

Wild Balsam Apple Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Foster, Steven and James A. Duke. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America. 2nd. ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000. Print. pg. 25-27

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 40

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 207

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 356-357

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Chufa Flatsedge: Edible, Medicinal & Other Uses

July 29, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Chufa Flatsedge, Cyperus esculentus, is a common ornamental grass found all over the world. It has a high content of vitamin E making it great for your skin. The tubers can be harvested all year and can be eaten or turned into a beverage.

Chufa Flatsedge Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 190

Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 230-231

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Wikipedia. The Free encyclopedia. Web.

Day Lily: Edible, Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

June 23, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Day Lily, Hemerocallis fulva, is a plant of summer. The flower has six orange lobes and basal leaves. You can eat the flower buds, flowers, young shoots, seeds, leaves and roots. Medicinally, Chinese herbalists have used the plant as a sedative, pain killer and for PTSD. The leaves can be made into a good cordage.

Day Lily Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Brill, Steve. Wild Edibles Plus. Computer Software. WinterRoot LLC. Version 1.5. 2012. Web. Feb. 15, 2014.

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 336-337

Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 92-93 pl. 7

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Web.

Yellow Sweet Clover: Edible, Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

June 3, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Yellow Sweet Clover, Melilotus officinalis, is an edible and medicinal wildflower that can be seen between April and October and has been used as an incense and insecticide.

Yellow Sweet Clover Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Brill, Steve. Wild Edibles Plus. Computer Software. WinterRoot LLC. Version 1.5. 2012. Web. Feb. 15, 2014.

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 171

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 338

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 58-59

Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 80-81

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Oxeye Daisy: Edible, Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

June 3, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Oxeye Daisy , Chrysanthemum leucanthemum or Leucanthemum vulgare, is an edible and medicinal wildflower that can be seen between April and August. The flowers and leaves make a nice tea. It was used medicinally as an eye wash, fever medicine and a remedy for chapped hands.

Oxeye Daisy Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Culpeper, M.D., Nicholas. Culpeper Color Herbal. Ed. David Potterton. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1983. Print. pg. 55

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 302-303

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 380-381

Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 58-59

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Dame’s Rocket: Edible & Other Uses

May 29, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

Dame’s Rocket, Hesperis matronalis, is a beautiful and edible wild flower brought over from Europe and escaped from gardens and cultivated beds. You can nibble on the seeds and sprouts and use it as perfume.

Dame’s Rocket Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Culpeper, M.D., Nicholas. Culpeper Color Herbal. Ed. David Potterton. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1983. Print. pg. 69

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 51

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 138-139

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Web.

False Solomon’s Seal: Edible, Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

May 27, 2015 by Mike Leave a Comment

False Solomon’s Seal, Smilacina racemosa or Maianthemum racemosum, is a wild edible and medicinal plant used by several tribe for many uses. The young shoots taste like asparagus and the plant was used as a fishing item. It was used medicinally for rheumatism, coughs, headaches and so much more.

False Solomon’s Seal Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Brill, Steve. Wild Edibles Plus. Computer Software. WinterRoot LLC. Version 1.5. 2012. Web. Feb. 15, 2014.

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 56

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 93, 245

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 331-332

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 346-347

Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 52-53

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Common Fleabane: Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

April 13, 2015 by Mike 6 Comments

Common Fleabane, Erigeron philadelphicus, is a common medicinal wildflower. It has been used medicinally for diarrhea, childbirth, coughs, hemorrhages, eye sight and even as a poison ivy remedy. It was also used in a kinnikinnick mixture for pipe smoking.

Common Fleabane Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 35

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 231

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 219

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 382-383

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.

Black-eyed Susan: Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

March 23, 2015 by Mike 2 Comments

Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, a medicinal plant of summer. American Indians used this plant for swelling, sores, snakebites, worms, colds and sore eyes. A brown or yellow dye can be obtained from the flowers.

Black-eyed Susan Sources:

Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 30

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 236

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 494-495

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 374-375

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.