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You are here: Home / Archives for P2F

Black Medick: Cautions, Edible & Medicinal

June 30, 2017 by Mike Leave a Comment

Black Medick, or known by its Latin name as Medicago lupulina, is a member of the Pea Family. Its lifespan is either an annual or a short lived perennial and the plant sprawls out along the ground from a 1-1 ½’ in length. This native plant of Eurasia can be now be found throughout much of North America in roadsides, waste places, meadows, and cultivated beds.

Black Medick IdentificationBlack Medick Identification. Plight to Freedom

The flowers can be observed from March to December and are yellow, irregular, and grow in small flower heads that will turn into fruit clusters of small, one-seeded, black, spirally coiled pods. The plant has alternate leaves that are divided into 3 leaflets, which are entire or finely toothed, the leaflets are tipped with a short bristle, and they have long leafstalks. The stem is sprawling and downy, and the root is deeply rooted.

Caution 

Black Medick Seeds. Plight to Freedom

The seeds of Medicago lupulina is said to contain trypsin inhibitors. These can interfere with certain enzymes that help in the digestion of proteins, but could possibly be destroyed if the seed is sprouted first. It should also be noted that other Medicagos, such as Alfalfa, contain the amino acid L-Canavanine which can cause abnormal blood cell counts, the enlargement of the spleen, and possibly a recurrence of lupus in those who suffer from the disease. Alfalfa also has some estrogenic components, so it is not recommended for pregnant women or children. The estrogenic components will also increases the clotting ability of your blood, which will decrease the effectiveness of drugs such as Warfarin/Coumadin.

Edible

Edible Parts: Seeds & Leaves: Summer to Fall

Nutrition: Three ounces of the leaves contains about 23.3 grams of protein, 3.3 of fiber and 10.3 of ash. In milligrams they have 1330 mg of calcium, 300 mg of Phosphorus, 450 mg of magnesium and 2280 mg of potassium.

The seeds were lightly roasted and eaten out of hand or ground into flour. The Leaves are a bit chewy and were cooked as a potherb.

Medicinal

Medicinal Actions: Antibacterial and a mild laxative

Aqueous extracts of the plant have antibacterial properties against micro-organisms and the plant is mildly laxative.

Other Uses: Fodder plant for grazing animals

 

 

Black Medick Sources:

Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986

Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

Green Deane, Black Medick. Eat the Weeds and other things, too. Web.

Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant’s Notes on Edible Plants. Dover Publications. Albany. J.B. Lyon Company, State Printers. 1919 pg. 357

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

Plants For A Future, Medicago Lupulina. Web.

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

Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Dept of Agriculture. pg. 37

Filed Under: (4) Leaves Divided, April, August, Blog, December, Edible Wildflowers, July, June, March, May, Medicinal Wildflowers, November, October, September, Yellow Tagged With: American Indian Remedies Black Medick, American Indian Remedies Medicago lupulina, Black Medick, Bushcraft Black Medick, Bushcraft Medicago lupulina, Bushman's Wildflower Guide, eastern wildflowers, Edible Black Medick, Edible Medicago lupulina, Edible Wild Plants Medicago lupulina, field guide, food, Medicago lupulina, medicinal, Medicinal Black Medick, Medicinal Medicago lupulina, Medicine Black Medick, Medicine Medicago lupulina, nature, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, Ohio, P2F, Plant ID Black Medick, Plant ID Medicago lupulina, plant identification, Plant Identification Black Medick, Plant Identification Medicago lupulina, Plight to Freedom, survival, Survival food Black Medick, Survival food Medicago lupulina, Survival Medicine Black Medick, Survival Medicine Medicago lupulina, survivalist, Uses Black Medick, Uses Medicago lupulina, wild edible, Wild Edible Plants Black Medick, Wild Edibles Black Medick, Wild Edibles Medicago lupulina, wild medicinal, Wild Medicine Black Medick, Wild Medicine Medicago lupulina, Wilderness, wildflower

Three Ways to Set Up A Tarp Using Trekking Poles

May 17, 2017 by Mike Leave a Comment

A trekking pole is a handy piece of equipment, not only for it’s help navigating in difficult terrain or relieving the strain put on your back, but to also help you setup your shelter for the night. Let’s take a look at three different methods to set up your tarp using trekking poles: the clove hitch, the upside down, and the cross method.

Trekking Pole Clove Hitch Method

Clove hitch attaching trekking pole to tarp

The first method obviously involves using a clove hitch. First attach the guy line to the tarp. I normally use a bowline hitch but there are serval options for you to try. Next, clove hitch the guy line onto the handle of the trekking pole. Form two loops the same way and cross the first loop over the second, slip it over the pole and tighten. From there I normally stake it out using a trucker’s hitch but again there are numerous options such as various friction hitches, regular hitches, or hardware.

Upside Down Method

Upside down trekking pole on a tarp

The second method is just as simple, but upside down. Start out by tying an non-slip loop knot such as a bowline hitch or the figure of eight loop, onto one end of your guy line. Turn your trekking pole upside down and slip the loop over the tip of the pole letting it rest on the basket. Insert the tip of the pole into the tarp’s grommet, connect the line around the stake, feed it back up to the loop, add tension, and tie it off with two half-hitches. Alternatively you can tie a loop onto your tarp and proceed in the same manner.

Cross Pole Method

Trekking pole, cross pole method

The third and final method is the cross-pole method. This will give you more room to enter and exit an A Frame or Tent-like structure. Again, start out by tying a guy line to the tarp. Holding your poles parallel, slip one of the pole straps over the handle of the other. Pull the strap of the second pole through the strap of the first and loop it over the handle of the first pole. Cross the shafts of the poles and you will create an upside down V, then slightly push the poles down into the ground so that they are freestanding, or nearly so. From here take the guy line and loop it at least once around the handles of the poles, taking a turn, and choose one of the many options you have to add tension to the line and to secure your structure into place.

Special Note: Visit Hocking Hills, Ohio

The footage of the waterfalls is from one of my favorite places in the world, Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills, Ohio off of State Route 664. Ever since I was a child this place has captured my imagination as a magical wonderland and in a sense it is, but that is for another post. If you visit Ohio, visit Hocking Hills.

Filed Under: Blog, Knot Tying, Tarps Tagged With: adventure, backpacking, backpacking knots, backpacking tips, bushcraft tips, camp, camping, camping tips, clove hitch, cross poles, hiking, hiking knots, hiking pole tarp setup, hiking pole tips, hiking poles, hiking tips, Hocking Hills, light-weight backpacking, Ohio, Old Man's Cave, P2F, Plight to Freedom, prepper, scouting, setting up a tarp with hiking poles, Setting up a tarp with trekking poles, survival, survival knots, survival tips, survivalist, tarp poles, tarp setup, tarp tips, tent poles, trekking pole tarp setup, trekking pole tips, trekking poles, Trucker's Hitch, using hiking poles as tent poles, using hiking poles on a tarp, using trekking poles as tent poles, using trekking poles on a tarp

5 Do It Yourself Elastic Tarp Tensioners

February 8, 2017 by Mike Leave a Comment

Here are 5 DIY Elastic Tarp Tensioners anyone can make.

Rain, snow and high winds can put a lot of strain on your tarp or rainfly, especially on its tie out points. Some materials such as silnylon tends to sag when wet, and paracord is known to stretch under tension. Besides spending the cash on a Cuben Fiber tarp or tent, you can add tension your line using a variety of different friction knots and hardware. You can change the cordage on your guy and ridge lines to either Lash-it or Zing-it line, which are extremely strong, light weight, and they do not stretch like paracord. Or, consider adding a little spring to your setup with elastic tensioners.

The purpose of an elastic tensioner is to add tension to your guys if the material begins to sag or if your line begins to stretch, and they conform to the give and take of high winds, so you won’t tear your tie outs.

Bungee cord

Bungee cord.

Bungee Cords are one of the easiest kind of tensioners to setup and many people use them as a substitute for their guy lines. When choosing a bungee cord, shop around and test them out. Some bungees have little elasticity and others will stretch, but they lack the strength to pull back to shape. Try finding something with both stretch and strength.

bungee loop

A simple bungee loop.

If the hooks on the ends of your Bungee Cord makes you nervous about attaching them to your tarp, a simple remedy would be to cut the hooks off and tie a Loop into the bungee cord. They can be hitched onto your tie outs and then your guy line can be hitched onto the loop. I have tried this with both bungee and shock cord with good results.

Shock cord guy line tensioner

Shock cord guy line tensioner.

Shock Cord tensioners seem to be pretty common amongst tarp enthusiasts. Tie two figure of eight loops in your guy lines about eight inches apart, then take your shock cord and feed it through both loops, tighten the shock cord to the point just before its maximum stretching point, and finish it off with a simple knot.

bungee cord clove hitch

A piece of bungee cord clove hitched onto a guy line.

As an alternative to using your bungee cord in a loop, try Clove Hitching a 6 to 8 inch piece of bungee cord onto your guy line. Form two loops the exact same way with the working part on the top of each loop. Then tuck the second loop under first loop and slide one end of the bungee cord into the loops and tighten. Then stretch out the cord along the guy line to a point just before its maximum stretching point, mark that spot, and clove hitch the other end of the bungee onto it. I like this one because it is simple, quick to tie, and you can add the elastic tensioner anywhere along the line that it is needed.

Thera-band tarp tensioner

Thera-band tarp tensioner.

In a previous video I showed you how to make a Thera-Band Tarp Tensioner. This tensioner is definitely more difficult to make compared to the other methods, but it is one of my go to’s when setting up my tarp. Here is a quick summary of how you can make your own. Choose a strong, lightweight line that does not stretch under tension and tie a figure of eight on one end of the line. Feed the line through a section of Thera-Band and pull the band about an inch over the knot and lash it down on the loop side of the knot, then roll the excess band over the lashing to make it look nice and lock the lashing into place. Stretch the elastic tubing along the inner cordage until it the tube reaches it’s near maximum stretching point, tie another figure of eight loop at that point and repeat the same process on this side.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

Filed Under: Blog, Gear, Knot Tying, Tarps Tagged With: 5 Do It Yourself Elastic Tarp Tensioners, Bungee cord, bungee cord clove hitch, Bungee loop tensioner, bushcraft, camp, camping, clove hitch, DIY tarp tensioners, figure eight loop, P2F, Plight to Freedom, prepper, scouting, Shock cord guy line tensioner, shock cord tarp tensioner, shock cord tensioner, survival, Tarp camping, tarp tensioners, tarps, Thera-Band tarp tensioner

Giant Puffball: Cautions, Edible, Medicinal & Other Uses

October 20, 2016 by Mike Leave a Comment

giant puffball calvatia giganteagiant-puffball-back

Giant Puffball, Calvatia gigantea, one of the four safe mushrooms to forage, but forager be warned!

There are no foolproof methods for determining edible or poisonous mushrooms. Make sure the interior flesh is pure white, it becomes bitter when it turns yellow. Always discard Puffballs in which the flesh is not white and firm. Your digestive system can be upset when the spores begin to form. Look-a-likes include Pigskin Puffballs that are about the size of a tennis ball. They are dense, tough-skinned, have a black interior, and they are poisonous. Also, Make sure you cut it open to be sure there is no rudimentary stems or gills. Do not eat if you see a pattern of a developing capped mushroom on the interior after you cut it. You could die from eating an amanita (Death Cap or Destroying Angel) button. If you decide to eat this mushroom you are doing it at your own risk. You have been warned!

Western medicine has used Calvatia gigantea as a styptic (to contract tissues or blood vessels), and it was used as a wound dressing. The fungus was harvested prior to battles, and used either in powdered form or as slices 3 cm thick to stop bleeding. Small quantities of an anti-cancer agent called calvacin has been extracted from young fruit-bodies and cultures of the puffball species, and used effectively against tumors.

It was used as a tinder and it has also been used in beekeeping. The fumes of smoldering fruit-bodies were used to calm bees and allow easier access to the hive.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

BLOG SIG

Giant Puffball Sources:

Fernald, Merritt Lyndon & Alfred Charles Kinsey. Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1996. Print. pg. 401

Fischer, David. Giant, Gem-Studded and Pear-shaped Puffballs Scientific names: Langermannia gigantea, Lycoperdon perlatum, L. pyriforme, and others. American Mushrooms. Web.

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 98

Landers, David. Giant Puffballs, Calvatia gigantea, Cornell University. October 26, 2006. Web.

Lincoff, Gary H., & Nehring, Carol. Nation Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. 1981. Print. pg. 823-824, pl. 647

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 133

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. 238-239

Kew Botanica Gardens Calvatia Gigantea”. Retrieved 1 May 2016.

Filed Under: August, Blog, Edible Mushrooms, Medicinal Mushrooms, Mushrooms, October, September Tagged With: American Indian Remedies Calvatia gigantea, American Indian Remedies Giant Puffball, anti-cancer, Bushcraft Calvatia gigantea, Bushcraft Giant Puffball, Calvatia gigantea, edible, Edible Calvatia gigantea, Edible Giant Puffball, Edible Wild Mushroom Calvatia gigantea, Ethnobotany, Ethnobotany Calvatia gigantea, Ethnobotany Giant Puffball, field guide, food, Giant Puffball, Iroquois medicine, medicinal, Medicinal Calvatia gigantea, Medicinal Giant Puffball, Medicine Calvatia gigantea, Medicine Giant Puffball, Mushroom ID Calvatia gigantea, Mushroom ID Giant Puffball, Mushroom Identification Calvatia gigantea, Mushroom Identification Giant Puffball, nature, P2F, Plight to Freedom, Survival food Calvatia gigantea, Survival food Giant Puffball, Survival Medicine Calvatia gigantea, Survival Medicine Giant Puffball, Survival Mushroom Calvatia gigantea, Survival Mushroom Giant Puffball, Uses Calvatia gigantea, Uses Giant Puffball, warning, wild edible, Wild Edible Mushroom Giant Puffball, Wild Edibles Calvatia gigantea, Wild Edibles Giant Puffball, wild medicinal, Wild Medicine Calvatia gigantea, Wild Medicine Giant Puffball, wound dressing

Common Ragweed: Caution, Medicinal & Other Uses

September 27, 2016 by Mike Leave a Comment

common-ragweed-front common-ragweed-back

Common Ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, is a plant scorned by allergy suffers everywhere. But did you know it was historically used by both western culture and American Indians as a healing plant? The Cherokee used it for insect stings, pneumonia, fever, hives, and infected toes. The Dakota used Ragweed to stop vomiting and for diarrhea. And, the Iroquois used it for cramps, stroke and diarrhea. Western herbalists used it as a stimulant, astringent, hemostatic, and antiseptic. There are historic accounts of the Lakota using Common Ragweed as toilet paper, a sentiment that many would agree with, but I would advise you to think twice before doing this if you are prone to allergic reactions.

Besides causing you to itch and giving you a bad case of the sneezes Ragweed can effect your food. If cows consume it, their milk will retain a bitter taste and if it is harvested with wheat it will cause the flour to become bitter and unsuitable for bread making.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

BLOG SIG

Common Ragweed Sources:

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

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 1. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 168

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. 246-247

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 52

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 227-228

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 66

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 438-439

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

Filed Under: (3) Leaves Toothed or Lobed 84, August, Blog, Green, July, Medicinal Wildflowers, October, September Tagged With: alternative toilet paper, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, American Indian Remedies Ambrosia artemisiifolia, American Indian Remedies Common Ragweed, antiseptic, astringent, Blood Medicine, Bushcraft Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Bushcraft Common Ragweed, Bushman's Wildflower Guide, cause vomiting, Cherokee remedies, Common Ragweed, cramps, Dakota remedies, Delaware remedies, diarrhea, eastern wildflowers, Ethnobotany, Ethnobotany Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ethnobotany Common Ragweed, fever, field guide, gynecological aid, hemostatic, hives, Houma remedies, infected toes, insect stings, Iroquois remedies, Lakota remedies, Luiseno remedies, Mahuna remedies, medicinal, Medicinal Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Medicinal Common Ragweed, Medicine Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Medicine Common Ragweed, National Park, nature, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, P2F, Plant ID Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Plant ID Common Ragweed, plant identification, Plant Identification Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Plant Identification Common Ragweed, Plight to Freedom, pneumonia, stimulant, stroke, Survival Medicine Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Survival Medicine Common Ragweed, swellings, Uses Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Uses Common Ragweed, vomiting, warning, western herbal remedies, wild medicinal, Wild Medicine Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Wild Medicine Common Ragweed, Wilderness, wildflower, woods toilet paper, worms

Passionflower: Edible, Medicinal & Cautions

August 31, 2016 by Mike Leave a Comment

PassionflowerPassionflower back

Passionflower, Passiflora incarnata, also known as Maypop is a fruiting vine with a lemon flavor that has amazing and beautiful flowers. The fruit turns yellow when ripe and can be made into a juice or jelly. The Cherokee used Maypops as a dermatological aid for wounds and inflammation, used the root juice for earaches and to wean babies off of breastmilk and the plant was used as a liver aid.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

BLOG SIG

Passionflower Sources:

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 1439-1441

Fernald, Merritt Lyndon & Alfred Charles Kinsey. Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1996. Print. pg. 275-276

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. 191-192

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 47

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 379

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 396-397

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. 94-95

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

Filed Under: (4) Leaves Divided 76, August, Blog, Edible Wildflowers, July, Medicinal Wildflowers, November, October, Purple, September, White Tagged With: American Indian Remedies Maypop, American Indian Remedies Passiflora incarnata, American Indian Remedies Passionflower, Bushman's Wildflower Guide, Cherokee, eastern wildflowers, edible, Edible Maypop, Edible Passiflora incarnata, Edible Passionflower, Edible Wild Plants Passiflora incarnata, Ethnobotany, Ethnobotany Maypop, Ethnobotany Passiflora incarnata, Ethnobotany Passionflower, field guide, food, Houma, Maypop, medicinal, Medicinal Maypop, Medicinal Passiflora incarnata, Medicinal Passionflower, medicinal roots, Medicine Maypop, Medicine Passiflora incarnata, Medicine Passionflower, National Park, nature, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, Ohio, P2F, Passiflora incarnata, Passionflower, Plant ID Maypop, Plant ID Passiflora incarnata, Plant ID Passionflower, plant identification, Plant Identification Maypop, Plant Identification Passiflora incarnata, Plant Identification Passionflower, Plight to Freedom, Survival food Maypop, Survival food Passiflora incarnata, Survival food Passionflower, Survival Medicine Maypop, Survival Medicine Passiflora incarnata, Survival Medicine Passionflower, Survival Plants Maypop, Survival Plants Passiflora incarnata, Survival Plants Passionflower, Uses Maypop, Uses Passiflora incarnata, Uses Passionflower, wild edible, Wild Edible Plants Maypop, Wild Edible Plants Passionflower, Wild Edibles Maypop, Wild Edibles Passiflora incarnata, Wild Edibles Passionflower, wild medicinal, Wild Medicine Maypop, Wild Medicine Passiflora incarnata, Wild Medicine Passionflower, Wilderness, wildflower

Cardinal Flower: Poison, Medicinal & Other Uses

August 24, 2016 by Mike Leave a Comment

Cardinal FlowerCardinal Flower Back

Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis, is a striking but irregular flower of mid to late summer. Medicinally, the Iroquois considered this plant one of the highest of medicinal plants and they used it to strengthen all other medicine. A common theme amongst the Iroquois, Meskwaki and Pawnee was the use of Cardinal Flower as a love medicine. It was either used as a wash, charm, or placed in another food to end quarrels, cause someone to fall in love, or to prevent divorce. The plant was also used as a ceremonial tobacco but it was not smoked. It was used to ward off storms and strewn onto graves.

BLOG SIG

Cardinal Flower Sources:

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

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 1199-1205

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. 207-209

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 28

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 218

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 311-312

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 52-53

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

Filed Under: (3) Leaves Toothed or Lobed, August, Blog, July, Medicinal Wildflowers, Poisonous Plants, Red, September Tagged With: American Indian Remedies Cardinal Flower, American Indian Remedies Lobelia cardinalis, Bushcraft Cardinal Flower, Bushcraft Lobelia cardinalis, Bushman's Wildflower Guide, Cardinal Flower, Cherokee, Delaware, eastern wildflowers, Ethnobotany, Ethnobotany Cardinal Flower, Ethnobotany Lobelia cardinalis, field guide, Iroquois, Lobelia cardinalis, medicinal, Medicinal Cardinal Flower, Medicinal Lobelia cardinalis, Medicine Cardinal Flower, Medicine Lobelia cardinalis, Meskwaki, National Park, nature, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, P2F, pawnee, Plant ID Cardinal Flower, Plant ID Lobelia cardinalis, plant identification, Plant Identification Cardinal Flower, Plant Identification Lobelia cardinalis, Plight to Freedom, Poison Cardinal Flower, Poison Lobelia cardinalis, Survival Medicine Cardinal Flower, Survival Medicine Lobelia cardinalis, Uses Cardinal Flower, Uses Lobelia cardinalis, wild medicinal, Wild Medicine Cardinal Flower, Wild Medicine Lobelia cardinalis, Wilderness, wildflower

Common Mullein: Cautions, Edible, Medicinal & Other Uses

August 17, 2016 by Mike 6 Comments

Common MulleinCommon Mullein BackCommon Mulleins 3

Common Mullein, Verbascum thapsus, is a medicinal plant asthma suffers may want to know. Though it sounds strange the leaves were dried, ground, and smoked to relieve asthma attacks. Beyond that this plant has been used for a variety of ailments from colds and coughs to rashes and wounds. The plant has such a long history that the Romans used to dip the flower spikes in grease and use them as torches. The leaves are still used to this day as wicks.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

BLOG SIG

Common Mullein 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. 130

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 2054-2055

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. 130-131

Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 45

Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 215-216

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 590-591

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 188-189

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. 72-73

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

Filed Under: (2) Leaves Entire, August, Blog, Edible Wildflowers, July, June, Medicinal Wildflowers, September, Yellow Tagged With: Abnaki, American Indian Remedies Common Mullein, American Indian Remedies Verbascum thapsus, atsugewi, Bushcraft Common Mullein, Bushcraft Verbascum thapsus, Bushman's Wildflower Guide, catawba, Cherokee, Common Mullein, creek, Delaware, eastern wildflowers, edible, Edible Common Mullein, Edible Verbascum thapsus, Edible Wild Plants Verbascum thapsus, Ethnobotany, Ethnobotany Common Mullein, Ethnobotany Verbascum thapsus, field guide, food, Hopi, Iroquois, Malecite, medicinal, Medicinal Common Mullein, medicinal roots, Medicinal Verbascum thapsus, Medicine Common Mullein, Medicine Verbascum thapsus, Menominee, Micmac, Mohegan, naticoke, National Park, nature, Navajo, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, Ojibwa, P2F, penobscot, Plant ID Common Mullein, Plant ID Verbascum thapsus, plant identification, Plant Identification Common Mullein, Plant Identification Verbascum thapsus, Plight to Freedom, Potawatomi, Survival food Common Mullein, Survival food Verbascum thapsus, Survival Medicine Common Mullein, Survival Medicine Verbascum thapsus, Survival Plants Common Mullein, Survival Plants Verbascum thapsus, Uses Common Mullein, Uses Verbascum thapsus, Verbascum thapsus, warning, wild edible, Wild Edible Plants Common Mullein, Wild Edibles Common Mullein, Wild Edibles Verbascum thapsus, wild medicinal, Wild Medicine Common Mullein, Wild Medicine Verbascum thapsus, Wilderness, wildflower

Narrow-Leaved Cattail: Edible, Medicinal, Cautions & Other Uses

August 3, 2016 by Mike Leave a Comment

Narrow-Leaved Cattail Narrow-Leaved Cattail back 1Narrow-Leaved Cattail (Typha anguvstifolia) is a plant everyone can identify. Cattails have very distinct flowers that look like fluffy hotdogs. Narrow-leaved cattail is similar to most cattail but there is a distinct gap between the upper and lower flowers. As for the plants edibility you can harvest the young shoots, stalk, flowers, pollen, and even roots. The shoots contain vitamins K and B6 and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Medicinally it was used for dysentery, diarrhea, gonorrhea and infantile complaints.

If you’re into bushcraft then you might be interested to know that the plant was used to weave baskets, roofing, mats, rugs, and bedding. The silky down from the flower heads have been used as stuffing in pillows and to make a birds nest for fire starting. The heads were also dipped in oil or grease and used as a torch. Some have even used the stalk as an arrow shaft.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

BLOG SIG

Narrow-Leaved Cattail Sources:

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

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 2. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 2011-2012

Fernald, Merritt Lyndon & Alfred Charles Kinsey. Edible Wild Plants of Eastern North America. New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1996. Print. pg. 82-85

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. 350-351

Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 573

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 410-411

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. 158-159

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

Filed Under: (2) Leaves Entire, Blog, Brown, Edible Wildflowers, Green, July, June, May, Medicinal Wildflowers Tagged With: American Indian Remedies Narrow-Leaved Cattail, American Indian Remedies Typha angustifolia, bushcraft, Bushcraft Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Bushcraft Typha angustifolia, Bushman's Wildflower Guide, eastern wildflowers, edible, Edible Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Edible Typha angustifolia, Edible Wild Plants Typha angustifolia, Ethnobotany, Ethnobotany Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Ethnobotany Typha angustifolia, field guide, food, Malecite, medicinal, Medicinal Narrow-Leaved Cattail, medicinal roots, Medicinal Typha angustifolia, Medicine Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Medicine Typha angustifolia, Micmac, Narrow-Leaved Cattail, National Park, nature, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, P2F, Plant ID Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Plant ID Typha angustifolia, plant identification, Plant Identification Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Plant Identification Typha angustifolia, Plight to Freedom, Survival food Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Survival food Typha angustifolia, Survival Medicine Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Survival Medicine Typha angustifolia, Survival Plants Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Survival Plants Typha angustifolia, Typha angustifolia, Uses Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Uses Typha angustifolia, warning, wild edible, Wild Edible Plants Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Wild Edibles Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Wild Edibles Typha angustifolia, wild medicinal, Wild Medicine Narrow-Leaved Cattail, Wild Medicine Typha angustifolia, Wilderness, wildflower

Trumpet Creeper: Cautions

July 27, 2016 by Mike 2 Comments

Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) Back

Trumpet Creeper, Campsis radicans, is also known as cow-itch vine because some people experience skin redness and itching after coming in contact with the leaves. For some this is a great vine that will attract hummingbirds, protects against erosion, and can provide a quick cover for fences and other structures. For others, this vine is very invasive, can quickly spread if not kept in check, is destructive to structures and property, and can be hard to get rid of.

Trumpet Creeper can be found in moist woods, roadside fences and thickets throughout most of the United States and in Ontario Canada. This member of the Bignonia Family can grow from 25 to 40 feet high and it has a woody bark. The flowers have five regular parts, is three inches long, trumpet-shaped, and it has orange and red flowers that can be seen from June to September. The leaves are divided into seven or eleven leaflets that are sharply toothed.

Keep your eyes and ears open and your powder dry!

BLOG SIG

Trumpet Creeper Sources:

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

Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 1. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 460-461

Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 328-329

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

Filed Under: (4) Leaves Divided, August, Blog, July, June, Orange, Red, September Tagged With: Bushman's Wildflower Guide, Campsis radicans, cow-itch vine, eastern wildflowers, field guide, National Park, nature, Newcomb's Wildflower Guide, P2F, Plant ID Campsis radicans, Plant ID cow-itch vine, Plant ID Trumpet Creeper, plant identification, Plant Identification Campsis radicans, Plant Identification cow-itch vine, Plant Identification Trumpet Creeper, Plight to Freedom, Poison Campsis radicans, Poison cow-itch vine, Poison Trumpet Creeper, Trumpet Creeper, Uses Campsis radicans, Uses cow-itch vine, Uses Trumpet Creeper, warning

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