August 15th, 2014. I am a week away from boarding my
flight back to California. This also means I have time for one more plant ID
test!
This week, we are observing Pakamani’s Useful Plants Garden!
These plants are used mostly for edible or medicinal purposes. Although these
plants may possess such features, not all are safe to use and you should seek
advice before trying any of these at home. Friday, I will be tested on the
genus, specific epithet, common name, and uses for these plants.
1.
Melianthus major- Honey Flower
a.
This is a very poisonous plant. But if you make
a gargle a tea made from the leaves and fruit, it can cure throat issues.
b.
You can also use this to extinguish sores by
applying it directly as a poultice, aka a crushed leaf mixture.
2.
Geranium incanum- Carpet Geranium
a.
This geranium’s leaves are made into a tea which
can help with bladder issues, digestion, venirial diseases, and help with
menstration cycles.
3.
Pelargonium tomentosum- Peppermint pelargonium
a.
This soft, refreshingly smelling pelargonium is
used as a mint extract. To do this, all you need to do is boil the leaves.
b.
These fuzzy leaves are also used to stop
bleeding from cuts and scrapes, just like a natural bandage.
4.
Carpobrotus edulis- Sour Fig
a.
In California, this ice plant was introduced for
erosion control but has since then become a terrible invasive species. Erosion
control is one of the uses for this plant, but they have a cost.
b.
This succulent also produces a juice that can be
consumed for digestive issues, or gargled for throat and mouth issues.
c.
Lastly, the fruits are used raw or dried as a
jam/preserve. The name explains the taste, sour.
5.
Lippia javanica-
Lemon Bush
a.
This member of the Verbenaceae is turned into a
tea with its leaves and twigs. The concoction can help colds, flus, and
respiratory issues.
i.
Weak infusions are used for general issues, and
strong infusions help cure more dire situations. The rate of infusion depends
on how many leaves used.
b.
This bush can also be made into a lotion to
assist with epidermal issues like rashes, bites, stings, and scratches.
6.
Salvia africana-lutea – Golden Sage
a.
This plant can be made into a tea or an antiseptic
wash. The tea helps with coughs, colds, and bronchitis; and the wash helps with
epidermal issues like rashes, stings, and bites.
7.
Artemisia afra- Wormwood
a.
Wormwood is often fermented and turned into a
brandy.
b.
If you turn it into a tea instead, it helps
coughs, colds, chest pains, sinus infections, headaches, and sore throats.
Honey and sugar is required to mask the taste.
c.
If you have sinus issues, you can simply stuff
the leaves up your nose to solve the matter. Here’s a picture of me trying it
out.
8.
Hyparrhenia hirta- Common Thatching Grass
a.
This is another plant used for erosion control.
b.
The grass is also used for grazing and the long
strands are used for the roofing of homes and huts.
9.
Aloe arborescens- Krantz Aloe
a.
Leaves of the Krantz Aloe, and Aloe ferox, are
stripped and piled to drain the sap. This sap is used for skin burns, wounds,
and x-ray burns.
10.
Helichrysum petiolare- Herbal Helichrysum
a.
Once again, these leaves have a dense hairy
epidermis that can be applied to stop cuts from bleeding.
b.
Leaves are also turned into tea for colds and
coughs, or burned to fumigate a room.
11.
Sansevieria hyacinthoides- Mother-in-Law’s
Tongue
a.
Chew the sap out of this sucker to solve your
worms, ulcers, hemorrhoids, and diarrhea. You can also boil and chew on the
rhizome for the same effect.
i.
BUT, I do not know if this works for all species
of sansevieria so do not use this unless you know for sure it is hyacinthoides.
b.
Another trick of this plant is that the sap can
cure ear infections. Warm the leaves to help the sap flow out and into your
ear.
12.
Carissa macrocarpa- Natal Plum
a.
This is the same Carissa macrocarpa we use as a
barrier plant in California landscapes. These bushes provide tasty burgundy berries
often used for jam.
b.
The roots are also used for gastric ulcers and
tonic.
13.
Aloe succotrina- Fynbos Aloe
a.
These aloes are used as a purple dye. The
foliage my not look purple, but as they dry out and senesce, the leaves get a
dark purple tint.
14.
Zantedeschia aethiopic- Alum Lily
a.
These lilies pop up all over the place around
here! Beautiful white flowers with dark green foliage, some even have a scent
to them.
b.
The cool thing about these plants is that the
leaves can be washed, warmed, and placed on the skin to cure wounds, sores,
boyles, bites, and stings.
c.
Even better, when you get a headache from a long
day at work, wrap the washed, warmed leaves around your head to soothe the
pains away.
15.
Geranium multisectum- Crane’s Bill
a.
This tonic herb is made into a tea for diarrhea,
mouth infections, and thrush issues.
16.
Cotyledon orbiculata- Pig’s Ear
a.
Pig’s Ear helps your ears! You can drip leaf
juice in your ear to help with these sores, along with toothaches as well.
b.
This plant can also be used to expel worms from
your body.
17.
Nlandtia spinosa- Tortoise Berry
a.
This spikey bush possesses berries that are
sour, juicy, and thirst quenching.
18.
Grewia occidentalis- Cross-Berry
a.
The crossing fruits on this bush are excellent
products for juice. If you ferment the juice, you can be drinking a cross-berry
beer.
19.
Hypoestes aristata- Ribbon bush
a.
The natives used the young leaves of this shrub
as a substitute for spinach.
b.
You can use a poultice made of the leaves as an
eye sore remedy as well.
20.
Cussonia spicata- Cabbage Tree
a.
The cabbage tree has fleshy, sweet, and thirst
quenching roots that can be chewed and eaten raw.
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