Saturday, June 9, 2012

Native Plants With A Story

Pale Purple Coneflower

Some of the Indian tribes used this plant for stomach cramps and an antidote for venomous snakebites and insect stings. I have no idea on which part of the plant  or how the dosing was done. If a rattler gets me I want anti-venom and a Doctors care!


Catclaw Sensitive Briar

When the leaves are touched they close up and shortly open up again!


Prairie Coneflower

Got it's name from the thimble shaped seed head. Some Indian tribes used it's stalk and leaves to treat stomach and headaches. Boiling the stalk and leaves to create a poultice, was used for rattlesnake bites. Again, See your doctor!


Butterfly Weed

Yes! As it's name implies, it really does attract butterflies!
Tribes ate the raw root for breathing problems. The pulverized root for cuts and wounds.


Daisy Fleabane

Early day settlers used the plant for gout!

In no way am I implying that any of these remedies have any merits. All info was either read or passed down from my family. Just thought a few folk medicine stories to go along with the pics might be interesting!

10 comments:

  1. Nice lesson to go along with the photos!! Thanks, and I agree about the seeking medical attention for the snake bite :)

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  2. really cool. love the sensitive briar!

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  3. Very nice group of pictures, nice close in shots and some historic information to go with!
    The way things are headed these days it may be good to know some of these old folk remedies and Indian plant uses!

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    1. Thanks Paul. These were all taken on my last trip to the Wichita Mtns. I've posted yearly of the Wildflowers found. The only new addition this year was of the Catclaw. Still hope to capture a pic of everything that blooms in the Refuge. (Got a long ways to go!)
      I think I follow your thinking about the folk remedies and plant uses. As I was raised Mom's and Dad's families both had many home cures for a variety of minor illnesses that had been learned and passed on to them by my grandparents,(all born in the late 1800's). I picked up alot from my Aunts and Uncles, all who are gone now. Most was from the Parker side who lived in Texas and Oklahoma. A few of them really knew their plants and their uses! Even Dad at 90 still retains a little knowledge. (Wish I could remember all that my Uncle Bill Parker taught me while we were out gathering those edible and so savory mushrooms in the spring!) He had an 8th grade education but could have wrote a book on Edible and Medicinal Plants.
      I seem to get long winded so will close this comment with,(as a child, sometimes I thought the Cure was worse than the Kill, with some of those concocted remedies!) But, alot of them worked very well!

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  4. Lovely pictures with a great colors.. Congrat

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  5. Wonderful...a full apothecary in a wildflower field!

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  6. Great shots and lots of bright colors! Very nice job!!

    I'm with you though, if I get bit by a rattle snake I'm going to the doctor, right after I shoot the snake (and not with a camera!).

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  7. Nice post with some great color Parker.

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  8. These are nice! I have heard a same thing from our guide about the Native medicine on our tour. It's very interesting that the Native still doing this in 21st. century.

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  9. Wonderful post and educational too. I'm sure there are some truths about these remedies. Knowing me, I would take the wrong ones and probably kill myself. =P Good thing, I didn't live back then. It's so much easier going to a doctor. But, I really should take a survival guide class just in case. Lovely shots. I hope you have a fantastic week! =)

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