#52plants

[appleandelder]

I’m a week behind so I’ll have to play some catch up but I finally got a fresh notebook to do the 52 plant challenge. I’m really excited for this journey into really understanding the local community.

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Note: If you suspect poisoning call poison control and eat plain yogurt to stabilize the stomach. Some people will still have toxic reactions to poke even after parboiling, do not eat in excess your first time trying it. All parts of this plant have poisonous alkaloids and should be handled with care and used for food and medicine with great attention to detail and reverence.

Sources, Disclaimers and Transcript Under Cut:

Disclaimers: Herbalism: The information I offer comes from many source books on medicinal plants and is a product of opinions I form as a self-training herbalist. I try to be transparent about differences with scientific sources; I usually pin discrepancy of folk-use and modern science to modernity’s tendency to isolate compounds from the whole plant. Submit corrections at will or reblog with your own perspective if you feel strongly about the risks and rewards of use.​ Witchy Perspective: I’m not a trad witch or a devotee so you will not see many of those uses and correspondences here. I’m an animist and believe that all plants have spirits. We must ask permission and help from the plants we wish to work with and give ample gratitude (by way of protection and propagation) in return. I use books and such to form magic opinions but mostly make shit up that makes sense to me and listen to plants who will tell of their gifts. Feel free to submit corrections at will or reblog with addendum, but I don’t care for following convention without feeling it myself.

Transcript: Poke Weed​ phytolacca americana​ Family: phytolaccaceae Identification:​By the deep fuchia stems and dark black berry raceme. Come back to the same place next spring to harvest edibles.  Alternate leaves.  Edibility: Young shoots, NO RED less than 6 inches - use like asparagus, always use at least 2 changes of water for boiling out toxins serving ~3-6. ​ When to Harvest: Green shoots in spring. Berries ripen in late-summer and persist through Oct. Roots, any time will work, choose an auspicious time to correspond with the magic or medicine. Wearing gloves is recommended. I have not found just picking berries bare handed to cause issue.​ Witchy Use: Inks and dyes from the berries would be great for magic to make someone ill. Can use the plants in healing magic if the aim is similar to its medicinal properties. Any magic for which "clearing the way" is needed. Herbalism:  The roots have anti-rheumetic, stimulant, and anti-catarrhal properties. Use for lymphatic problems- especially mastitis. Can help with Upper Respiratory Infections but other herbs better I say.​ * Make an ointment to apply externally (1 part roots to 2 parts carrier oil) especially as a warm compress.​ * Dose for internal – ¼ tsp of dried powdered or tiny roots boiled and simmered in a cup of water for 10min, strain out and drink up to 3 times daily.​ * Larger doses will be a powerful purgative and emetic- there are other safer herbs to use for this.​* Don't use if symptoms of low BP, nausea/vomiting or diarrhea are already present.​

Sources: Peterson field guides, Midwest Medicinal Plants by Lisa M Rose, The Herbal Handbook by David Hoffmann

[anathemaegg]

52Plants - Week 1. Cedrus deodara

Common names: Deodar Cedar, Himalayan cedar, Deodar/Devdar/Devadaru

Usage: Lumber is rot-resistant and fine grain, great for construction. Aromatic oil has antifungal properties and repels insect pests. Used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine. Popular as an ornamental tree in Europe and North America.

Identification: Tall pyramidal canopy, graceful pendulous branches of 1-2in slender silver-green needles, upright barrel-shaped cones which disintegrate when mature.

Metaphysical Usage: Deodar is a sacred tree, called "tree/wood of the gods" in Sanskrit, dedicated to Shiva. Attributes are similar to other cedars. Meditate with the living tree, make ritual objects (eg wands or drums) with its wood, or use as incense or oil.

Wisdom, guidance and clarity

Healing & purification

Protection and longevity

Divine connection

Strength & confidence

Fact:  The disintegrating female cones drop their tips as these neat rosettes!

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Sources, Disclaimers and Transcript Under Cut:

Disclaimers: Herbalism: The information I offer comes from many source books on medicinal plants and is a product of opinions I form as a self-training herbalist. I try to be transparent about differences with scientific sources; I usually pin discrepancy of folk-use and modern science to modernity’s tendency to isolate compounds from the whole plant. Submit corrections at will or reblog with your own perspective if you feel strongly about the risks and rewards of use.​ Witchy Perspective: I’m not a trad witch or a devotee so you will not see many of those uses and correspondences here. I’m an animist and believe that all plants have spirits. We must ask permission and help from the plants we wish to work with and give ample gratitude (by way of protection and propagation) in return. I use books and such to form magic opinions but mostly make shit up that makes sense to me and listen to plants who will tell of their gifts. Feel free to submit corrections at will or reblog with addendum, but I don’t care for following convention without feeling it myself.

Transcript:

Eastern Black Nightshade​ solanum ptycanthum​ Petty Morel, The Black Toad​ Family: Solanaceae​ 

Identification: These have large slightly hairy leaves, alternate spacing, though smaller leaves at ends. Black berries have star shaped cap, and numerous pulpy seeds. White flowers star shaped. Edibility:  Nah, poisonous. Though some serious foragers eat the very ripe berries which lose much of their toxicity but cause digestion trouble in some people still.​ When to Harvest:  Blossoms summer with an auspicious moon. Berries summer to fall when ripe at auspicious times in the moon cycle for your working. Approach this plant with serious intention or not at all. Herbalism:  This is not deadly nightshade (Belladonna) and is not used as a herbal remedy. Anything it might be useful for has a much better alternative.  Witchy Use:  Making Ink especially for communications with the dead and dying...or to do curse or hex work on those you wish ill/dead. Dyeing fibers for knot magic would be a good binding.​​ If you make offerings to death associated beings offer whole berries or blossoms.​​The dried flowers (picked full moon) drowned in a poison/potion made from the berries (new moon) is a working for corruption or a curse jar. Empty the jar in the sun and then water (purified in a full moon) over them to unweave it.

Sources: Wild Berries and Fruits Field Guide by Teresa Marrone, Otherworld Apothecary 

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Note: Tests done on isolated compound safrole oil show a slight carcinogenic property and evidence of affecting bacterial immunology. Based on decades of folk use and subsequent testing that puts the risk at the same level as municipal water or recirculating air and saffrole oil is especially not a concern when in concert with the rest of the plant's compounds (as is the convention of herbalism's whole plant mindset). Use with caution and sparingly if the liver is already compromised, while pregnant, or if you have high blood pressure (affects less than caffeine though). May interact with sedatives.

Disclaimers and Transcript below cut 

Disclaimers: Herbalism: The information I offer comes from many source books on medicinal plants and is a product of opinions I form as a self-training herbalist. I try to be transparent about differences with scientific sources; I usually pin discrepancy of folk-use and modern science to modernity's tendency to isolate compounds from the whole plant. Submit corrections at will or reblog with your own perspective if you feel strongly about the risks and rewards of use.​ Witchy Perspective: I'm not a trad witch or a devotee so you will not see many of those uses and correspondences here. I'm an animist and believe that all plants have spirits. We must ask permission and help from the plants we wish to work with and give ample gratitude (by way of protection and propagation) in return. I use books and such to form magic opinions but mostly make shit up that makes sense to me and listen to plants who will tell of their gifts. Feel free to submit corrections at will or reblog with addendum, but I don't care for following convention without feeling it myself.

Transcript: Sassafras​ sassifras albidum​ Winauk, Fennel/Cinnamon Wood​ Family: Laurel/Lauraceae​ Identification: ​By the leaves and scent. All parts of the tree smell like zazzy rootbeer. Usually has 3 different leaf shapes on the same tree. 30-60ft tall. An understory tree in the north, and will grow 15-20ft there. Edibility: Young leaves best- edible fresh or cooked serving ~12. Dried and powdered makes file powder which thickens soup/gumbos (add just before serving or it won't be a pleasing texture). Roots and bark make tea dose ~1/8 ounce. When to Harvest: Green leaves in spring-summer, roots (white to red-brown) in mid-spring pre-leaves and late fall post- yellowing.​ Witchy Use: hand shapes and suckering correspond to making good deals/bartering, truces or easing relations, and making new connections. It's medicinal properties make it good as a cleansing or sweetening component. Herbalism: ​ Antiseptic- Leaf poultice for wounds or tea for wound or outer-eye wash.​ Mild Stimulant – Tea or smoked bark or smoked leaves (some evidence for reducing negative tobacco effects)​Mild Diuretic​ Abortificant – stimulates menstrual flow or slows milk​ *Will reduce inflammation but increase circulation which is partially why it works as above.​ *With other components like slippery elm and honey make a good throat soother as tea or with the leaf powder.​ Sources: Midwest Medicinal Plants Lisa M Rose, Peterson Field Guides, Inter-net-Sour-ces