#sylvan-veins

[sylvan-veins]

Boxwood Buxus sp. I could never forget the scent of this shrub—I probably should like to. A lot of people seem to describe the scent as cat urine, though I never made that direct connection. Not a native to Pennsylvania, but prevalent, especially in historic cemeteries. Symbolically, I’ve read that the boxwood shrub (an evergreen) symbolizes immortality, endurance, and Stoicism.

[sylvan-veins]

Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm, Horsemint Monarda fistulosa A comely (and abundant) native of Eastern North America. The genus name is a tribute to the Spanish physician Nicholas Monardes (1493-1588). Medicinally, this herb has been used to treat colds, headaches, abdominal pain, sore eyes, colic, vomiting, et cetera. Bee balm is also a natural source of the antiseptic compound thymol (the same compound used by Ancient Egyptians in the mummification process), which also happens to be the active ingredient in some commercial mouthwashes. The plant has a spicy, basil-like aroma (and taste) in my opinion. The flowers are incredibly fragrant when dried, by season, or human intervention. The leaves can be used to make a minty tea—best served with a spoonful of honey. There is no mention of wild bergamot in any language of flowers that I could find, so I shall rise to the occasion (yet again): “Permit me to balm your pain.” (Note: Monarda fistulosa is not the source of oil of bergamot.)

[sylvan-veins]

The Fruit of the Carolina Horsenettle (Sand Briar, Radical Weed, Bull Nettle, Tread-Softly, Apple of Sodom, Devil’s Tomato, Wild Tomato) Solanum carolinense The entire plant is poisonous due to the presence of solanine, a toxic alkaloid.  The immature fruit is pictured here, yellowing & wrinkling as it matures.

[sylvan-veins]

Selected scenes from an October stroll.

[sylvan-veins]

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes The startled response to my approach -- this one was napping deep in the forest.

[sylvan-veins]

Golden Bamboo Phyllostachys aurea Far away from its native land -- this invasive grass from Southeast China has made itself right at home in Pennsylvania.

[sylvan-veins]

Eastern Wild Turkey Meteagris gallopava silvestris A gang, posse, flock, raffle  or a rafter of wild turkey roving through a field in February.

[sylvan-veins]

Judas Ear (Jew’s ear, wood ear, jelly ear, cloud ear) Auricularia auricula-judae Withered by the winter wind & aptly positioned to hear all your secrets; this ear of an elder tree is ready to serve all your woodland confessional needs. As you can tell, this fungus has plenty of lore attached to it.  The epithet Judas ear came into being after an imaginative fellow noticed it growing from an elder tree; the same type of tree that Judas Iscariot was purported to hang himself from in the New Testament.  The name was criticized by mycologist Curtis Gates Lloyd, who said "Auricularia auricula-Judae is cumbersome and in addition is a slander on the Jews".  The folklore suggests that these jelly-ears are symbolic of Judas’s spirit returning to remind humanity of his suicide. Medicinally, the wood ear is significant.  It has been used in Chinese medicine for decades, and Western medicine since the 19th century.  The fungus is determined to have  antitumour, hypoglycemic, anticoagulant and cholesterol-lowering properties. Fresh -- the wood ear looks much different than the picture above; considered edible, but not recommended to the Western palette.  The nutritional content of 100 g (3.5 oz) of dried fungus includes 370 kcal, 10.6 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 65 g of carbohydrate, 5.8 g ash, and 0.03% mg of carotene. I have yet to taste the wood ear -- as I can’t bear to disturb them whenever I find them.  They really do resemble ears, especially when fresh!  I can’t help but think of my own ears, and how horrid it would be if they were shorn, thrown in a pot, then slurped down.  Perhaps one day I’ll muster the courage. Had Nature any supple Face Or could she one contemn — Had Nature an Apostate — That Mushroom — it is Him! -From Emily Dickinson's "The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants"