Never ingest anything you have not positively identified.
For practice with proper plant identification, go on a guided plant ramble or use a reliable field guide such as, Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants by “Wildman” Steve Brill, or Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Please harvest responsibly and review this Wildcrafting Checklist by Howie Brounstein who reminds us, “Wildcrafting is stewardship.”
Click on each photo for more detailed information.
Evening Primrose (Oenothera sp.)
August 3, 2012
A beautiful, succulent flower, growing alongside the downtown connector.
Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus)
August 9, 2013
This common shrub is a member of the Malvaceae family, known for its many mucilaginous members. The flowers are a lovely edible to add both color and soothing goo to your meal 🙂
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
August 22, 2013
Outlined against the sky near downtown Atlanta, this mullein plant makes its last stand. This is a biennial plant, and the first year produces a rosette of the fuzziest leaves which are used as a lung tonic. The second year it produces its flowering stalk.
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemesifolia)
August 22, 2014
Before you get hot and bothered by even the thought of Ragweed, one of the most common late summer allergens, let’s understand that it is only the POLLEN that causes the allergy. Before bloom time, this plant can be harvested for one of our best allergy remedies! The above ground herb is used. Best tinctured fresh [1:2, 95%]. You can start with a 1/2 tsp dose, wait 15 minutes, redosing another 1/2 tsp if needed. Combines well with Yerba Santa (a western herb) or Nettles.
Kudzu Patch (Pueraria lobata)
August 30, 2014
Aahhh. The all-familiar kudzu patch. This vine that is eating the south came over from Asia in the late 1800‘s. I love that the Wikipedia entry for Kudzu shows a photo taken right here in Atlanta! Aside from being an extremely invasive vine, this herb has a LONG history of use in Chinese Medicine. The root (known as Ge Gen) is used for and flower (known as Ge Hua) are both wind-heat releasing herbs with a wide range of application.
Kudzu Flower Close-up
August 30, 2014
Pueraria lobata (Kudzu) is a member of the pea family. This shot of the flowers shows you the pea-like petal arrangement with keel, wings, and a banner. The aroma is intoxicating. If you have never smelled the sweet scent of Kudzu flowers, you are in for a treat!
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata)
August 30, 2014
While most attention is on the root of this plant, I am currently exploring the use of the flower. In the Chen & Chen Materia Medica it is listed in the supplement section on Kudzu Root. This excerpt is on page 83 of Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology by Chen & Chen.
“Ge Hua, the flower derived from the same plant as Ge Gen, is usually harvested as a bud, or before it completely blossoms. It was first cited in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (Divine Husbandman’s Classic of the Materia Medica) in the second century. It is sweet, neutral and enters the stomach channel. It increases the metabolism of alcohol, relieves hangover and promotes the process of regaining sobriety. Common clinical applications include: excessive intake of alcohol, headache, fever, irritability, thirst, chest and abdominal fullness and distention, lack of appetite, vomiting of sour fluids.” pg 83
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
August 31, 2014
The mullein plant produces its flowering stalk during the second year of growth. flowers These cute yellow flowers can be steeped in extra virgin olive oil to make a wonderfully soothing ear oil.