Overview: Anyone growing up in Texas along the Gulf Coast knows what Aloe Vera is. As a kid, we would rub it all over our skin, and even eat it. If you don't know what Aloe Vera is, you ain't from 'round here.
Uses: Antibacterial, antifungal, spermicidal, aniviral, emmolient, relieves constipation, and soothes burns and rashes, particularly sunburn and poison ivy.
Where Found: Grows well in areas with little sun and strongly prefers shade, so it will grow well near the creek beds. It's quick to die out in freezing weather.
Identifier: Perinneal, succulent plant. Leaves are thick and fleshy with small serrations along the edges. Flowers come from within the basal leaves and shoot up a cluster of flowers that can very from red to yellow. Plant get 1-2 feet tall.
Harvesting: As needed; fresh is best for all applications, as the gel dries out quickly.
Preparation: Harvest the leaves and cut into the inner gel layers for topical use. Small amounts can be ingested for constipation.
WILD ONION
Overview: Take care to distinguish onions from toxic similar plants, such as Crow Poison, which looks very similar. Never gather plants that lack the distinct smell of onion. Don't let musky odors of the toxic look-alikes fool you. Crow poison's white to cream colored flowers distinguish it from wild onion.
Uses: Raw, peeled bulbs for colds; Infusion of ground cloves for sore throat; juice from cloves as topical antibacterial.
Where Found: Wild onion can be found at the Hidey-Hole in limited quantities. It is most commonly found on the western side of the creek. It is abundant in the East Texas area.
Identifiers: Leaves and bulbs have a distinct oniony odor. Leaves are basal and linear, like tall blades of grass. Most Texas species bloom in the spring. Six tepals form small flowers that can be yellow, pink, red, or purple. Flowers occur in umbels at the top of the slender flower stalk and may stand erect or nodding. Seeds are black and wrinkled. Some are in abundance along stream banks.
Harvesting: Typically best in spring.
Preparation: Seep raw onion bulbs in hot water for several minutes to create a tea.
CATTAIL
Overview: Although there appears to be no cattails growing directly at the Hidey-Hole, there are ample cattails growing in and around the ponds and streams in the surrounding parcels of land. Cattails are highly useful, both for food and medicinal uses.
Uses: Gel from sheethed shoot has anti-inflammatory properties; pollen from female flower has antiseptic properties; young flower heads eaten raw can treat diarrhea.
Where Found: Both fresh and brackish water, along ponds and streams, ditches and marshes.
Identifiers: Tall, grasslike leaves are easy to spot protruding from the water. Beware of a toxic, lookalike called a Water Iris. It is difficult to tell the difference, but to determine, break off a piece of the plant from the root. Cattail stalks are almost perfectly round, whereas Water Iris is more oddly shaped at the base. Second, each individual leaf is wrapped completely around the base stalk with a Cattail, and it is more layered with a Water Iris.
Harvesting: Various parts of the cattail can be harvested and utilized year-round.
Preparation: Collect pollen from the female flower into a paper bag, and use the powder as an antiseptic powder. The gel from a sheathed shoot can also be utilized as an anti-inflammatory.
MULLEIN
Overview: Mullein is a biennial wildflower. The first year, the plant produces a basal rosette of large velvety leaves. The second year, the plant produces a flowering stalk up to 6 feet tall. It grows across East Texas and is generally available all year long.
Uses: Leaf and flower infusion is an expectorant and antiviral; Poultice from the leaf has anti-inflammatory properties; leaf gauze can be used on minor cuts.
Where Found: Sunny fields.
Identifiers: Leaves are all basal with semi rugged edges. stem and seed pod is long.
Harvesting: As available all year long.
Preparation: Poultice: Macerate the leaves into a mush and apply directly. Leaves and flowers can be steeped raw in hot water to create a tea which will be applied internally and topically.
YARROW
Overview: Used by native Americans for centuries for rashes and for hemostasis.
Uses: Fresh or dried leaves can be used to help clot blood; leaf infusion can be used to induce sweating and reduce fever, Decoction/oil mixture repels insects, and gargle infusion can help sore throat.
Where Found: Although the plant does grow in Texas and East Texas, it doesn't grow terribly well. There is none known to be growing at the Hidey-Hole, but has been seen in surrounding properties.
Identifiers: Grows to three feet tall. No branches except near the top. Leaves alternate and are 3-5 inches long with many leaflets on each side of midrib and further divided into smaller leaflets, giving it a delicate fern-like, lacy appearance. Flower heads arranged in large compact clusters at top of the stem, each cluster consisting of 1 or more flower heads. Flower has 20-25 yellowish-white ray flowers and similarly colored disk flowers.
Harvesting: Year round, as available.
Preparation: To make an infusion, crush and chop the leaves and flowers and and allow to seep in a cup of hot water.
Other medicinal plants that are available in the area, but not at the Hidey-Hole include:
Willow
Bloodroot
Mint
Harvesting: Various parts of the cattail can be harvested and utilized year-round.
Preparation: Collect pollen from the female flower into a paper bag, and use the powder as an antiseptic powder. The gel from a sheathed shoot can also be utilized as an anti-inflammatory.
MULLEIN
Overview: Mullein is a biennial wildflower. The first year, the plant produces a basal rosette of large velvety leaves. The second year, the plant produces a flowering stalk up to 6 feet tall. It grows across East Texas and is generally available all year long.
Uses: Leaf and flower infusion is an expectorant and antiviral; Poultice from the leaf has anti-inflammatory properties; leaf gauze can be used on minor cuts.
Where Found: Sunny fields.
Identifiers: Leaves are all basal with semi rugged edges. stem and seed pod is long.
Harvesting: As available all year long.
Preparation: Poultice: Macerate the leaves into a mush and apply directly. Leaves and flowers can be steeped raw in hot water to create a tea which will be applied internally and topically.
YARROW
Overview: Used by native Americans for centuries for rashes and for hemostasis.
Uses: Fresh or dried leaves can be used to help clot blood; leaf infusion can be used to induce sweating and reduce fever, Decoction/oil mixture repels insects, and gargle infusion can help sore throat.
Where Found: Although the plant does grow in Texas and East Texas, it doesn't grow terribly well. There is none known to be growing at the Hidey-Hole, but has been seen in surrounding properties.
Identifiers: Grows to three feet tall. No branches except near the top. Leaves alternate and are 3-5 inches long with many leaflets on each side of midrib and further divided into smaller leaflets, giving it a delicate fern-like, lacy appearance. Flower heads arranged in large compact clusters at top of the stem, each cluster consisting of 1 or more flower heads. Flower has 20-25 yellowish-white ray flowers and similarly colored disk flowers.
Harvesting: Year round, as available.
Preparation: To make an infusion, crush and chop the leaves and flowers and and allow to seep in a cup of hot water.
Other medicinal plants that are available in the area, but not at the Hidey-Hole include:
Willow
Bloodroot
Mint
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