Plant, Herb, and Tree Lore

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia

Common Names:
Spanish Moss, Spanish-moss, Florida moss, long moss, graybeard, ghost hair, hanging air plant.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Angiosperms Class: Monocots Order: Poales. Family: Bromeliaceae. Genus: Tillandsia species: usneoides

Localities:
The plant is limited to the southeastern United States (Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas), Central and South America. It has been introduced to Australia and Hawaii. It likes full sun or partial shade, moist environments, as well as dry habitats. It thrives on oak and cypress trees. Very common on the Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Crepe Myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.), Oaks, Pines, and Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum).

Description:  
Its name “usneoides” is nicknamed after the bearded lichen (Usnea spp.) as it closely resembles it and is often mis-identified as such. It has no relation to any Lichens or fungi. It is a angiosperm of the Bromeliaceae family. As a fibrous perrenial, hanging from trees in long and thick masses, it can reach upwards to twenty feet in length. Its slender stem branches alternate thin, curved and curly, heavily scaled grey/green leaves ranging from 2-6 centimeters (upwards of 2 inches in length) in a pendant / chain-like fashion forming hanging structures up to 6 meters in length narrowly linear, with a filamentous appearance of numerous branches covered with silver/grey scales. It does flower, with tiny inconspicous pale green/blue blooms that are formed in the leaves’ axils. These blossoms develop tiny capsules containing seeds that eventually split-open to reproduce. The blossoms are said to be fragrant at night. Spanish Moss is not a lichen (often confused with Beard lichen) nor a true moss nor an air plant (as does not have aerial roots). It grows and depents on other plants because it is an epiphytic plant, but is not parasitic in that it makes its own food and does not rely on its host for support. Spanish Moss has long, thin, scaly stems to wrap around the host tree when it anchors and hangs down from the tree or shrubs branches. Its leaves are covered with cup-like, permeable scales that catch moisture and nutrients from the air as wel as pockets on the surface of its host, trapping water and moisture, which makes it a very durable and drought resistant plant. It will become dormant though when the lack of moisture exists, until the moisture returns and then re-activates. It can damage its hosts because of over-shading and reducing photosynthesis, weight on the branches, or physical damage.

Congaree National Park, Columbia, South Carolina

Cultivation:
The plant reproduces and spreads by its tiny seeds or small fragments of its matter collected by animals, birds, and the wind to spread to other trees.

Common Uses:
Commonly used as stuffage and stuffing material in furniture, pillows, mattresses, swamp coolers, upholstry, packing materials, and automobile seats. It is believed that a mattress stuffed with Spanish Moss is much more comfortable and cooler due to its natural insulating properties. It is also used as a popular mulch and in arts/crafts industry. Used also in southern landscaping, draped along fences and wires to provide privacy screening in backyards. Birds and other animals use it for nesting including songbirds, warblers, rat snakes, three species of bats, jumping spider, Pelegrina tillandsiae, reptiles, amphibians, redbugs, chiggers, and other insects find home within its masses.

Culinary:
There are no records of it being used as food by humans.

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Beard lichen, Congaree National Park, Columbia, SC

Name: Beard Lichen

Common Names:
Beard, Beard Lichen, Usnea, Old Man’s Beard, Beard Lichen, Tree’s Dandruff, Woman’s Long Hair, or Tree Moss. Ipts-aak (a.k.a. “limb moss”), Suts’wakt (Bella Coola in British Columbia), P’u7up (Nitinaht in British Columbia), Chharila (India), Jaegel (Northern Scandinavia).

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Fungi. Phylum: Ascomycota. Class: Lecanoromycetes. Order: Lecanorales. Family: Parmeliaceae. Genus: Usnea . species: spp.

Localities: Lichens can be found world-wide, from arctic tundra climates, rocky coasts, hot deserts, marshes, fields, and forests. This particular Genus can be found throughout mountainous and woodland areas.  There are numerous species found  as with other lichens, growing on dead or dying trees, fallen wood, and other decaying matter. It is not the cause of the tree’s illness or death. Usnea barbata does not occur in North America. Documentation listing barbata in North America is usually a mis-identification to Usnea xanthopoga, Usnea scabrata, and/or Usnea filipendula.

Description:  

Beard Lichen is a member of the Usnea genus and Parmeliaceae family, and is described as a greenish to yellow ranging colored fruticose (branched, busy, tangled) Lichens that is a mass of long stems and disk-shaped holdfasts that in some eyes resembles a tangled mass of threads, shrub-like growth, or a scruffy beard (i.e. its namesake). Sometimes described as resembling green or grey hair growing from tree branches. Various people, such as the Nitinaht classify the species differently based on the type of tree they are growing on. Most scientists do not differentiate the species based on a tree host, but rather description, color, and growth habitat. There are several species to this Genus based on composition, description, color, and mass. Several these are as follows:

• Usnea barbata or Old Man’s Beard does not occur in North America. Documentation listing barbata in North America is usually a mis-identification to Usnea xanthopoga, Usnea scabrata, and/or Usnea filipendula.
• Usnea californica / ceratina or “Warty beard lichen”, Kôchih (by the Pomo of California).
• Usnea dasypoga / filipendula or Yerba de la Piedra (Stone Grass) is not found in North America but common in Uruguay.
• Usnea densirostra used in Uruguay.
• Usnea diffracta or Lao-tzu’s beard, Pine gauze, or Female gauze is not found in North America, but common in China, Korea, and Japan.
• Usnea filipendula or (Fishbone beard lichen)” is often misidentified in North America as Usnea plicata.
• Usnea florida is commonly used in Sweden, Northern Europe, and Northern Russia.
• Usnea hieronymi used in Uruguay.
• Usnea hirta or the “Bristly beard lichen”. sometimes confused with Usnea variolosa.
• Usnea lacunosa is not found in North America, though referred to in literature as being used as a fiber by the Yuki, Pomo, and Yokia of California. Some write that it was referred to as “moss” by the First People’s and used as bedding.
• Usnea longissima or Hanging Moss, “Methuselah’s beard lichen”, Syara (India), and P’u7up (British Columbia).
  Grows upwards of 5 feet (1.5 meters) with lengths of grey-like threads hanging from the tree or shrub branches in humid or mountainous regions. This particular species gets confused with the non-lichen plant known as Spanish Moss.
• Usnea plicata is not found in North America, but literally referring to is is probably a mis-identification for Usnea filipendula.
• Usnea scabrata is often confused with Usnea barbata references in North America which was probably this species.
• Usnea thallus
  Means “Cream on the inside”, often used in indigenous medicine and magic.

Usnea grows only to a few millimeters in areas that are polluted, and upwards of 10-20 cm long where the air is clean. Lichens are a type of fungus that grows symbiotically with its host plant – usually trees, shrubs, and/or dead wood. Lichens consist of an alga and a fungus living together in a symbiotic association. It relies of its photosynthetic partner (photobiont) to live. This makes it a composite organism. A lichen consists of an upper part of interwoven fibres related to the fungus and a layer of more loosely fibrous structures related to the fungus that surrounds the algae. The algae can carry out photosynthesis and feed the fungi. The fibrous structures that make up the fungi adds support to the algae and keeps the algae from drying out.The photobiont is usually a cyanobacterium or a green algae. They are named after their fungal counterparts. Lichens are quite different however from those of isolated fungus and algae in culture. They are long living but vulnerable to environmental disturbances. Many lichens are known to be very sensitive to environmental pollution, and they have been used as ‘indicators’ of pollution. As they are pokilohydric, they are capable of surviving extremely low levels of water content. Its body is called the thallus and differs from the fungal or algae host growing separately. Fungus surrounds the algal cells often enclosing them within complex fungal tissues unique to lichen associations, often penetrating the algal cell wall and forming penetration haustoria or pegs similar to that of the pathogenic fungi. The cyanobacterial cells or algal are photosynthetic reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon sugars that feed both of the symbionts giving both partners water and mineral nutrients via atmospheric rain and dust. Bluegreen algae occur as symbionts in about 8% of known lichens. 90% of known lichens have a green algae as a symbiont with Trebouxia as the most comon genus occuring in about 40% of all lichens. The 2nd most common is Trentepohlia. Some lichens have the aspect of leaves, such as in the foliose lichens, while others cover the substrate like a crust, and others adopt shrubby forms or a gelatinous texture. The form varies based on the genetic material of its fungal partner, association with a photobiont to develop it. Lichens reproduce asexually via vegetative reproduction or by dispersal of diaspores containing algal and fungal cells. Many lichen fungi reproduce sexually in like fashion that is typical of fungi by producing spores that are the result of sexual fusion and meiosis. Once merged with a compatible algal host, it can form into a functional lichen.Cultivation:
Beard Lichen reproduces by fragmentation, asexually through soredia, and sexually through ascogonium and spermatogonium with a very slow growth rate.Common Uses: Often collected as fodder. Some species are used to create an orange dye. Other species also used to create other dye coloring such as greens, blues, purples, and oranges that are used for textiles. Used as a Dye in North America, British Columbia’s indigenous, and Europeans. A dark blue dye for traditional textiles is made by Peruvian peoples of the thalli of the Usnea barbata while the same species was used by Europeans to create a orange-red dye to stain wools and by the Dakota to create a yellow dye. Since barbata is not found in North America, this was propbably scabrata. Both of these were used to create the toiled Cyprus Powder. Usnea hirta used by the Navajo in New Mexico to make a flesh colored Dyes. Usnea plicata is used as a green or yellow woolen Dye in Europe. It is used by scientists to gauge pollution, since the Usnea genus is very sensitive to the environment, and absorbs air pollution, especially sulfur dioxide. It has been used to treat fish infections in aquariums and ponds. Usnea barbata is also used in creating cosmetics because of its antimicrobial and antifungal properties as a preservative and deodorant. Usnea barbata is used as a source for Dye by the peoples of Peru and Europe. Usnea spp. used as fiber by many of the British Columbia’s First Nation peoples such as the Salish, Sechelt, Secwepemc, Nuxalk, Bella Coola, Nitinaht, Haida, Gwich’in, and Stl’atl’imx. The Scandinavians used it as animal forage and fodder. Used by the Haida for bedding when camping and also when mixed with Alextoria sarmentosa to strain hot pitch for removing impurities before it was used as a medicine. Sechelt used them for baby diapers and to make a fire smoke. The Bella Coola, Nuxalk, and Secwepemc use Usnea spp. to make false whiskers and artificial hair when decorating their dance masks and creating costumes for children. The First Nation’s of British Columbia mixed it with Alectoria sarmentosa to wipe the slime off fish as they believed washing them would affect the taste of the fish, and to protect food in earthen pits. Some peoples and other Interior Salish would weave clothing out of it for ponchos and foot wear, sometimes interwoven with silverberry bark and other stronger fiber. Usnea californica / ceratina used as a source for fiber by the Pomo tribe in California to create diapers for babies and “toilet chips”. Usnea florida is commonly used in Sweden, Northern Europe, and Northern Russia to create alcohol (brandy) or make dyes (green-yellow or red-brown). Usnea longissima was used for fiber by North Americans and the Bhotia and Garhwali of India. Also used as decoration by Europeans. Often used by North American indigenous to create feminine hygiene products, bedding, diapers, and to strain medicines. In India, was used to stuff cushions and pillows until it became believed to have caused asthma. Most likely the first Christmas tree tinsel in Northern Europe. Usnea scabrata was used to create a yellow dye for porcupine quills by the Dakota peoples.

Culinary:

There are no records of it being used as food by humans. It is however, often eaten by wild animals. The Tarahumara in Northern Mexico use it to create Alcohol such as with Usnea as a catalyst for making fermented corn beverages. Other Lichens are often eaten by some animals, including reindeer in arctic regions and the Northern Flying Squirrel. Lepidoptera larvae will also feed exclusively on lichens. Lichens are very low in protein and high in carbohydrates. Some species and types are eaten by humans in various cultures around the world, especially in times of famine, though considered a delicacy by others. Lichen polysaccharides are generally indigestible to humans and some contain a mildly toxi secondary compound that needs to be removed before eating. Very few are poisonous, but those high in vulpinic acid or usnic acid are toxic. These toxic lichen are usually yellow in color.

Medicinal:

Usnic acid is found in large quantities in Usnea spp., as well as in several other lichen genera. It is a fairly wide spectrum antibiotic and is the most active antibiotic to be characterized from lichens (Abo-Khatwa et al. 1996; Shibamoto and Wei 1984; Rowe et al. 1991; Dobrescu et al. 1993). Usnic acid and diffractaic acid (a derivative of usnic acid) have both been demonstrated to be analgesic when tested on mice (Okuyama et al. 1995). And a mixture of usnic acid and isolichenin has been demonstrated to have moderate activity against sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich tumor cells (Periera et al. 1994).All of the species are used medicinally, with evidence dating as far back as 1,600 years ago. Used medicinally for a host of purposes by the indigenous and First Nation’s of North and South America, as well as by peoples in Asia, Europe, Africa, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. The Chinese use it in contemporary homeopathic medicine. High in vitamin C and saturated with Usnic acid makes Usnea a very special lichen. This is because Usnic acid is a potent antibiotic and antifungal agent found in all of the species. This agent combined with the hair-like structure of the lichen means that it was often used to treat surface wounds when sterile gauze and modern antibiotics were unavailable, both externally, topically, and internally. Scientists though caution there is a potential hepatoxicity issue that it should only be used externally. It is also used as an antibiotic for gram-positive bacteria and as an anti-fungal against Candida albicans. In Germany, it has been approved for mild inflammation of the oral and pharyngeal mucosa since 1989. Was used to create the product Lipokinetix that was used to induce weight loss via an increase in the metabolic rate, but became a topic of FDA warnings in the United States due to its potential hepatoxicity. The species Usnea thallus (means “cream in the inside”) was used as bandages by many different peoples around the globe. As it has a high concentration of usnic acid which is the strongest antiobiotic found in lichens. It was used as a remedy for whooping cough, epilepsy, dropsy, and catarrh. As a tonic, was used as a diuretic and astringent. Usnea barbata is utilized medicinally primarily by the peoples of Ancient Greece, Medieval Europe, Spain, Malay Peninsula. Usnea barbata is strongly used as a antibiotic especially in lung and upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and was used to stimulate hair growth as early as 300 B.C.E. Prescribed for uterine ailments by Hypocrites as early as 400 B.C.E., as a hair strengthener in the 15th century Europe, a secant and antiseptic in Spain, and the natives of the Malay Peninsula used it for colds and strenthening after confinement.

Medicinally there are reports of Usnea being used for medicine in North America, China, New Zealand, Spain, Africa, Thailand, India, and Italy. In Spain, Usnea spp. is used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments. It was also used as an ingredient in a herbal tea given by African guides to relieve altitude sickness on Mt. Killimonjaro, Africa. Used by the Karen of Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mail Province of Thailand to make post-delivery bath for women to aid parturition and prevention of infection. In India, it is used to create the drug Chharila. Shepherds in Italy would put Usnea spp. in their shoes to prevent and treat blistering. The Bella Coola in British Columbia used it to poultice sores and boils if found growing on alder trees. Some tribes used it to dress wounds, diaper babies, creating sanitary napkins, and for wiping salmon. Used in contemporary western medicine for homeopathics, for antibiotic salves, anti-fungal remedy, deodorants, as well as herbal tinctures. Usnea dasypoga / filipendula is used medicinally by the people of Uruguay. Usnea diffracta is used medicinally by Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese as early as 500 C.E., picked in the 5th lunar month, dried in the shade, and used to stop dizziness, sweating, cold, pain, and/or phlegm. Also used to treat urinary tract infections and to stop swelling in female genitalia. A drink or decoction of it is consumed to treat pulmonary tuberculosis and chronic bronchitis. Usnea filipendula used medicinally by the people of Java and Russia as a powder to treat wounds. Usnea longissima was used medicinally by First Nations in British Columbia, and peoples of India, China, and Europe. The Nitinaht used it to to dress wounds by wrapping the lichen around the wound and left to absorb the bleeding. The Baiga of Madhya Pradesh (India) mixed the lichen with some other ingredients to treat bone fractures. Chinese herbalists prescribed it to be taken orally as an expectorant and applied topically as a powder to treat surface infections or external ulcers, and in modern society as a expectorant tincture and to treat tuberculosis lymphedenitis (since it contains various b-orcinol depsides including evernic, barbatic, or diffractaic acids). Usnea plicata is used medicinally by Europeans as a remedy for whooping-cough.

Cultural/Mythical/Fantasy:
Written about in Shakespeare’s “Idle moss”, referring to as the “beard moss” or “tree moss”, it was used as an inspiration in many pieces of poetry. According to the Nitinaht people, since this species looks like green or grey hair hanging from tree branches, lends an examply to their mythos. In China Usnea diffracta has been called “Lao Tzu’s beard” and has been described as a medicine in Chinese herbals as early as 500 C.E. According to Menomini legend, lichens are said to be scabs from the head of Må’nåpus. Må’nåpus placed the scabs where they are to keep his uncles and aunts from starving. Another version of this legend is that the lichens were scabs from when Må’nåpus burned his buttocks, and they came off as he slid down a slanting rock. The Northern Paiute of Nevada called the orange and yellow crustose lichens on rocks “Lizard semen” which probably comes from the little pushups that western fence lizards do on rocks. Another In China Usnea diffracta has been called “Lao Tzu’s beard” and has been described as a medicine in Chinese herbals as early as 500 C.E.

Research/Article by:
Thomas Baurley, Leafworks Research, www.leafworks.net.
[Official page: http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/treelore/?p=673]. March 3, 2013.
This page is continually being updated as research and facts are revealed.
Please check back often if this is a special interest to you.

Bibliography/ Recommended Reading/ Resources:

• Adams, Scott.
  “What’s That On My Trees?”. Website http://danshamptons.com/article/lifestyle/ask-the-expert-house-and-home/ask-the-expert-what%E2%80%99s-that-on-my-trees/ referenced March 3, 2013.
• Ahmadjian, V.
  1993 – “The Lichen Symbiosis”. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
• Brodo, I.M., S.D. Sharnoff, S. Sharnoff.
  2001 – “Lichens of North America”. Yale University Press, New Haven.
• Encyclopedia Brittanica.
  “Bearded Lichen”. Web site http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/57366/beard-lichen visited and referenced March 3, 2013.
• Knowles, M.C.
  1929 – “Lichens of Ireland”. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 38: 1-32.
• Sanders, W. B.
  2001 – “Lichens: Interface between mycology and plant morphology”. BioScience 51 (12): 1025-1035.
• University of Victoria
  Website http://web.uvic.ca/~stucraw/part2AM.html visited and referenced March 3, 2013.
• Ward, Stephen.
  “Naturally Scottish: Foreward on Lichens.” Web site http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/NaturallyScottish/lichens/ referenced March 3, 2013.
• Wikipedia:
  • Lichen. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen referenced March 3, 2013
  • Usnea. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usnea referenced March 3, 2013.
  • visited and referenced March 3, 2013.

Name: Lichen

Common Names:
Lichen, beard, beard lichen, algae, fungus, Sunburn, Rock Hair, Yellow Candles, Golden Pine Lichen, Little Clouds, Oak Moss, Crab’s-eye, Coral Crust, Sea Ivory, Crotal Coille – wood crottle, Tree Lungwort, Lobaria pulmonaria, Lus Ghoinnich, Dog Lichen, Peltigera canina, Crotal Dubh – dark crottle,, Heather-rags, Hypogymnia physodes.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Fungi. Phylum: Ascomycota. Class: Lecanoromycetes. Order: Lecanorales. Family: Parmeliaceae. Genus: . species: spp.

Localities:
Lichens can be found world-wide, from arctic tundra climates, rocky coasts, hot deserts, marshes, fields, and forests. There are numerous species found in the stones, rocks, walls, buildings, soil surfaces, branches and trees in temperate woodlands and rain forests. (Research still pending.)

Description:  
Lichens are a type of fungus that grows symbiotically with its host plant – usually trees, shrubs, and/or dead wood. Lichens consist of an alga and a fungus living together in a symbiotic association. It relies of its photosynthetic partner (photobiont) to live. This makes it a composite organism. A lichen consists of an upper part of interwoven fibres related to the fungus and a layer of more loosely fibrous structures related to the fungus that surrounds the algae. The algae can carry out photosynthesis and feed the fungi. The fibrous structures that make up the fungi adds support to the algae and keeps the algae from drying out.The photobiont is usually a cyanobacterium or a green algae. They are named after their fungal counterparts. Lichens are quite different however from those of isolated fungus and algae in culture. They are long living but vulnerable to environmental disturbances. Many lichens are known to be very sensitive to environmental pollution, and they have been used as ‘indicators’ of pollution. As they are pokilohydric, they are capable of surviving extremely low levels of water content. Its body is called the thallus and differs from the fungal or algae host growing separately. Fungus surrounds the algal cells often enclosing them within complex fungal tissues unique to lichen associations, often penetrating the algal cell wall and forming penetration haustoria or pegs similar to that of the pathogenic fungi. The cyanobacterial cells or algal are photosynthetic reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide into organic carbon sugars that feed both of the symbionts giving both partners water and mineral nutrients via atmospheric rain and dust. Blue-green algae occur as symbionts in about 8% of known lichens. 90% of known lichens have a green algae as a symbiont with Trebouxia as the most common genus occurring in about 40% of all lichens. The 2nd most common is Trentepohlia. Some lichens have the aspect of leaves, such as in the foliose lichens, while others cover the substrate like a crust, and others adopt shrubby forms or a gelatinous texture. The form varies based on the genetic material of its fungal partner, association with a photobiont to develop it. Lichens reproduce asexually via vegetative reproduction or by dispersal of diaspores containing algal and fungal cells. Many lichen fungi reproduce sexually in like fashion that is typical of fungi by producing spores that are the result of sexual fusion and meiosis. Once merged with a compatible algal host, it can form into a functional lichen. (Research still pending.)

The 83rd plate from Ernst Haeckel‘s
”Kunstformen der Natur” (1904),
depicting organisms classified as Lichenes.
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons.
This image (or other media file) is in the
public domain because its copyright has expired.
This applies to Australia, USA, the European Union and those countries
with a copyright term of life of the author plus 70 years.

Cultivation:    (Research still pending.)

Common Uses:
Various species are used to make dyes, perfumes, and decoration. They are made to make perfumes, henna, and shampoo. Lichens produce secondary compounds including pigments that will reduce harmful amounts of sunlight and powerful toxins that can reduce herbivory or kill bacterial elements. Some are used to make dyes such as cudbear and others to extract purple and red coloring. Those in the  family Roccellaceae, commonly called orchella weed or orchil are the most popularly used. Orcein and other lichen dyes have largely been replaced by synthetic versions. Lichen dyes are easy to make as it involves simply boiling lichen in hot water or by fermenting the lichen in ammonia. Lichen is used for decoration and crafts, such as for making trees and shrubs in models, and model railroading.  They have been used indirectly to make alcohol or molasses, or to feed to livestock. Lichens have also commonly been used as a fiber for many different things, anything from baby diapers to clothing to tinder to bedding.  Mixed with tobacco, it was smoked in Mauritania (species Parmelia paraguariensi) as well as being burned as an insect repellent and used as a perfume.  The Denís of Amazonian Brazil used pyrenocarpous lichen as recreational snuff. Letharia vulpina and Vulpicida pinastri have been used to poison wolves in Northern Europe and Letharia vulpina to make poison arrowheads by the Achomawi of California.  Xanthoria parietina and Parmelia saxatilis are used in the ritual of well-dressing in England to make miniature scenes to decorate wells. The Secwepemc, Nuxalk, and Bella Coola all use Alectoria sarmentosa and Usnea spp.  as false whiskers and artificial hair for decorating dance masks, especially for children masquerading.  Cladina stellaris has been harvested in large quantities in Scandinavia to make floral decorations, wreaths, and architectural models. Usnea longissima in Northern Europe was the first Yule tree tinsel. Some lichens have been used in tanning and the manufacture of chemicals.
Culinary:
Lichens are often eaten by some animals, including reindeer in arctic regions and the Northern Flying Squirrel. Lepidoptera larvae will also feed exclusively on lichens. Lichens are very low in protein and high in carbohydrates. Some species are eaten by humans in various cultures around the world, especially in times of famine, though considered a delicacy by others.  Iceland moss (Cetraria islandica) is an important food source in northern Europe being cooked as a bread, pudding, salad, soup, or porridge. In North America, it was pit cooked. Some at the partially digested reindeer lichen after removing it from the rumen of the deer killed. Rock tripe (Umbilicaria spp.) is frequently used as a emergency food in North America as well as various traditional Korean and/or Japanese foods.  There are two problems experienced by humans when eating lichens. These are usually the secondary lichen compound found in them. Most contain a variety of secondary compounds. Lichen compounds are usually acids and have a acrid flavor. Lichen polysaccharides are generally indigestible to humans and some contain a mildly toxic secondary compound that needs to be removed before eating.   In fact, there are only two lichen compounds found to be poisonous – the vulpinic acid and pinastric acid, both of which would have to be ingested in significant quantity to be fatal. Very few are poisonous, but those high in vulpinic acid or usnic acid are toxic .These toxic lichen are usually yellow in color. Many lichen compounds are herbivore deterrents causing bad taste, digestive irritation, and toxicity in large quantities for extended periods of time. Other major issue is that the complex carbohydrates in lichens are not easily broken down in the human digestive tract. If the secondary compounds and hydrolyzing the lichen polysaccharides is completed, lichens can be made edible. The most frequently used preparation involves boiling or steaming as suggested by the indigenous practices of various people in India, Europe, and North America. Boiling will hydrolyze the lichen polysaccharides into digestible forms and remove many lichen compounds. Water would be discarded, and the lichen eaten.  Some would simply soak or rinse the lichen in water. Northern Europeans as well as the Iroquois of North America would soak lichens in ash water – as wood ash is alkaline, it would have been very effective in removing acidic lichen compounds and hydrolize the polysaccharides. Adding acidic ingredients like onions to food preparation or dilute acid is commonplace when cooking lichen which would also help hydrolyze the polysaccharides and make the lichen compounds more water soluble. Some researchers have found calcium and iron levels in some lichens to be higher than that found in cereals or other green leafy materials. Peltigera canina has been found to be high in proteins and essential amino acids. Before eating lichens, one should be aware of where their lichens come from, as lichens can accumulate toxins from their environment. Cetraria islandica and Cladina spp. have been found to have extroadinarily high levels of lead, mercury, and cadmium. Natural radionuclides Po-210 and Pb-210 both accumulate in lichens, as well as Cs-137 and Sr-90 from nuclear test explosions.

Medicinal:
Various species are used in traditional medicines. Some are made to create primitive antiobiotics. In Russia, the <A HREF=”http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/treelore/?p=681″>Usnea species</A> were used to treat wounds in the mid-20th century. Lobaria pulmonaria is collected in large quantities as Lungwort as it has a very lung-like appearance and sold as a cure for lung diseases. Peltigera leucophlebia is used a supposed cure for thrush as its cephalodia resembles the appearance of the disease. Olivetol is naturally present in certain species of lichens which its share with the cannabis plant, internally producing the related substance of olivetolic acid which can be used to bio-synthesize  tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  In 1874, Scientists suggested that lichen can be eaten as a  substitute carbohydrates by diabetics. Modern research does not suggest that any lichens are a cure for diabetes, but  did discover that these lichen polysaccharides were not digestible by humans, dogs, or rabbits and if lichenin and isolichenin are hydrolyzed, they yield glucose and other readily digestible simple sugars. Some lichen compounds can act as antibiotics, fungicides, and herbivore deterrents blessing the lichen some protection, and probably endows the lichen with some medicinal characters as well. Some researchers postulate that over 50% of all lichen species have antibiotic properties and many to suggest anti-tumor agents, antibiotic as well as anti-inflammatory properties. Some research suggests that proto-licheresterinic acid may be invaluable for the treatment of ulcers, cancers, and AIDS prevention. Vulpinic acid also has some mild antibiotic properties.

Cultural/Mythical/Fantasy:

The mythology seem to embedded be within the naming structure of various Lichen genus and species or common names. Medicinally and magically they are believed to cure whatever they are shaped after. According to the “Doctrine of Signatures” in the 15th century, a plant could be used to treat whatever ailment it most looked like.  The name “lichen” comes from the Greek word “Leprous” and refers to the use of some lichens for treating cutaneous diseases due to their peeling-skin appearance.  In Scotland, Ireland, England, and Wales the names for the Lichen often relate to what part of the human anatomy or a particular illness that the lichen resembles, with a belief that particular lichen can cure that ailment. Gaelic Lus Ghoinnich is a plant for wounds, Dog Lichen is a cure for the bite of a mad dog – due to the underside bearing fang-like structures, etc. According to Menomini legend, lichens are said to be scabs from the head of Må’nåpus. Må’nåpus placed the scabs where they are to keep his uncles and aunts from starving. Another version of this legend is that the lichens were scabs from when Må’nåpus burned his buttocks, and they came off as he slid down a slanting rock. The Okanagan-Colville have a legend about how Bryoria fremontii was created by originating from Coyote’s hair. The legend has numerous variants but basically involves a coyote trying to catch some swans who end up sweeping him into the sky, flying away with him, and  letting go of him when he is high up in the air. As Coyote fell he became caught in the branches of the trees. Once he freed himself he leaves much of his hair entangled in the branches. Therefore, Coyote transformed this hair into Bryoria fremontii, saying “You, my hair, will not be wasted. The coming people will gather you and make you into food.”  The Gitksan called a species of lichen Lobaria Nagaganaw meaning “Frog’s dress” or “Frog blanket” which was specifically  associated with frogs and used  in spring bathing rituals to bring health and long life.  In China Usnea diffracta has been called “Lao Tzu’s beard” and has been described as a medicine in Chinese herbals as early as 500 A. D.

Magic:  The species of Dictyonema was used by the Waorani as a hallucinogen in shamanistic rituals.  An unidentified saxicolous lichen was called “Jievut hiawsik” (means “Earth Flower)   by the Pima tribe of California. It was used as a good luck charm and  smoked for its narcotic effect. Various lichens have been used as an aphrodisiac.  Peltigera canina was used by the Southern Kwakiult as a love charm. The Apache used Letharia vulpina to paint crosses on their feet so they could pass their enemies unseen. A species of Peltigera or Lobaria was called “Frog blanket” by the Gitksan of British Columbia, and because it was associated with frogs it was used in a spring bathing ritual to bring health and long life.

More information:

• Usnea spp.

Research/Article by:
Thomas Baurley, Leafworks Research, www.leafworks.net.
[Official page: http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/treelore/?p=673]. March 3, 2013.
This page is continually being updated as research and facts are revealed.
Please check back often if this is a special interest to you.

Bibliography/ Recommended Reading/ Resources:

• Adams, Scott.
  “What’s That On My Trees?”. Website http://danshamptons.com/article/lifestyle/
  ask-the-expert-house-and-home/ask-the-expert-what%E2%80%99s-that-on-my-trees/
  referenced March 3, 2013.
• Ahmadjian, V.
  1993 – “The Lichen Symbiosis”. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
• Brodo, I.M., S.D. Sharnoff, S. Sharnoff.
  2001 – “Lichens of North America”. Yale University Press, New Haven.
• Casselman, Karen Diadick and Karen Leigh.
  2001 – “Lichen Dyes: The New Sourcebook. Dover publications.
• Knowles, M.C.
  1929 – “Lichens of Ireland”. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 38: 1-32.
• Sanders, W. B.
  2001 – “Lichens: Interface between mycology and plant morphology”. BioScience 51 (12): 1025-1035.
• University of Victoria
• Ethno-lichen study. Website http://web.uvic.ca/~stucraw/part2AM.html visited and referenced March 3, 2013.
• Ward, Stephen.
  “Naturally Scottish: Foreward on Lichens.” Web site http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/NaturallyScottish/lichens/ referenced March 3, 2013.
• Wikipedia:
  • Lichen. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichen referenced March 3, 2013

Bracket or Shelf Fungi, Congaree National Park, Columbia, SC

Name: Bracket fungi, or shelf fungi

Common Names:
Bracket fungi, shelf fungi, conks, oysters, wood rot fungi, sulphur shelf, birch bracket, dryad’s saddle, artist’s conk, turkey tail.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Fungi. Phylum: Basidiomycota. Class: Agaricomycetes. Order: Polyporales. Family: Polyporaceae. Genus: Polyporus. species: spp.

Localities:
Many various regions of the world, especially tropical and sub-tropical forests. Personally photographed and/or observed in South Carolina, United States. White-rot fungi, also known as “Pleurotus fungi” is found through tropical and temperate climates around the world. Research still pending.

Description:  Commonly known as Conks or oysters, this “bracket” or “shelf” fungi is parasitic and can be found on living and/or dead trees. They come is a variety of different shapes and forms which sometimes define their species. If on a living tree, can accelerate its death phenomenally. This fungus will thrive off a dead tree even when fallen or only a stump remains. They produce an appearance of a shelf or bracket shaped fruiting body that mushroom collectors call “conks” and/or “oysters” as they lie in a close planar grouping of separate or inter-connecting horizontal rows. Their numbers can vary from dozens of caps blended in together or a single row of a few caps. They resemble mushrooms. They often grow in semi-circular shapes looking like trees or wood. They are parasitic, and/or saprotrophic. They are tough, sturdy, and firm with a strong grasp of the tree’s bark. They can live for a long time. This leads to the name polypores as a group for hard/leathery fungi that often lack a stem growing straight out of wood. They are defined by their growth form rather than their phylogeny and the group contains members of multiple clades. As a fungus they are related to the large group of eukaryotic organisms within the family of yeasts, mushrooms, and molds. The fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin, unlike that of plant cell walls which contain cellulose. Fungi are more closely related to animals than they are to plants. White-rot fungi, also known as “Pleurotus fungi” is found mainly on hardwood trees, though some decay conifer wood. The Polyporus squamosus, or Dryad’s Saddle is commonly found on hardwood logs and especially common May through June – this species is tan to brown with darker feathery scales and is edible. Some say it smells like watermelon rinds. Research still pending.

Cultivation:

Fungi decays and breaks down wood, manufactured materials, and buildings. Forms annual fruiting bodies, though some are perennial growing larger year after year. They produce spores called basiodiospores within the pores on the under surface. Research still pending.

Common Uses: Research still pending.

Culinary:
Some species are used for human consumption. Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) is commonly cultivated for food. Polyporus squamosus, or Dryad’s Saddle is listed by many sites as an edible. As with any plant, herb, or fungi – research your specimen and double-check identification. Some species look identical and can be poisonous. This guide is not accurate for identification, you will need to consult a specialist or expert. This guide is for mythology, definition, and folklore around various plants, trees, and fungi not a culinary or medicinal advice guide. Those who do eat the Dryad’s saddle have recommended it be sauteed in butter with garlic, shallots, or ramps. They also recommend not to gather for food those larger than your palm – the smaller the better. Wild Man Steve Brill claims that the “mature mushroom is much too leathery and bitter to eat, but any part of the immature cap that you can cut with your fingernail is edible.” He also claims that mushroom hunters often find this one as inferior, but he says it can be turned into a delicacy and uses the following recipe: “Marinate broad slices overnight in 2 parts olive oil and 1 part wine vinegar, with some garlic, thyme, rosemary, tarragon, and tamari soy sauce. Drain, and bake 20-30 minutes over a cookie sheet on racks, in a preheated 350 degree oven. Pat dry with paper towels and enjoy as is, or add to any savory recipe.” Research still pending.

Medicinal:
Some species have medicinal properties. Pleurotus species are also nematophagous and catch nematodes by paralyzing them with a toxin.The common turkey-tail bracket fungus, Trametes versicolor is used in a protein-bound polysaccharide preparation as a non-specific immunostimulator produced in Japan for clinical treatment of stomach, esophagus, colon, rectum, lung, and mammary gland cancers. By 1984 it ranked 19th on the list of the world’s most commercially successful drugs with annual sales of 255 million dollars (Yang et al. 1992. J. Immun. Immunophar. 12: 29-34). [ http://www.angelfire.com/wizard/kimbrough/Textbook/
MedicinalUsesOfMushrooms_blue.htm ] Research still pending.

Cultural/Mythical/Fantasy:
The Polyporus squamosus, or Dryad’s Saddle has the appearance of a “perfect seat or ride for a wood nymph” which is possible for its namesake. This next tidbit, whether fantasy, RPG, or actual folklore lends suggestion it is a popular mushroom to the Fae. That which is called the “Shelfung” mythologically is also referred to as the Squilla in mythical Sarvonia and considered an edible fungus popular among the orcs, elves, brownies, hobbits, and thergerim, and humans as a spice for various foods such as for leveret, force bread, and poultry. The Tharian call it “Shelfung”, the Orcs call it “Kroch’tlor”, and the Thergerimtaal call it “Urtumua”. Orcs believe this fungus will strengthen the blood for fighting and their name for it translates to “Good Blood”. The Blaa’kr tribe on the Isles of R’unor believe it enhances sexual potency. Hobbits (not a actual species of Fae, created by Tolkien) say it will increase one’s wisdom.
[Santharia.com: http://www.santharia.com/herbarium/squilla_fungus.htm ] Research still pending.

Research/Article by:
Thomas Baurley, Leafworks Research, www.leafworks.net.
[Official page: http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/treelore/?p=641]. March 3, 2013.
This page is continually being updated as research and facts are revealed.
Please check back often if this is a special interest to you.

Bibliography/ Recommended Reading/ Resources:

• Adams, Scott.
  “What’s That On My Trees?”. Website http://danshamptons.com/article/lifestyle/ask-the-expert-house-and-home/ask-the-expert-what%E2%80%99s-that-on-my-trees/ referenced March 3, 2013.
• Brough, Kim.
  Fungi as Saprobes. Website http://www.angelfire.com/wizard/kimbrough/Textbook/MedicinalUsesOfMushrooms_blue.htm visited and referenced March 3, 2013.
• Jazjaz.net: “30 Enchanting Pictures of Mushrooms, Toadstools, and Fungi”.
  Ref: http://www.jazjaz.net/2009/07/30-enchanting-pictures-of-mushrooms-toadstools-and-fungi.html. Website referenced and views on March 3, 2013.
• Mount Gravatt Environmental Group: Gilled Fungi.
  Website: http://megoutlook.wordpress.com/category/forest-fungi/gilled-fungi/ referenced on March 3, 2013.
• Rockland-Miller, Ari.      The Mushroom Forager: The Oft Overlooked Dryad Saddle. Website http://themushroomforager.com/2011/05/12/the-oft-overlooked-dryads-saddle/ visited and referenced March 3, 2013.
• Santharia.com: The Squilla Fungus (Shelfung).
  Website http://www.santharia.com/herbarium/squilla_fungus.htm visited and referenced March 3, 2013. Fantasy/Mythology.
• Stanley Rice Photography: Evolution Photos – Shelf Fungus and Symbiosis.
  Website http://www.stanleyrice.com/evolution_photos/index.album/shelf-fungi-and-symbiosis?i=39 referenced March 3, 2013.
• Wikipedia:
  • Bracket Fungus. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracket_fungus referenced March 3, 2013
  • Fungus. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus referenced March 3, 2013.
  • Oyster Mushroom. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyster_mushroom referenced March 3, 2013
  • Wood Decay Fungus. Website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood-decay_fungus#White_rot referenced March 3, 2013
• Wild Man Steve Brill.
  “Dryad’s Saddle”. Website http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Mushrooms.Folder/Dryad’s%20Saddle.html visited and referenced March 3, 2013.

Sherrill Tree, Inc.
* www.sherrilltree.com *

As a botanical specialist, landscaper, or recreationist – we all need a reliable source for supplies and gear to interact with our green friends whether caretaking, enjoying, or interacting. A company we recently came across that has been in the business for over 50 years is the Sherrill Tree Company from outside of Greensboro, North Carolina not too far from us down here in Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Location of course doesn’t really matter with a company like this one, as they are (like us) global and can get the gear to you regardless of where you like on our blue and green planet. Tree Care, Tree Climbing, Education, Science, or Recreation, if you are in need of arborist supplies, they have what you need. Sherrill Tree also provides the necessary staff who specialize in the safest and best equipment you’ll need for your interactive experience high above the tree tops. The Company was started out of a small home office in 1960 from Greensboro covering lawn and garden equipment. Through the years, combined with the talents of outdoor enthusiast Tobe Sherrill in the 80′s, the gear and equipment climbed for the sky … helping and enjoying those magnificent creations that give us warmth, energy, medicine, oxygen, shade, and health. Also striving to assist with natural disasters such as Hurricane Hugo during the 1989 damage toll near Charleston, South Carolina that left over 56,000 people homeless, Sherrill Tree was there providing equipment for cleanup.

Wild sunflowers along roadside in New Mexico

Sunflowers a.k.a. “Common Sunflower”, “Mirasol”, “Kansas Sunflower”

Helianthus annuus

Localitie: Located throughout the western and southern United States, Southern Canada, and Northern Mexico. They are native to meadows, roadsides, foothills, prairies, and dry plains preferring well drained soils.

Description: The Common sunflower is a large roadside plant that grows off a coarse, hairy, leafy large stalk with stiff branching upright stems ranging in height from 3-9 feet tall, producing 3-6″ orange-yellow rayed flower heads containing numerous seeds in their brown-purple center disks flowering in summer annually. Common along fences, fields, ditches, roads, trackways, and waste areas especially in the Americas west of the Mississippi. Over the last 3,000 years, Native American and European cultivation of the plant has altered the size and seeds a thousand fold. These have become their own domesticated variety.

Cultivation: Best grown in moist, average well-drained soils under full sun exposure. They can also do well in poor soils, that are on the dry side, as long as full sunlight is granted. Best to plant after the last frost date for the area. The Sunflower was first domesticated by the Amerindians from the regions of southern Canada, western/southern America, and northern Mexico for food. It is believed that the Sunflower was first cultivated by the Native Americans, then spread from Mexico to Spain, onward to Europe, to the Russians, and finally to the European colonists in the New World.

Culinary: Domesticated by Native Americans for thousands of years, the sunflower was used in a variety of cooking methods. The seeds were roasted, cooked, dried, ground, or eaten raw, or pressed to create sunflower oil. The seeds can be roasted and ground to make a coffee substitution. Flower buds are boiled and eaten or added to dishes.

Common Uses: Sunflowers are used as ornamentals and for herbal gardens with companion planting. Black and purple dyes are made from the plant to dye baskets. The ray flowers are used to make a yellow dye. The dyes would be used to dye fabric, basketry, or body paint. Infusions from the seeds have been used as a flea repellent. Stalks are used as fodder for livestock, poultry/livestock food, fuel, and ensilage. Russians use the hulls to manufacture furfural and ethyl alcohol, growing yeast, and lining plywood, or for commercial fiber. Others use it for fiber in plants and paper manufacture.

Cultural and Mythological: State flower of Kansas. The Sunflower is the common name but the Latin Genus species “Helianthus” comes from the Greek word “helios anthos” which translates to “Sun flower”. The species “annuus” means “annual”. The Hopi Indians believe that when sunflowers are numerous, it is a sign that there will be an abundant harvest. The Teton Dakota say that when the sunflowers are tall and in full bloom, the buffalo are ready for hunt as they are fat with good meat. The Iroquois tribe of North America incorporate sunflowers as part of their creation myth. The Spanish explorer Francisco Hernandez claimed that sunflower held aphrodisiac powers. The Rees, Mandan, and Gros Ventres made an oil from the seeds to lubricate and paint the face and body for ceremony, and also ate the seeds as a stimulant for war or hunting parties to alleviate fatigue. The Navajo used the plant for sun sand painting ceremonies and as a disinfectant preventing pre-natal infections caused by solar phenomena such as eclipses. they also pulverized seeds and roots together to make a salve to apply in order to prevent a horse from falling on a person, and as a moxa of the pith to remove warts. The flowers are worn in the hair of various tribal women (such as the Hopi in Arizona) for ceremonies.

Medicinal: Europeans used the plant as a remedy for pulmonary issues, the seeds for coughs and colds, as a substitute for quinine treating malaria, as well as a expectorant and diuretic. In Mexico, it is believed that sunflowers when eaten was good to soothe chest pains. The Pima would make a poultice from the warm ashes of burnt sunflowers and apply to the stomach to get rid of worms and a decoction from the leaves to stop high fevers. The Dakota would boil the flower heads, separate the involucrul bracts, and create a remedy for pulmonary issues. The Cochiti would make a juice from crushing the sunflower stems and apply them to cuts and wounds to speed healing. Cherokee made an infusion of the leaves to treat kidneys and the Dakota for chest pains and pulmonary troubles. Pawnee women ate a concoction made from dry seeds to protect suckling children from infections. Hopi used the plant for skin issues and as a spider medicine. Navajo used the seeds as a appetite stimulant. The Paiute tribe used sunflower root to alleviate rheumatism. Zuni would make a poultice from the root to treat snakebites.

Wild sunflowers along roadside in New Mexico

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Dr. Living -stone: Presume, Dublin, Ireland

‘Dr. Living-stone: Presume’
by Alison Bole (made from Kilkenny Limestone)

A art piece by Alison Bole made out of Kilkenny Limestone that depicts the succulent plants from South Africa nick-named “living-stones” that belong to the Lithops species. This beautiful crafted piece of art is from the National Botanical Gardens of Ireland, in Dublin. The Gardens, which were founded in 1795 by the Dublin Society is an amazing collection of over 15,000 species of plants from around the world. An arboretum, botanical gardens, library, orchid breeding centre, and a horticultural research and training facility.

Gorse

Ulex europaeus or common names: Gorse, furze, furse, or whin

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Magnoliophyta; Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Fabales; Family: Fabaceae; Subfamily: Faboideae; Genus: Ulex; Species: U. europaeus; Binomial name: Ulex europaeus L.

Gorse is a common name for the Ulex europaeus, a genus of roughly 20 species of spiny evergreen shrubs that are native to Western Europe and Northwest Africa. It is closely related to the ‘Broom’ Family hosting green stems with small leaves. The plant is extremely dry in its branches and leaves – making it a severe fire hazard with an explosive burst with wildland fires. Because of the quick fire explosions and passing on of the waves of flames – gorse is very good at withstanding fire damage and spreads its seed pods best when torched by wildfire. Burnt stumps will sprout new growth from the roots. The branches host extreme spininess with shoots branching out 1-4 cms long. It can grow up to 2-3 meters tall (7-10 feet). Leaves of younger plants are trifoliate resembling a small clover leaf before they evolve into scales or small spines. All of the species host yellow flowers. Many of these species grow in sunny sites in dry, sandy soils. Flowers bloom from late autumn throughout the winter season with flowers strongest in the spring. Some gorse is always in flower and host a coconut-like scent. Gorse is the perfect environment for wildlife nesting and protecting its inhabitants from predators due to the dense thorny cover.
Culinary: The flowers are edible and often used in salads, tea, and in the manufacture of a non-grape based wine. It is high in protein and commonly used to feed livestock as fodder.
Common uses: Used as livestock fodder. Bundles of gorse used to fire traditional bread ovens. According to Jasmine ( jasmine@archaeosophia.co.uk / http://www.archaeosophia.co.uk ) “Gorse may also used in the vitrification of Iron Age hill-forts in Scotland; experimental archaeology has shown that the temperatures it can reach are high enough to turn rock to glass. The fires would have to be kept burning for about a week to maintain the process… In 1934, Vere Gordon Childe and his colleague designed a test wall that was 12 feet long, six feet wide and six feet high, which was built for them at Plean Colliery in Stirlingshire. “They used old fireclay bricks for the faces and pit props as timber, and filled the cavity between the walls with small cubes of basalt rubble. They covered the top with turf and then piled about four tons of scrap timber and brushwood against the walls and set fire to them. Because of a snowstorm in progress, a strong wind fanned the blazing mixture of wood and stone so that the inner core did attain some vitrification of the rock”. Modern foresters can attest to gorse fires raging across hillsides well in excess of 800 degrees centigrade on open ground – a covered, stoked fire fed over time would be capable of vitrification and gorse not only freely covers most Scottish hillsides, but is one species which seems to actively flourish after fires – the perfect renewable resource.” [Thanks Jasmine!]
Folklore: ‘When gorse is in flower, kissing is in fashion” is a common rhyme.

Gorse
The Curraugh, Kildare, Ireland

Our Official Page on Gorse is now located at: http://www.treeleavesoracle.org/treelore/gorse/.

Photos are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without permission of authors Tom Baurley or Leaf McGowan. Photos can be purchased via Technogypsie.com at Technogypsie Photography Services for nominal use fees. Articles and Research papers are done at the Author’s expense. If you donate below, you’ll help contribute to the costs of the research that provided this article. Any Reviews can request a re-review if they do not like the current review or would like to have a another review done. If you are a business, performer, musician, band, venue, or entity that would like to be reviewed, you can also request one (however, travel costs, cost of service (i.e. meal or event ticket) and lodging may be required if area is out of reviewer’s base location at time of request).

In the field at Lanyon Quoit, Cornwall, England

Foxglove

Digitalis L.; common names: ‘Witches’ Gloves’, ‘Fairy’s Glove’, ‘Gloves of Our Lady’, ‘Virgin’s Glove’, ‘Fairy Caps’, ‘Folk’s Glove’, ‘Fairy Thimbles’, ‘fairy-folks-fingers’, ‘lambs-tongue-leaves’, ‘bloody fingers’, ‘deadman’s bells’.

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae; Angiosperms; Eudicots; Asterids; Lamiales; Plantaginaceae; Digitalis L.; several species including: Digitalis cariensis;
Digitalis ciliata; Digitalis davisiana; Digitalis dubia; Digitalis ferruginea; Digitalis grandiflora; Digitalis laevigata; Digitalis lanata; Digitalis leucophaea; Digitalis lutea; Digitalis obscura; Digitalis parviflora; Digitalis purpurea; Digitalis thapsi; Digitalis trojana; Digitalis viridiflora.

This beautiful plant has meant alot to me through my life – mainly because it saved my daughter’s life. As my daughter was born premature, her heart didn’t close/form properly before arrival – and the first part of her life she had to take dijoxin which is formulated from the Foxglove plant. What a wonderful essence on this planet. Digitalis or Foxglove, is over 20 species of herbaceious perennials, biennials, and shrubs that are native to western Europe, western/central Aisa, and northwestern Africa. Leaves are spirally arranged, simple 10-35 cm long/5-12 cm broad grey-green downy with fine toothed margins forming a tight rosette during the first year of the plant’s life. Second year plants are typicall 1-2 m tall with showy, terminal, elongated cluster leaves with tubular, pendant, and colorful flowers that are spotted within the flower tube’s bottom. The numerous tubular flowers bloom off a spike ranging in color from purple to white during the summer months. Flowering occurs usually early summer with some flower stems developing later in the season. “Digitalis” means “finger-like” describing to the ease with which one of its flowers can be fitted over a fingertip. The folk name “fox glove” may come from its similar shape and appearance to the ‘foxes glew’, a historic instrument that consisted of a ring of bells hung on an arched support. Its tubular flowers blossom off a tall spike. The colors of the flowers vary from purple to pink, white, and yellow. Digitalis purpurea, aka “Common Foxglove” is the most common species that is grown often as an ornamental plant. Common foxglove produces only a stem with long basal leaves. It grows in acidic soils under partial sunlight to deep shade, found commonly along roadsides, open woods, woodland clearings, moorlands, bogs, heath margins, sea-cliffs, rocky mountain slopes, and hedgebanks.

Cultivation:
Foxglove prefers partial shade in a well-drained acidic soil that is rich in humus. Established plants will tolerate dry shade. The plant is susceptible to crown rot and needs adequate drainage.

Common uses:
Foxglove is common to gardens for its flowers and appeal.

Medicinal: Digitalis is the main ingredient in the cardiac glycoside “digoxin”. ‘Digitalin’ is also a group of cardiac medicines extracted from foxglove. These are used to treat heart conditions by increasing cardiac contractility and as an antiarrhythmic agent to control the heart rate, particularly in irregular or fast atrial fibrillation. Some use digitalis as a weightloss aid even though this is proven unsafe. Folklorists have also suggested its success with epilepsy and other seizure disorders. Historically used for heart treatment. It has also been employed in the treatment of internal haemorrhage, in inflammatory diseases, in delirium tremens, in epilepsy, in acute mania and various other diseases, with real or supposed benefits. It is also a powerful diuretic and valuable remedy for dropsy. County Cork, Ireland it was found to be handy in taking the soft leaves at the plant’s center to utilize for healing cuts. It is for strengthening the heart and regulating heartbeat.
Safety: Very toxic, those suffering an overdose of digitalis may experience anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometime xanthopsia (jaundiced or yellow vision) with the appearance of halos or blurred outlines. Bradycardia can also occur. Depending on the species, it may contain several deadly physiological and chemically related cardiac and steroidal glycosides which lead to the folk names “Dead Man’s Bells” and “Witches Gloves”. The entire plant is toxic including roots and seeds. A nibble can be enough to cause death. Symptoms include but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, wild hallucinations, delirium, severe headache, irregular and slow pulse, tremors, various cerebral disturbances, especially of a visual nature, convulsions, and deadly disturbances of the heart. The plant is toxic to animals including all classes of livestock and poultry, as well as felids and canids.
Other uses: Ornamental plant found in gardens. Development of poison through history. Domestic use of the leaves to darken the lines engraved on stone floors creating a mosaiclike appearance. 19th century Dubliners dried the leaves and used it as snuff by old women.
Folklore: Northern legends stating that bad fairies gave these blossoms to the fox so that s/he might put them onto their toes to soften tread when prowling among the roosts. Other legends state that the blossoms are to mark where the elves had placed their fingers or that they were warning signs for the baneful juices secreted by the plant as in Ireland’s name for it as “Dead Man’s Thimbles”. Irish folklore considered it unlucky to bring into the home. The Latin “Digitalis” translates to “measuring a finger’s breadth”. It was named after “Fox glove” after “folk’s glove” whereas folk referred to woodland faeries and belived to be their gloves that they wore during raids on chicken coops blaming the thefts on thieves.

In the field at Lanyon Quoit, Cornwall, England

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Eustrephus latifolius in * Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia * – April 2011

Eustrephus latifolius:
* Wombat berry *

Common Names: Wombat berry
Taxonomy: Kingdom: Plantae; Angiosperms; Monocots; Asparagales; Asparagaceae; Lomandroideae; Geitonosplesiaceae; Eustrephus latifolius.

Location/Environment:
Native to Malaysia, Eastern Australia (especially Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria), New Guinea, New Caledonia, and the Pacific Islands. Common in sclerophyll dry or wet forests, woodlands, heaths, marginal rainforests, and gallery forests.

Description:
Coming from the Greek “Eustrephus” meaning “to twist” and describing its twining habit of the vines. Latifolius meaning having broad leaves. A monotypic genus of the Asparagaceae and Lomandroideae families it is a sole species that is an evergreen vine that vigorously twines and scrambles as ground cover. Vine gives sprout to lamina variable shaped elliiptic, lance-shaped, to linear leaves ranging from 3-10 cm in length and 3-35 mm in width. The veins of the leaves are equally distinct. The leaves in the Spring give blossom to 15 mm diameter pink, mauve, and/or white flowers with 1-2 cm diameter yellow-orange globose capsules with black seeds set in a white aril. The fruits remain on the plant for several months.

Cultivation:
Propagated best from fresh young seed.

Common Uses:

Culinary:
Fleshy roots are edible. Tubers are baked and eaten. They are notable to have an earthy sweet flavor.

Medicinal:

Folklore and Magic:

Mythology:

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Bibliography/Recommended Reading:
• Chase, M.W.; Reveal, J.L.; Fay, M.F. 2009 Botanical Journal of Linnean Society 161: “A subfamilial classification for the expanded asparagalean families Amaryllidaceae, Asparagaceae, and Xanthorrhoeaceae”; pages 132-136.
• PlantNET: “Eustrephus latifolius”. Website referenced May 2012.
• Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. “Eustrephus latifolius”. Website referenced May 2012.

* Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia *

Photos from:

Australian National Botanical Gardens*
Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia *

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