Family: Asteraceae or Sunflower/ Aster/ Daisy Ecology/ Botany: This tap-rooted perennial covers open, sunny slopes in the dry climatic regions. It prefers forest types like Ponderosa Pine or Interior Douglas Fir. Medicinal/Traditional/Other Uses: An important food and medicine plant for Indigenous cultures, the resinous taproots are edible, and the small sunflower-like seeds can be made […]
Family: Montiaceae/ Purslane Ecology/ Botany: This perennial grows from seemingly dead taproots in the dry, open ground of arid ecosystems like Bunchgrass zones and even the desert. The stunning flowers glow against the grey earth like they had been dropped from the heavens and only open in the sun. Rediviva means revived or restored to […]
Family: Ranunculaceae or Buttercup Ecology/ Botany: This flowering, wild vine is common in a variety of forest zones in moist to dry climatic regions like Montane Spruce, Interior Douglas Fir, and Interior Cedar Hemlock. It grows up to five meters long, climbs, and blends in with the surrounding vegetation, so the flowers appear to float […]
Family: Iridaceae or Iris Ecology/ Botany: This perennial, small, flowering grass prefers moist, grassy openings in dry climatic regions in Interior Douglas Fir forest zones. Medicinal/ Other Uses: It has been used by Indigenous North Americans medicinally as treatment for diarrhea and other stomach and intestinal disorders, especially in children. References/ Other useful links: Parish, […]
Family: Asteraceae/ Aster/ Daisy/ Sunflower Ecology/ Botany: This perennial grows in dry climatic regions in clearings, sandy floodplains, or forest openings of Ponderosa Pine and Interior Douglas Fir zones. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: It helps clear excess water from the body via the urinary system as a diuretic. The flower essence is said to nurture, […]
Family: Cornaceae/ Dogwood Ecology/ Botany: This shade-loving, creeping perennial is usually beneath the canopy of mature coniferous forests amongst the decaying wood. It will blanket the ground when well established. The little bunches of sweet, pulpy berries are edible. It is not a true flower and has an explosive pollination mechanism. It is widespread and […]
Family: Asteraceae/Aster/ Daisy/ Sunflower Ecology/ Botany: This tall perennial grows from creeping underground rhizomes, usually in open floodplains, forest openings, or meadows in moist climatic regions at low to mid-elevation. It blooms in late summer when the seasons are ready to turn. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: It has medicinal properties for the urinary tract and […]
Family: Liliaceae/ Lily Ecology/ Botany: These dark, mottled, perennial lilies are infrequent in forest openings and meadows of dry forest types like Interior Douglas Fir, at low to sub-alpine elevations. They take 4-6 years to produce flowers that smell of rotting meat to attract the flies and carrion insects that pollinate them. Medicinal/ Other Uses: […]
Family: Buttercup/ Ranunculaceae Ecology/ Botany:This is an extremely poisonous perennial. It prefers moist montane to subalpine forest openings and streambanks of Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir forest zones. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses:In folklore, a chemical component of the tuber is an ingredient in a flying ointment witches used to take flight. It caused heart fibrillation and delirium […]
Family: Campanulaceae or Bellflower Ecology/ Botany: This perennial is common and grows in all vegetation zones but prefers Interior Douglas Fir and Engelmann Spruce- Subalpine Fir forest zones. It is shorter at higher elevations and taller at lower elevations. The dryer the site, the shorter and hairier the leaves are. Medicinal/ Traditional/ Other Uses: This […]