Field Journal of Suzi Soroczak HRB 635A

Prof. Betsy Miller Maryland University of Integrative Health

June 30, 2019

Part I Field Outing & Local Resources Week of May 28-Jun 2, 2019 Out and about in the foothills of Appalachia: Rutland, OH The following medicinal plants are captured in this field journal:

1. Spice Bush 2. Goldenseal 3. Jewelweed 4. Mayapple 5. Pawpaw 6. Blackhaw 7. Ginseng 8. Solomon’s Seal 9. Black Cohosh 10. Virginia Snake root 11. Poke weed/root 12. Wild Geranium root 13. Wild garlic 14. Lobelia 15. Ramps 16. Sarsaparilla 17. Agrimony 18. Blue Cohosh 19. Sedum

Spice Bush, Eastern Sweetshrub, Carolina Allspice, Sweet Shrub Calycanthus floridus L. Family: Calycanthaceae

Eastern sweetshrub or Carolina allspice is a 6-12 ft., deciduous shrub with glossy, aromatic, leathery, dark-green foliage. Its with erect, multiple stems create a rounded outline. Terminal blossoms are solitary and dark red with numerous overlapping, strap-like petals. Flower are often quite fragrant. Leaves become yellow in fall but are usually not showy. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: Seeds, bark, and root (Rafinesqe, 1830)

• Traditional aromatic and cooking spice, root used as an emetic. (Rafinesque, 1830)

• Current day usage in southern cuisine.

Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis L. Family: Ranunculaceae

Goldenseal becomes 6-12 in. tall, usually bearing three maple-like, shiny-green leaves. The stem is terminated by a single, white flower with yellow stamens followed by a tight cluster of red fruit. 1 large, wrinkled, basal leaf and a hairy stalk bearing 1 flower above a pair of 5-lobed stem leaves, all rising from a yellow, underground stem. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: root & rhizome • Traditional Eclectic herb used for the

Berberine content in the yellow root. Historically used to aid digestion, gastric irritability, and to treat anorexia. (Felter & Lloyd, 1898)

• Current day used for its healing qualities, antibiotic actions.

Jewelweed, Orange Jewelweed, Spotted Touch-me-not Impatiens capensis Meerb. Family: Balsaminaceae Tall, leafy plant with succulent translucent stems

and pendent golden-orange flowers splotched with reddish-brown. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: leaves • Historically used to treat poison ivy. • Modern day usage also to treat poison ivy.

(Kecken S., 1994)

Mayapple, Indian Apple, Wild Mandrake, Pomme De Mai, Podophylle Pelt Podophyllum peltatum L. Family: Berberidaceae

Mayapple is unique in that It has only 2 leaves and 1 flower, which grows in the axil of the leaves. The large, twin, umbrella-like leaves of mayapple are showy and conspicuous. They remain closed as the stem lengthens, unfolding 6-8 inches across when the plant has reached its 1-1 1/2 ft. height. The solitary, nodding, white to rose-colored flower grows in the axil of the leaves and has 6-9 waxy white petals, with many stamens. The nodding fruit is a large, fleshy, lemon-shaped berry. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: fruit, root • Historically used for its berberine properties.

Fruit can be eaten and the root used as an active carthartic. (Harding, 1936)

PaPaw, Common Papaw, Custard Apple, Indian Banana, Wild Banana Asimina triloba (L.) Dunal Family: Annonaceae

Copyright: forestryimages.org

Common papaw is a small, short-trunked tree or large, multi-stemmed shrub, 10-40 ft. tall, with large, tropical-like leaves. Young shoots and leaves are covered with a rusty down, later becoming smooth. The thick, bright-green, deciduous leaves turn yellow-green in fall. Not particularly showy, but interesting, purple, six-petaled flowers are borne singly in leaf axils before leaf emergence. Large,

cylindric, dark-green or yellow, edible fruit follows. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: fruit, leaves • Historically used for head lice, fleas, and ticks • Modern usage as a laxative and diuretic

Blackhaw, Smooth Blackhaw, Blackhaw Viburnum, Smooth Blackhaw Viburnum, Stagbush Viburnum prunifolium L. Family: Caprifoliaceae

Smooth blackhaw is a sturdy, shapely shrub or small tree, 12-15 ft. tall, sometimes growing to 30 ft. Rounded in outline, this deciduous shrub bears white flower clusters followed by yellow berries turning blue-black. Attractive, dark-green foliage becomes reddish-purple in fall. Shrub or small tree with short trunk, spreading, rounded or irregular crown, many showy, small, white flowers, and small, blue-black fruit. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: root bark • Historically used for uterine irritability and

antiabortive measures (Felter, 1922) • Modern usage is for urinary tract issues

(diuretic) and feminine menstrual cramps Ginseng, American ginseng, wild ginseng Panax quinquefolius L. Family: Araliaceae

An umbel of small, greenish-white or yellow-green, fragrant flowers rising from a whorl of 3 large, palmately compound leaves. The flowers of this species smell like those of Lily-of-the-valley. It is classified as a threatened species in 31 eastern states. The genus name is from the Greek panakeia (“panacea” or “cure-all”). The common name, a corruption of the Chinese Jin-chen (“man-like”), refers to the resemblance of the roots to a human body. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: root & rhizome • Historically used as a mild tonic and stimulant

and to increase appetite (Felter, 1922) • Modern uses of ginseng include stimulating

tonic and glucose stabilizer.

Solomon’s Seal, Smooth Solomon's Seal, Great Solomon's-seal, Sealwort Polygonatum biflorum (Walter) Elliott Family: Liliaceae

Copyright: friendsofthewildflower.org

The zig-zag arching stalks are from 1-5 ft. long. Nodding, greenish-white, tubular flowers hang in pairs from the axils of the oval, conspicuously veined leaves. Hanging from the leaf axils on an arching stem are a few (often 2) greenish-white, bell-like flowers. Blue berries follow the flowers of this perennial. The root is rhizomatous but non-colonizing. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: all parts • Historically used as heart irregularities,

circulation, and dropsy (Felter, 1922) • Modern usage include anti-inflammatory,

astringent, and for lung issues. Black Cohosh, Black Bugbane, Bugbane, Black Snakeroot, Fairy Candles Actaea racemosa L. var. racemose Family: Ranunculaceae

A large, bush-like plant, 3-6 ft. tall, with compound, toothed leaves and long candles of tiny, white, fuzzy flowers. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts Used: root or rhizome • Historically used to help women through

hormonal issues like PMS and menopause. Fell out of use after a negative stories.(Felter, 1922)

• Modern day usage is still primarily women’s issues.

Virginia Snake root, Virginia Dutchmanspipe Aristolochia serpentaria L. Family: Aristolochiaceae

A 1-2ft climber with alternate, pinnate, and lanceolate leaves. Yellow and purple flowers bloom in April, May, and June. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: root and rhizome • Historically used to treat lack of appetite and

as a digestion tonic (Felter, 1922) • Modern day usage includes wounds,

circulatory, and kidney disorders, but one of its primary constituents, aristolochia is a known carcinogen.

Poke Weed, Great Pokeweed, Pokeweed, Pokeberry, Red Ink Plant, Pigeonberry Phytolacca americana L. Family: Phytolaccaceae A tall, large-leaved, branching plant with reddish

stems and long clusters of small, white flowers.

This is frequently a troublesome weed with poisonous berries and roots, although emerging shoots can be gathered before the pink color appears, cooked, and eaten as greens. The berry juice was used as a dye by the early colonists and to improve cheap wine. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: leaves • Historically used as an emetic and purgative

(Felter, 1922) • Modern day usage has fallen off due to the

danger of poisoning the patient.

Wild Ginger Asarum canadense L. Family: Aristolochiaceae

This low, colony-forming perennial grows only 4-8 in. high. Each plant bears a pair of large, velvety, heart-shaped leaves. Growing at ground level in the crotch between 2 leafstalks is a single darkish red-brown to green-brown flower. The solitary flower is at ground level, hidden below the leaves. A similar plant with greenish-purple flowers, Hexastylis arifolia, has more triangular, evergreen leaf blades. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: root • Historical and modern usage is a spice while

cooking. Ginger is used as a stimulant and to get the blood moving.

Wild Garlic, Meadow Garlic, Wild Onion Allium canadense L. Family: Liliaceae

Meadow garlic or wild garlic’s sparse cluster of grass-like leaves and its 8-12 in. flowering stalk grow from a bulb. From between narrow, grass-like leaves, which originate near its base, rises a stem topped by a dome-like cluster of star-shaped, pink or whitish flowers; plant has strong, onion-like odor. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: bulbe and aerial parts • Historically used as a condiment (Felter,

1922) Also used to treat chronic bronchitis and other lunch issues.

• • Modern usage is much the same!

Lobelia, Great Blue Lobelia siphilitica L. Family: Campanulaceae

This showy perennial is usually unbranched but may exhibit some branching. The erect, 2-3 ft., stems produce lavender-blue, tubular flowers crowded together on the upper stem. Showy, bright blue flowers are in the axils of leafy bracts and form an elongated cluster on a leafy stem. Each flower is split into two lips - the upper lip has two segments and the lower lip has three. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: all aerial parts • Historically used by first peoples as an emetic

and stomachic (Felter, 1922). Also chewed leaves to releave asthma.

• Modern usage is for lung issues such as bronchitis and asthma.

Ramps, Wild Leek Allium tricoccum Family: Liliaceae

Two long, glossy, oval leaves appear in early spring and wither away before the smooth, 6-10 in. flowering stalk matures. Small white flowers occur in a hemispherical, terminal cluster of creamy-white flowers; plant has a mild onion taste.

In late April, before this species comes into flower, the people of the Great Smoky Mountains gather the plants for their annual Ramp Festival. The foliage and bulbs can be used in salads and soups. Native Americans treated stings with juice from the crushed bulbs. {NPIN 2013)

• Parts used: entire plant • Historical and modern usage is to eat ramps,

though you can hardly find them at the grocery store any more.

Sarsaparilla vine, dwarf greenbrier, dwarf smilax Smilax pumila Family: Smilacaceae

Unlike many other native smilaxes, Smilax pumila is virtually thornless, so it is safe to use as a low-growing and low-climbing evergreen groundcover in dry, partly shaded areas of the Southeast. Its leaves are mottled in two shades of green and it displays glossy clusters of red berries in winter. Its natural habitat is in pine forests and Post Oak (Quercus stellata) woods of the Coastal Plain, so fast-draining, loose soils low in nutrients are ideal for it. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: root, though the young tendrils are edible

• Historically used to make sarsaparilla soda and the root used as an alterative for first peoples (Felter, 1922)

• Modern day usage includes skin and inflammatory conditions, psoriasis, and for kidney problems.

Agrimony, Harvest Lice, Small-flowered Agrimony, Southern Agrimony, Swamp Agrimony Agrimonia parviflora Family: Rosacea

Copyright: uswildflowers.com

An erect, wand-like cluster of small yellow flowers extending above pinnately compound leaves; stem exudes spicy odor when crushed.

The species name means having hooked sepals. Southern Agrimony (A. parviflora) has leaves with 11-23 leaflets; it occurs from Ontario east to Massachusetts, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to South Dakota. Five other very similar Agrimonia species occur in the East. (NPIN, 2013)

• Parts used: most the root, though the entire plant is astringent

• Historically used by first peoples as a intermittent febrile, tonic, and alterative (Felter, 1922)

• Modern day usage is for a host of problems including, but not limited to throat and alimentary tract issues, diabetes, fluid retention, and urinary tract issues. Wow! What a wonder herb!

Blue Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Squaw-root, Papoose-root, Caulophylle Faux-pigamon Caulophyllum thalictroides (L.) Michx. Family: Berberidaceae

Spreading and bushy when mature, blue cohosh is a large, many-stemmed perennial, 1-3 ft. tall. Thrice-compound leaves with lobed leaflets are purplish in spring. Inconspicuous, purplish-brown to yellow-green flowers in a loosely branched cluster. Clusters of flowers are followed by conspicuous, bright-blue berries.

• Parts used: root and rhizome • Historically used as one of the oldest Eclectic

remedies. Used primarily to promote baby delivery and as an emmenagogue (Felter, 1922).

• Modern day usage is similar for stimulating the uterus and start contractions.

Sedum, Woodland stonecrop Sedam turnatum Family Crassulaceae

Sedum ternatum is a succulent trailing groundcover. Roots are fibrous and the sprawling stems root when they contact moist ground. They often form large mats covering rocks, tree roots or mossy areas near streams.

• Parts used: leaflets are edible • Historical usage for emeto-cathartic action

(Felter, 1922) • Modern usage is very little except as

sustenance in emergencies. References Felter M.D., & Lloyd, J.U. (1898) King's American Dispensatory, [URL] Accessed from

https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/kings/hydrastis.html. Kecken S. (1994) Herriette’s Herbal forum. [Blog] Access from https://www.henriettes-

herb.com/archives/best/1994/poison-ivy.html Harding, A.R.(1936) Ginseng and Other Medicinal Plants, Accessed from

https://www.henriettes-herb.com/eclectic/harding/podophyllum.html Native Plant Information Network, NPIN (2013). Wildflower database

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/ [accessed October 20, 2011]. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas, Austin, TX.

Rafinesque, C.S. (1830) Medical Flora, or Manual of the Medical Botany of the United States of North America, Vol. 2.