INDIAN HEMP (DOGBANE)

INDIAN HEMP (DOGBANE)

Apocynum cannabinum (dogbane, amy root, hemp dogbane, prairie dogbane, Indian hemp, rheumatism root, or wild cotton)

Hemp Dogbane stems have a tough, fibrous bark that can be used like hemp for making rope, nets, straps, and so on. Native Americans made nets and rope from the fibers of pounded stems and roots. People still use it for making rope and twine, and fabric for clothing.

The milky latex sap which can potentially be used for making rubber.

When bruised, all parts of the plant exude a toxic white juice; the plant has a long list of folkloric medicinal uses.

The toxic juices make this plant inedible to most mammals, but several types of moths eat this plant as caterpillars. They build up the toxin in their bodies and become unpalatable to predators. The delicate cycnia (Cycnia tenera), a tiger moth, is found wherever dogbane grows. Dogbane is also is a larval food plant for the snowberry and clearwings hummingbird, sphinx moths, as well as food for many other insects.

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Lovely Country Shed

Lovely Country Shed

The sweet things you see while driving the back roads of Vermont on a beautiful summer afternoon. 

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American Copper Butterfly

American Copper Butterfly On Echinacea

American Copper Butterfly On White Clover

 

White Clover is Edible

All aerial parts, including the seeds, are edible. The young leaves are harvested before the plant comes into flower and are used in salads, soups etc. They can also be used as a vegetable, cooked like spinach. The leaves are best cooked. Flowers and seed pods are dried, ground into powder and used as a flour or sprinkled on cooked foods such as boiled rice. Very wholesome and nutritious. The young flowers can also be used in salads. Root - cooked. The dried leaves impart a vanilla flavour to cakes etc. Dried flowering heads are a tea substitute. However, it is highly advised if you have never eaten these before to start with a very small quantity. Clovers can cause mild or severe gas.

Medicinally an infusion has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds, fevers and leucorrhoea. A tincture of the leaves is applied as an ointment to gout. An infusion of the flowers has been used as an eyewash.

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Disclaimer

My blog is meant to inform and I strive to be totally accurate. It is solely up to the reader to ensure proper plant identification. Some wild plants and mushrooms are poisonous or can have serious adverse health effects.

Moonscape

Moonscape View From The Beach

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My Summer Fun

                                     

Me At White's Beach On A Windy Day

Me Taking Photos At White's Beach On A Windy Day

Me Taking Photos At The Sand Bar

Hanging Out On The Rock Wall Enjoying The Weeping Willow And The Pond

Me On A River Walk

Getting out into nature every chance I get. Thanks Andrea Parker for taking these wonderful photos.

Framed By Driftwood at Delta Beach

Lounging On Driftwood at Delta Beach

Powerful Magic. I've conjured a storm with my Wizard's Staff. Thank you Andrea Parker/Hunton for taking the photos of me. 

Me at the New Haven River

New Haven River
I love the green glow on the water. I'm looking forward to fall color reflecting on this beautiful river.

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Echinacea Of A Different Color

This is called Green Twister

Echinacea Of A Different Color
Echinacea's name is rooted in the Greek word “echinos,” meaning "hedgehog," because of its spiny seed head. Technically speaking, this thick and spiky cone is actually hundreds of flowers, all tightly packed together.

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Creeping Bellflower

                                            

Creeping Bellflower
Also known as rampion bellflower, like a lot of edible wild plants, a transplant from Europe and Siberia, it was apparently popular as a garden plant (like many weeds in the United States) and, as weeds will do, it rapidly spread from gardens to yards, to forests and fields. The good news, is that you can eat it, and you should–as much as you can find. The leaves and young shoots of Creeping bellflower has a mild flavor, similar to, but not quite like spinach or other mild, leafy greens you’d cook and like a lot of other greens you might forage, creeping bellflower is better cooked than it is raw. You could possibly hide a few leaves in a salad, but it's not worth it, when it’s so much better as a cooked green. Only harvest the basal leaves though, as leaves growing up the flower stalks are relatively small and north worth mentioning. The deep beautiful bell-shaped blue flowers can be added to a salad. The young roots are somewhat sweet and pleasant addition to a salad, boiled in water along with potatoes and other vegetables, and probably also ok in a stir fry.
I found this growing in South Hero, Vt.

THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, FAVS AND COMMENTS. AS ALWAYS, APPRECIATED VERY MUCH!  © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY ELISE T. MARKS. PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS IMAGE ON WEBSITES, BLOGS OR ANY OTHER MEDIA WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT WRITTEN PERMISSION.