- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
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Well, like M. le pitdog, I too got out for a very short (damn work!) hike this afternoon. I guess it's true what they say - "The only thing worse than having a job, is not having one."
Since there is no way I can compete with Mr. pit on a photographic level, I decided that I would try and make my pictures educational (relevant to wilderness survival/primitive skills). What does this have to do with family pictures? Well you decide. This is a picture of some baby Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).
As I understand it, some Native peoples referred to this plant as "son before the father" because unlike most wild flowers, first the flowers come out and then they are followed by the leaves.
(BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, ANY REFERENCE TO USE OF PLANTS AS A FOOD OR MEDICINE IS BELIEVED TO BE 100% ACCURATE, BUT THE FINAL DETERMINATION AS TO THE SUITABILITY OF A PARTICULAR PLANT FOR THESE PURPOSES IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU TRY IT, YOU GET SICK, IT'S YOUR FAULT )
Traditionally, the plant was used for medicinal purposes such as a cough suppressant, asthma medication and for other respiratory ailments. However, like many plants, a caution exists regarding its use internally. Apparently it contains a chemical, pyrrolizidine which isn't particularly good for your liver.
When the plant opens up, it is quite similar to a dandelion. One of the distinguishing characteristics is the reddish like scales that are found on the stems
and, of course, another characteristic is the lack of leaves at this time.
There are other plants called Coltsfoot (Petasites spp.) that apparently grow out west (Pitdog and misanthropist's neck of the woods) that I have no knowledge of. This is one of the difficulties using common names for plants. I urge anyone who wants to develop their knowledge of plant use to include the use of binomials (the Latin or botanical name). This helps to reduce a lot of confusion and it's much easier starting with them at the beginning rather than trying to learn them later on, at least IMHO.
Here is another babe of the woods. This is a young Teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris) plant.
This is an alien plant that was brought here for the prickly heads which were used in the textile industry. In this area, they are everywhere! The survival use of these plants are as an effective hand drill for hand drill fires. The woody stalks can also be used as trap trigger parts. Here's the parents (thus the family pictures designation):
Here we have another baby - Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
This plant had many uses - medicinal, as lamp wicks
,
a fish poison, a pot holder that could be used around a fire, "nature's toilet paper" because of its soft, wooly leaves but beware of its rubefacient properties (can irritate the skin), a torch when soaked with animal fat, and as a hand drill material, favoured by many (although not by me). I also thought because of the rough stems it would be a good material to use to make the trap for the Arapuca bird trap. On the list to try. Here are baby Mullein's parents:
Mr. and Mrs. Last Year Mullein.
Leaving Nature's families, some individual shots - here is a Thistle (Cirsium spp.)
that still has pappus left on it. This can be lit from the spark from a fuel deficient Bic as well as a ferro rod, etc. Thistle also can be used as an excellent hand drill for hand drill fire. Thistle is an edible plant.
And lastly, the Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) gall.
(Notice how I snuck in the obligatory knife picture
) This swelling of the stem is caused by the larva of the small spotted wing fly (Eurosta solidaginis). This larva can be used as a fish bait in the winter or can be eaten (and was by some native peoples). In fact at one of our gatherings, a university student who had spent a lot of time with some of the northern people was chowing down on some. Personally, I would cook them first to destroy any possible parasites, but to each their own.
Anyway, that's my effort for today. I hope you enjoy.
Doc
Since there is no way I can compete with Mr. pit on a photographic level, I decided that I would try and make my pictures educational (relevant to wilderness survival/primitive skills). What does this have to do with family pictures? Well you decide. This is a picture of some baby Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara).
As I understand it, some Native peoples referred to this plant as "son before the father" because unlike most wild flowers, first the flowers come out and then they are followed by the leaves.
(BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, ANY REFERENCE TO USE OF PLANTS AS A FOOD OR MEDICINE IS BELIEVED TO BE 100% ACCURATE, BUT THE FINAL DETERMINATION AS TO THE SUITABILITY OF A PARTICULAR PLANT FOR THESE PURPOSES IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU TRY IT, YOU GET SICK, IT'S YOUR FAULT )
Traditionally, the plant was used for medicinal purposes such as a cough suppressant, asthma medication and for other respiratory ailments. However, like many plants, a caution exists regarding its use internally. Apparently it contains a chemical, pyrrolizidine which isn't particularly good for your liver.
When the plant opens up, it is quite similar to a dandelion. One of the distinguishing characteristics is the reddish like scales that are found on the stems
and, of course, another characteristic is the lack of leaves at this time.
There are other plants called Coltsfoot (Petasites spp.) that apparently grow out west (Pitdog and misanthropist's neck of the woods) that I have no knowledge of. This is one of the difficulties using common names for plants. I urge anyone who wants to develop their knowledge of plant use to include the use of binomials (the Latin or botanical name). This helps to reduce a lot of confusion and it's much easier starting with them at the beginning rather than trying to learn them later on, at least IMHO.
Here is another babe of the woods. This is a young Teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris) plant.
This is an alien plant that was brought here for the prickly heads which were used in the textile industry. In this area, they are everywhere! The survival use of these plants are as an effective hand drill for hand drill fires. The woody stalks can also be used as trap trigger parts. Here's the parents (thus the family pictures designation):
Here we have another baby - Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
This plant had many uses - medicinal, as lamp wicks
a fish poison, a pot holder that could be used around a fire, "nature's toilet paper" because of its soft, wooly leaves but beware of its rubefacient properties (can irritate the skin), a torch when soaked with animal fat, and as a hand drill material, favoured by many (although not by me). I also thought because of the rough stems it would be a good material to use to make the trap for the Arapuca bird trap. On the list to try. Here are baby Mullein's parents:
Mr. and Mrs. Last Year Mullein.
Leaving Nature's families, some individual shots - here is a Thistle (Cirsium spp.)
that still has pappus left on it. This can be lit from the spark from a fuel deficient Bic as well as a ferro rod, etc. Thistle also can be used as an excellent hand drill for hand drill fire. Thistle is an edible plant.
And lastly, the Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) gall.
(Notice how I snuck in the obligatory knife picture
) This swelling of the stem is caused by the larva of the small spotted wing fly (Eurosta solidaginis). This larva can be used as a fish bait in the winter or can be eaten (and was by some native peoples). In fact at one of our gatherings, a university student who had spent a lot of time with some of the northern people was chowing down on some. Personally, I would cook them first to destroy any possible parasites, but to each their own.Anyway, that's my effort for today. I hope you enjoy.
Doc
. They are all pretty plentifull in B.C. Though I have to keep an eye out for that Common Mullein.
- a good one, mind you 
, sorry about that. Glad you liked it.
