The "Name that Plant" Game

I read in Backwoodsman magazine that prickly pear thorns, and the fine hairs, can be burned off in fire.
 
Let's try another pic

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This is an edible plant but comes with a warning.


A quote: "Investigations into poisoning of livestock by spoiled hay of this plant led, some years ago, to the discovery of a powerful medicine for treatment of thrombosis, the plugging of a blood vessel by a spontaneous blood clot as in some types of heart disease and strokes. A very useful poison for controlling rats and other rodents was discovered at the same time."

I have used larger stalks of this plant as a hand drill for friction fire.

Doc
 
Sweet Clover? Melilotus officinalis?

If so, the compound would be dicumarol, a powerful anticoagulant from which the more potent Warfarin rodenticide was developed. Warfarin is used now medicinally in humans I believe because it is a better anticoagulant.
 
rksoon said:
Sweet Clover? Melilotus officinalis?

If so, the compound would be dicumarol, a powerful anticoagulant from which the more potent Warfarin rodenticide was developed. Warfarin is used now medicinally in humans I believe because it is a better anticoagulant.
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Ding, ding, ding. Correct on both counts.

Just because it's interesting, the rest of the quote:

"A serious outbreak of bleeding disease in cattle occurred in many states in 1921 and, after a while, it became clear that sweetclover hay which had been subjected to unusually moist conditions and had molded, even slightly, was reponsible. The haying season of 1921 was exceptionally moist and more sweetclover hay molded than usual.

Molded sweetclover hay somehow reduces the amount of one of the factors needed in the blood for clotting and thus prevents clots from forming. As in bracken poisoning, small cuts or scratches in the walls of the digestive system bleed uncontrollably. Muscle bruises bleed internally and large masses of blood collect beneath the skin. These appear as raised areas on the surface of the body, sometimes becoming several feet in circumference and as much as a foot high. Animals literally bleed to death in their own tissues and large quantities of blood may also be found in the intestines after death. Clotting power decreases steadily over several days or longer, during which animals appear perfectly healthy. But if minor operations such as dehorning are performed on animals in early stages of sweetclover poisoning, bleeding often cannot be stopped and many animals have died in this way.

A lot of people were involved in the hunt for the toxic compound in sweetclover. Toxicity was first associated with the presence in the plant of a bitter compound called coumarin. An ingenious experiment was performed from which it became obvious that under conditions of moisture that lead to mold, two molecules of coumarin combine chemically to form a single molecule of a new substance called dicoumarin. Dicoumarin was then found to be an effective anticoagulant for use in human medicine. This was the principal medicine employed, for example, when President Eisenhower suffered a heart attack while in office.

Dicoumarin has also been very successful as a rodenticide. Rodents are more susceptible to it than are other animals, so that quantities effective in killing rats are not likely to be sufficient to kill other types of animals. The rodenticide is called "Warfarin" after the initial letters of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the research laboratory which developed it. One never knows what path will open when new research projects are undertaken. This project, designed originally to learn about the causes and hopefully the control of a disease of cattle, led surprisingly to the discovery of one of man's more useful medicines, to a very effective agricultural chemical, and to excellent financial support for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation." (Deadly Harvest, John M. Kingsbury, Holt Paperback, Holt Rinehart & Winston, 1972, ISBN# 0-03-091479-5, page 92)

BTW, there's also a White Sweetclover (Melilotus alba)

You're up, rk.

Doc
 
Good stuff Doc, thanks :thumbup:

Lemme get one up here.


This plant was traditionally prepared by chewing or grinding the rhizome and roots to release a certain class of psychoactive compounds.

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The drink made from this plant (adding the extract to cool water) played a prominent role in quite a few religious ceremonies of certain cultures, often served in bowls like the one below.

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This drink mildly numbs the mouth and tongue, and was often used as a remedy for sore throats. However, it was most valued as a mild sedative of sorts; it is a muscle relaxant and is known to alleviate anxiety. Some say that drinking it induces a euphoria similar to drinking alcohol, except that you retain mental clarity and just "feel good."

Let me know if more info is needed :)
 
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Correct! We hawaiians call it 'awa; and let me tell you, one doesn't drink it for the taste :D The active ingredients in the extract are Kavalactones.

Good job knifephan, you're up :thumbup: :)
 
Likes warm climates and loves direct sunlight, frost can easily kill it. Don't have a map of where they grow, and took this picture in my back yard at a prior house in this area. If I told their native land I might as well name the plant. It lived inside in the winter. I was told by its owner the leaves are great for making cordage, though I never tried them myself. It took the life of an unlucky bird that ran into it full speed. Usually propagates with shoots that grow at its base. Needs sandy soil. Has white fragrant blooms in late spring to early summer. The one in my yard was maybe 4 feet tall, but they grow up to 18 in the wild. Trunk and leaves contain a poisonous sap.



I think that should be enough info. I'm off to bed so if someone gets it and y'all want to keep going don't wait for me :D
 
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That is a Pachypodium. Also known as a Madascar Palm. I forget if it is a Euphorbia relative or not. Hope it is ok for me to play.
 
cj65 said:
That is a Pachypodium. Also known as a Madascar Palm. I forget if it is a Euphorbia relative or not. Hope it is ok for me to play.
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CJ65 your up, its a Pachypodium lamerei. Not actually a palm, but that is in deed its name. :thumbup:

I think the game is open to all. :)
 
Yes, I know how common names can be misleading. It is not a palm, it is just called one. Please help me out now. You said, CJ you are up. Does this mean it is time for me to post a plant? I am assuming it is to be a native. I can think up a few here in So Cal, and actually have a few pictures already stored. Please advise.
 
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