Pasture Plant Identification-- Part 1. Bells, Texas

One of my goals for this year is to learn more about the wild plants around me. I would like to be able to identify at a glance all of the common wild plants I see in this area of Texas. Once I know what they are, I can start to research which ones are useful for foods or herbal medicines. This has been an idea of mine for quite some time now, and I even have a few wild plant identification books I've collected... but it has never worked out. I never remember to actually bring the books with me. So I'm trying this a new way... We visited family this weekend and I took my camera out for a walk into the pasture. While dodging crazy golf cart drivers, sloppy dogs, and miniature equines, I was able to snap pictures of many of the wild plants common to that area of North Texas. Now, I'll use the power of google to try and identify them.



Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)



These are the most profuse flower in the pasture. The blooms on these pretty flowers range from almost white to dark pink and seemed to do best in areas the horses preferred to hang out... They are called evening primrose because the blooms open as the sun sets, in this case, it was a cloudy day so the blooms were out in full force. Plus, the whole plant (flower, leaves, root and seedpod) is edible. I read that young seedpods can be steamed and are a good source of gamma linolenic acid (said to help with PMS symptoms)

These plants are very branched and grow 1-3 feet tall, although often they lie near the ground. Leaves are 2-3 inches long with slightly wavy edges. Flowers have four white to pink petals. The primrose thrives in disturbed areas, such as roadsides. (2)


Prairie Purple Verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida)



With a black swallowtail butterfly visiting. I can't find any reference to Vebena being anything but an ornamental, but I did find that it is in the same family as teak, which is used for marine wood applications.

The plant is hairy, branched, and somewhat prostrate, reaching 6-18 inches in length. The leaf is divided into several lobes that are 1/2 to 2 inches long. The flowers are in terminal spikes, five-lobed, tubular, and about 1/2 wide. The color is purple or lilac. The plants prefer rocky limestone soil. (2)



Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)



Erect plants growing up to 2.5 ft. tall. The flowers resemble miniature daisies. Leaves are less than 1 in. wide, with the stalked basal leaves in a circular cluster at the stem base. Flowers are on individual branches in a spreading cluster. (2)

Has been used in the tea form as a diuretic and a medicine for digestive ailments. Essential oil from Daisy Fleabane can be used to relieve bronchitis and cystitis. When burned the plant may keep insects away. (ref 3)

Prairie Parsley (Polytaenia nuttallii or Lomattium foeniculaceum)




Plants grow to 3 ft. tall and have thick, alternate, compound leaves. Leaves have several segments, each of which is divided or lobed. Pale yellow flowers are in umbrella-like clusters near the top of the plant. (2)

I did not find any references saying this was edible, but did find several potentially poisonous plants that looked similar. So no nibbling here for me.

Plantian (Plantago major -broad leafed and Plantago lanceolata -narrow leafed)


The photo is of the narrow leafed plantian, broad leafed plantain also grows here but I don't think I got a photo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago

I'm probably most excited to find this plant in the pasture. As an herb this thing is considered a cure all and the Indian name for Plantain translates to 'life medicine" Crushed leaves (chew one up) are placed on bee stings or other bug bites for relief. Whole plant is good for its medicinal properties. Other notes: All of the plantains contain a high level of tannin and the seeds have a high mucilage content. The astringent property of the leaves due to the tannin makes the leaves useful for all types of sores on the skin, cuts, bites and various inflammations. A tea brewed with the seeds is a treatment for diarrhea and dysentery and for bleeding in the mouth or other mucous membranes.

(4), (5), (6), (7)

Green Milkweed Asclepias viridis



This one has all kinds of conflicting information on the web, edible, not edible, good for herbal cures or poisonous... I'll play on the safe side and NOT EAT IT. All sources say the sap can treat warts and poison ivy. The fluff from the milkweed pods was used during WWII to stuff life vests and has better insulating properties than goosedown. It is also a good fire starter. Milkweed is favored by the monarch butterfly caterpillar. (2) (8)

Common Horsenettle (Solanum carolinense)



I grew up calling this nasty thing stinging nettle because one brush of the spiny stem and it feels like you've been stung by a bee.



The plant has large concentrations of solanine which is a toxic alkaloid. Has fruit which may not be poinsionous when ripe...again, not gonna try it. The juice of the fruit has been used topically to treat mange in dogs. The fruit could be a sedative or anti spasmodic.
(9)

Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium)


possible laxative use.

Common Yarrow/Wooly Yarrow



Can be used as a remedy for colds, can be used to stop the flow of blood from a wound or nosebleed. Astringent tea made from yarrow is good for skin care and as a hair conditioner.

(10)

Yellow Sweet Clover Melilotus officinalis



excellent for honey bees, good green manure cover crop, can be dangerous to cattle if allowed to go moldy in hay.

Poison Ivy Toxicodendron radicans


Leaves of three, leave it be! Causes itcy rash, very common across US. Grows along fence rows and at the edges of shady cover

False Dandelion Pyrrhopappus grandiflorus



Totally edible and less bitter than true dandelion. It has fuzzy leaves (also called cat's ear) and a solid stem (true dandelion has hollow stem)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catsear

American Pokeweed Phytolacca



Whole plant is potentially poisonous, but young leaves can be boiled with frequent water changes and eaten. Poke Salad was common dish in the south. Grated pokeweed root was used by Indians to treat inflamationand rashes. Berries yield a red ink dye used by indians to decorate their horses. Pokeberry ink was used during the civil war and the ink is still visible in letters. Pokewee is a food source for the giant lepord moth larvae.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokeweed


I have more photos, but this is about it for my excitement level on this project right now.






Resources:
1) Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center http://www.wildflower.org

2) http://www.okprairie.com/Flowers.htm

3) http://www.nativetech.org/plantgath/daisy.htm

4)http://www.altnature.com/gallery/plantain.htm

5) http://www.prairielandherbs.com/plantain.htm

6) http://www.2bnthewild.com/plants/H150.htm

7) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantago

8) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asclepias

9) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_carolinense
10) http://www.altnature.com/gallery/yarrow.htm

Pasture Plant Identification, part II

Wild Blackberry or Southern Dewberry R. trivialis, many varieties



Spiny stems will eventually have yummy blackberries if we can beat the birds to the harvest. Infusion of roots and leaves can be taken internally to treat diarrhea and rheumatism, used externally to treat hemorrhoids. Infusion can be combined with honey to sooth sore throats. Leaves can be used as a tea to regulate urination (what the heck does that mean?) Inner bark can be used as an eye wash to treat eye infections

Ragweed A. artemisiifolia




Don't let the pretty leaves fool you, this little plant is the main cause of allergy attacks for many people. Each plant is reported to produce a billion grains of pollen over a season. Blooms July - August or until cold weather appears (hmm, that means December in Texas!) Pollen will clump in humidity over 70% and have less impact on hayfever sufferers. This plant is native to the US and is now found in every area and pollen has even been found 400 miles out to sea. Bees visit this plant for pollen and ragweed pollen has been identified as a component of most honey. This could help to build up a resistance to ragweed as an allergen.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragweed



Indian Paintbrush Castilleja


These are a very common Texas spring plant, often popping up with bluebonnets. Flowers are edible and sweet, but the roots and leaves may be toxic due to a high Selenium content. The Chippewa Indians made a hairwash from this plant that made their hair glossy and full bodied. Since there are only a few of these growing, I figure we'll get more pleasure from looking at them than from eating them.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castilleja

Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica L.



Potential cure for respiratory complaints. When chewed, tastes similar to tobacco and has similar effects to those of nicotine, used in some anti smoking products. Also causes nausea and vomiting and was used by Indians to cure bad whiskey habits. Wow, no thanks!
http://www.altnature.com/gallery/Blue_Lobelia.htm


Wild Mustard Sinapis arvensis



Seeds can be used as a spice just like cultivated mustard. From the same family as cabbage and brussel sprouts. Can be irritating to the skin and used to increase circulation.


Dock (Rumex)



possible laxative. Leaves can be used to treat sings from nettles. Related to rhubarb. Washed dock root can be mashed and mixed with honey to treat wounds.


Oxalis Clover, wood sorrel



Edible with a sour lemony taste. Can potentially use in place of lemon to curdle milk for cheeses. Don't eat too much because the oxalic acid can be dangerous.

http://wildpicnic.blogspot.com/2009/07/wood-sorrel-oxalis-acetosella.html


White Clover Trifolium repens



A good cover crop/green manure--like yellow clover, used in folk medicine agasint gout. Indians made a white clover leaf tea for coughs and colds. Survival food, high in protein, can be used fresh in a salad or boiled. Dried flowerheads and seeds can be made into a flour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifolium_repens



Horsemint, Lemon Bee Balm Monarda citriodora



I'm pretty sure this is the horsemint plant prior to blooming. Antiseptic properties released in alcohol for skin infections and minor wounds.


Hedge Parsley/Sticker burrs Torilis arvensis




The fruit have little hairs like velcro that stick to clothing and pets. Evasive spreading plant with no edible uses listed.




I still need to identify these:

Tomato Shade Research

One of my biggest frustrations with gardening is the month of July. This is when my previously beautiful garden wilts and burns in the hot Texas sun. This year, we hope to try providing partial shade for the garden--specifically the tomatoes as we try and prolong the growing season into the summer months. Here is my research:

The south, west and top exposure are the most harmful. Our tomatoes are located in the SW corner of our yard, so all we need to account for is top shading.

I have read a few times that tomato pollen become sterile at temps over 90F... that matches well with my observations that July and August I never have any tomatoes, but any plants that survive the summer will start to fruit again at the end of September.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT SHADING LEVELS ON TOMATO PLANTS. 2. YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY
Authors: A.M. El-Gizawy, M.M.F. Abdallah, H.M. Gomaa, S.S. Mohamed
Abstract:
The effect of shading on fruit yield and quality of two tomato cultivars was investigated during the late summer season. The results are summarized as follows:
Shading of plants significantly increased the number of fruits per plant and total yield. The maximum fruit yield was obtained by plants grown under 35% shading.
Shading of plants significantly improved the physical characteristics of tomato fruits. The highest weight, length diameter and volume of fruits were obtained from plants grown under 35% shading.
All shading densities used led to a significant increase in the percentage of titratable acidity, whereas, an opposite trend was recorded for total soluble solids and ascorbic acid content of fruits.
Shading also led to a significant reduction in the percentage of sun-scald fruits. The highest percentage of puffy and blotchy ripening fruits were detected by plants grown under full sunlight and heavy shading (63%).

http://www.actahort.org/members/showpdf?booknrarnr=323_32