No known common English nameAlso known as: (None known)Family: JulianaceaeOrigin: Southern Mexico down into Honduras and GuatemalaThis is a deciduous (male and female flowers are found in separate trees) shrub or small tree, typically attaining a height of ten to eighteen feet in maturity. Its bark contains tannins -...

Also known as Beaver Root, Fragrant Water-lily, Fragrant White Water-lily, Sweet-scented Water-lily, Sweet-scented White Water-lily, and White Water-lilyFamily: NymphaeaceaeOrigin: From North America, through Cuba, Mexico, Central America, into Brazil and Guyana Jack Greenlee, of the U.S. Forest Service, waxed, almost poetically, when he wrote: "This showy member of the water...

Also known as: Amaryllis Lily, August Lily, Belladonna Lily, Jersey Lily, March Lily, Naked Lady, and Resurrection Lily Family: Amaryllidaceae Origin: The Western Cape region of South Africa Nifty Nugget of Knowledge: The genus Amaryllis comes from the Greek word amarysso, meaning 'to sparkle' with their bulbs blooming for up...

Also known as: Carpet of Snow, Sea Alyssum, Seaside Koniga, Seaside Lobularia, Snowdrift, Sweet Alice, Sweet Alison, Sweet Alyssum, and Seaside LobulariaFamily: BrassicaceaeOrigin: Southern Europe, northern Africa, the Azores, Madeira Islands, and the Canary Islands Typically growing to a height of three to nine inches, spreading from ten to forty-eight...

Also known as: Checker-barked Juniper, Oak-barked Juniper, Thickbark Juniper, Western Juniper or (H’mm, somewhat interesting aliases!) Oakbark Cedar or Mountain CedarFamily: CupressaceaeOrigin: From the southwestern US through west Texas into Mexico Traditional, purported, and contemporary uses: Nifty Nugget of Knowledge: According to mythology, Juniper boughs have been used to ward...

(Medicago sativa) Family: FabaceaeAlso known as: Hay (Most often) or Buffalo Herb, Lucerne, Purple Medic and SanfoinAlso included in “The Medicinal Jungle, Volume II”Origin: South-central Asia Well, we can “hit the hay,” “roll in the hay” and “make hay while the sun shines,” but eat – let alone medicate from...

(Frangula alnus) Family: RhamnaceaeAlso known as: Arrow Wood, Berry-bearing Alder, Black Alder, Black Dogwood, Breaking Buckthorn, Glossy Buckthorn, and Glossy False BuckthornOrigin: North Africa, Lower Europe and parts of western China Right from the proverbial “Git go,” don't confuse Alder Buckthorn with European Buckthorn, Sea Buckthorn or the exotic, large-leaf-clad,...

Leucophyllum frutescens (Family: Scrophulariaceae)Also known as: Barometer Bush, Texas Ranger, Purple Sage and Silver Leaf SageOrigin: Southwestern U.S. and Northern Mexico Written about further in The Medicinal Jungle, Volume II“As to those rather diverse names, I have noted that, in fact, this plant’s blooms can arise as a result of...

(Dracaena angolensis) Family: AsparagaceaeAlso known as: Bow String Hemp, Cylindrical Snake Plant, Elephant’s Toothpick, Skyline Spear, Sansevieria, and Spear SansevieriaOrigin: AngolaWritten about further in The Civilized Jungle, Volume I and The Medicinal Jungle, Volume I“With only the slightest imagination, both its most common name and that of Elephant’s Toothpick...

Alexandrian Laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum) Family: ClusiaceaeAlso known as: Alexandrian Laurel Balltree, Beach Calophyllum, Beach Touriga, Beauty Leaf, Borneo-Mahogany, Dilo Oil Tree, Indian Laurel, Indian Doomba Oil Tree, Indian-laurel, Laurelwood, Mastwood, Red Poon, Satin Touriga, and Tacamahac TreeOrigin: Tropical East Africa to eastern Polynesia“Laurel would be incomplete without the addition...