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...
(Kalanchoe pinnata) Family: CrassulaceaeAlso known as: Cathedral Bells, Flaming Katy, Goethe Plant, Life Plant, and Miracle LeafOrigin: Asia, Australia, Bermuda, Brazil, Galapagos Islands, Hawaii, Micronesia, Mascarenes, Melanesia, New Zealand, Philippines, Polynesia, and West Indies
Written further about in The Civilized Jungle, Volume III and The Medicinal Jungle, Volume IIThis character...
(Saintpaulia ionantha) Family: GesneriaceaeAlso called: No names knownOrigin: Tanzania and KenyaHow well I remember from my youth these plants - enjoyed by generations for their compact size, velvety leaves, and colorful blooms - happily thriving in the southern bay window of my love-filled grandparent’s home in Larned, Kansas, where...
(Opuntia leucotricha) Family: CactaceaeAlso known as: Arborescent Prickly Pear or SemaphoreOrigin: Central MexicoIf its spiny needles were likened to a beard, better bring on the industrial-strength shaving cream!
Many are aware of the contemporary use of Optunia family flowers and “paddles” in the making of body lotions, creams, jams, pickles,...
