Also known as: Blowball, Cankerwort, and Irish Daisy Family: Taraxicum Origin: EurasiaGrowing worldwide, sometimes, seemingly everywhere - except Antarctica – we’ve the Dandelion, with around 250 different species. (Applicable to my series of Jungle books, they are found in tropical realms up in the cooler highlands!) Globally, this species...

Also known as: Hay, Buffalo Herb, Lucerne, Purple Medic, or SanfoinFamily: FabaceaeOrigin: South-central AsiaTraditional, purported, and contemporary uses: (“Hay,” you say? “Is this a gardening and plant guide for cows? Are you actually suggesting that alfalfa might have uses for we human sorts as well?” Yes, in fact, that heavy,...

Also known as: Jasminum sambac Family: Oleaceae (The Olive group of plants. I kid you not!) Origin: Though its name implies otherwise, it originated in India, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka. “Let’s see, it’s strikingly beautiful, has a highly fragrant, captivating scent, can be creatively used in making a...

Also known as: Sweet Mace, Sweet Scented Marigold, Mexican Marigold, Mexican Mint Marigold, Mexican Tarragon, Sweet Mace, and Texas Tarragon Family: Asteraeceae Origin: Mexico through Central America to Honduras These plants – bearing simple (daisy-like appearing, as a child might draw), eight yellow-petaled flowers (well, not really; read on.) -...

Also known as: Garden Angelica, Norwegian Angelica, and Wild Celery Family: Apiaceae Origin: Europe and eastern Asia With a “one letter off” tip of the hat to Anjelica Huston, this plant is linked to two legends: one involving a monk's dream wherein an angel revealed its medicinal properties, particularly against...

Also known as: Angel Star, Angel’s Tears, Brazil’s White Angel Trumpet, Cornucopia, Datura, Devil’s Trumpet, Downy Thorn-apple, Hindu Datura, Hindu Thorn-apple, Hoary Thorn-apple, Horn-of-plenty, Jimson Weed, Metel, Night Bells, Queen of the Night, Snowy Angel’s Trumpet, Thorn Apple, Trumpet Flower and White Angel’s Trumpet Family: Solanaceae Origin: Southeastern Brazil (Nifty...

Also known as: Andes Alder, Alder or Alnus Family: Betulaceae Origin: Southern Mexico through Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru into Chile . . . but being a bit more specific, its three subspecies originate, in the higher altitudes, as follow: acuminate, from Colombia and Venezuela south to...

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...