I have started posting information on plants that I happen upon during my wanderings, and their medicinal and food uses by Native Americans and pioneers. The information about these plants comes from the book Wildflowers of Iowa’s Woodlands. This type of information will be found under a tab at the top of my homepage titled “Plants and Their Early Uses.” I’m finding it interesting to read up on this stuff.
Dogtooth Violet
Dogtooth Violet : The bulbs, up to one and a half inches in diameter, provided food for many tribes of Indians who ate them raw, boiled, or roasted. Their flavor is crisp, clean, and somewhat sweet. While pioneers knew of the edible bulbs, they found that the effort required for digging the small bulbs limited their value as a source for food. The yellow species, and probably the white species, was considered a treatment for gout.
Small burrowing animals of the woodlands also depend upon the bulbs for food.
If the flower and two leaves are picked, the plant dies. In it’s short growing season it cannot produce new leaves to replenish the food reserves in the bulb. Such food storage is necessary for the plant to overwinter and send up new growth the following spring.
Dutchman's Breeches
Dutchman’s Breeches : Dutchman’s Breeches were used in early pioneer medicine to treat urinary problems and as a poultice for skin disease. Apparently, American Indians made little if any use of this attractive and distinctive plant.
Roots of Dutchman’s Breeches are poisonous. Tops also contain the same toxic alkaloids, though in lesser concentration. Sometimes cattle unintentionally pull up the plants when soil is soft and wet, getting enough bulbs to be harmful. The resulting symptoms are probably the origin of the common name “little blue staggers”. Since cattle seem to find the plant distasteful, they seldom eat enough of either tops or bulbs to cause problems.
This plant is often found growing in patches with it’s close relative, squirrel corn. Both are closely related to the garden bleeding heart.
The youngest and I were out wandering in the woods the other day and we came across an interesting find – a yearling whitetail buck skull. And no, I don’t keep these things, Nature has better uses for them.
I am shocked you didn’t use Dogtooth violets other name!
Norseman – White trout lily? I probably should have mentioned that!
Someday I’m going to know all about most of the things in the woods and it will because of your blog Owl! Today I even recognized some flowers coming up and knew they were spring beauties. So to you I say, “thank you.”
(Oh BTW you just find the coolest stuff too!)
I whole-heartedly echo Kari’s sentiments – you are becoming the go-to page for those of us who like to walk around the wods, but have little idea of what we’re looking at.
Great job, Owl!
Hey Owl,
Me thinks that Kari n Wolfy have said it all, another excellent post.
John
I agree with some of the other replies. We’re learning a lot from your blog. Keep up the good work!
I really appreciate all of your comments telling me that you’re learning something. I guess if there was just one thing I could hope for with this blog, it would be to deepen the appreciation of the outdoors for someone. There is so much out there and it’s all connected.
But I sure wish I could take the time and get out a few hours, and write up a thought provoking, philosophical, wide view post, but Life keeps getting in the way. Someday…
Dunno about thought provoking and philosophical my good man your posts are always full of interest and help me open my eyes more and more on my journey to becoming more connected with the outdoors. but then again I’m sure that it would be a pretty damn fine piece – go for it.
Regards,
John
Someday will come Owl and when that day comes you will be ready to provoke our thoughts but until then keep up the good work! We love it!