Thursday, June 3, 2004

Eriogonum umbellatum, Sulphur Flower, Wild Buckwheat This species used to be fairly uncommon around here. I was surprised to encounter these thirsty specimens at the top of the lane today. It's surprising, too, how useful it turns out to be in terms of botanical medicine. (Obviously no plant needs to be "useful"--a relative term in any case--to justify existing. It just amazes me how almost every one offers us some kind of healing.) The whole plant can be dried and made into tea that shrinks irritated membranes, and to douche, gargle, or enema. Taken internally, it helps stop spotting at the end of a menstrual period, and can be used to treat cystitis or urethritis. The flowers are mildly diuretic, and, because it has no toxic effects, a tea made from them can be used to treat water retention in the last two months of pregnancy. Some California Native tribes used the tea to wash newborn babies. Addendum: Here's the larger plant shown above photographed two weeks later, on Bloomsday (June 16) 2004. The mature blossoms are fluffier, and the butterflies can't get enough. 2:21:22 PM    comment []

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