Self Heal or Heal All
Prunella vulgaris
I can't say as I've seen this plant in my own, immediate area but I recently came across it in the Quesnel area (which is still part of the Cariboo) where it seemed quite common. Quesnel definitely receives more precipitation than we do and perhaps that is why this plant can be found there as it is a member of the mint family. I wouldn't be surprised to find it out in the Canim and Mahood Lake area as that area too, receives more precipitation.
2012 July 17
2012 July 16
2012 July 16
2012 July 16
This plant is edible. The young leaves and stems can be eaten raw or the plant can be boiled and eaten as a green or it can be dried and then infused to make a purportedly tasty tea in itself but the infusion can also be used as a mouth wash for gum issues. Called self heal or heal all, the whole plant was made into a poultice and placed on wounds, especially cuts, to help them heal. For other, interesting medicinal information about this plant you can go here.
3 comments:
This is very common here in the Quesnel area. It seems to spring up anywhere there is semi-open terrain and on lawns people don't nuke with herbicides (like mine - I carefully mow around the self heal . . . and the yarrow... and the lady slippers . . . and the paintbrush)
Beautiful photographs. Common plantain also makes an excellent poultice for wounds.
Good pictures of a little-noticed flower.
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