Wintergreen: Onesided

One-Sided Wintergreen

Orthilia secunda

A little patch of this plant sprang up in my side yard.  I first noticed it last fall so have been watching it this spring.  The first I've seen it around my immediate area though I had seen it in the Canim Falls area.  Every now and again something surprises you.

2013 June 28

2013 June 28

This is an evergreen plant, hence the name ... even in our climate!  This is not the wintergreen that wintergreen flavouring comes from.

Wintergreen: Green

Green Wintergreen (Pyrola chlorantha P. virens)

I noticed this plant in our back yard and waited a whole year for a flower to confirm what it was:

2009 June 22

2009 June 22

2009 June 22

2009 July 06

2009 July 7

I have only found two of these plants in our yard and have since found some on one of the back deer trails.

There are acids in the leaves that can be used for skin problems, snake and insect bites. Crushed leaves can be applied as a poultice.

Prince's Pine

"Prince's Pine" (Chimaphila umbellata)

2008 May 7

2008 May 7

2008 May 7

2008 May 19

2008 May 27

2008 May 31

2008 June 4

2008 June 27

2008 July 2

2008 July 22

2008 July 22

2008 July 22

2008 October 19

I was looking at lichen one day in the spring when I noticed this plant growing nearby. I had never noticed it before and began to watch it unfold. I was reward by these amazing flowers.

This plant is apparently a root parasite so won't grow just anywhere. I'm fortunate to have it at the back of our property. Its Cree name is pipisisikweu meaning, it breaks into small pieces. The leaves were purported to contain a substance that dissolves kidney stones. The leaves, stems and roots were made into a tea to be used as a beverage or for colds and sore throats. It is used as a flavouring in root beer.

Here are some notes from the Montana Plant Life site:

"Edible Uses:
The leaves of Prince's Pine can be nibbled, brewed into a tea or used as a flavoring in root beer. They have a delicious scent and flavor. An extract of the leaves is used to flavor candy and soft drinks. In Mexico the herb is used in the preparation of 'navaitai', an alcoholic beverage produced from sprouted maize. A tea can be made from an infusion of the stems and roots.

Medicinal Uses:
Pipsissewa was much used by many tribes of native North American Indians to induce sweating and treat fevers, including typhus. The plant contains hydroquinones which have a pronounced disinfectant effect within the urinary tract and modern day herbalism mainly employs the plant to treat urinary problems such as cystitis and urethritis.
The whole plant is antibacterial, and has agents that induce urination, cause tissue to contract, induce sweating, cause reddening or irritation when applied to the skin, that act as a stimulant and tonic, and that gradually restore health. A tea is used in the treatment of various problems related to the urinary system, it is also prescribed for more serious conditions such as kidney stones and gonorrhea. A decoction is very efficacious in the treatment of skin diseases. Used externally, the fresh leaves are rubefacient and internally they are of great use in cardiac and kidney diseases, chronic rheumatism and scrofula. Only the leaves are officinal, though the whole plant is often used.
The plant is loaded with the biologically active compounds arbutin, sitosterol and ursolic acid. Arbutin hydrolyzes to the toxic urinary antiseptic hydroquinone. The plant contains glycosides and an essential oil that are used as an astringent and tonic. The plant is harvested when in flower, and the leaves on their own can be harvested during the growing season. They are dried for later use. A homeopathic remedy is made from the leaves. It is used in the treatment of inflammations of the urinary system."

Kinnikinnick

"Kinnikinnick" or "Bear Berry" (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

2008 May 7
Kinnikinnick in Leaf Bud

2008 May 7
Flower Bud

2007 June 25

2007 June 25

2007 June 25

2007 August 5

2007 August 15

A very common plant but I love its name, Kinnikinnick ... I just like the sound of it. Kinnikinnick means "mixture" and was a term that originally applied to any smoking mixture. Greek Arktos ( bear) staphylos (a bunch of grapes); Latin uva (grape), ursa (bear). Anyway, I've tasted these berries ... mealy and dry but the birds sure like them in the spring, as the berries last through the winter. Other critters like them too, obviously, bears being one of them.

Some ways this plant was put to use:

• the leaves were smoked ... like tobacco
• leaves were boiled to make a tea
• a decoction was made of the leaves and stems as a diuretic
• the berries were fried in salmon or bear fat ... sounds so, "oh yum"
• berries were boiled into a soup

Indian Pipe

Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

2008 September 8

2008 September 8

2008 October 18

2008 October 18

We were walking down a new trail one day, a wooded, older growth section of trail, when I espied these growing up on the bank through a thick bed of moss. I was so excited for I had only ever seen pictures of them in books. These were on the wane already but I'll be sure to try and get there earlier next year to at least try and capture them as they are coming up.

One name for this plant is "wolf urine" for it was said to grow where wolves urinated! Hmmm ... yes, we do have wolves in our area.

Some First Nations people used the ashes or a powder from this plan to rub on sores that would not seem to heal.