Goldenrod

I have found two types of Goldenrod growing in our area. All goldenrods contain small amounts of natural rubber in their latex. The first Goldenrod we will look at is:

"Canada Goldenrod" (Solidago canadensis)

2007 July 30

2007 July 30

2007 September 23
During the American Revolution, this plant was used as a tea substitute, as tea arriving from Britain was being so heavily taxed. The leaves may also be eaten as greens. Tea from the stems and flower was used to treat diarrhea or to bathe colicky babies.

"Spikelike Goldenrod" (Solidago simplex)

2007 July 15

2007 July 15

2007 July 15

2007 July 15

2007 August 12

2008 August 24

2012 May 15

This plant was boiled and used as a dressing for wounds and to treat hemorrhoids (just might work better then that Preparation H)!

Golden Dock

"Golden Dock" (Rumex Maritimus)

2008 July 1

2007 September 1

2007 September 19

2007 September 17

This plant seems to form a thick mat on the lake shore.

2007 September 19

It turns quite rusty red/brown when it starts to go to seed and will go to an ugly brown color as it ages. Not a very pretty plant.

2007 September 19
The seeds. Not that clear of a picture and will replace it with a better one, once I get one.

The leaves may be cooked and eaten but contain oxalic acid. Though the acid is reduced with cooking, it probably isn't a plant of choice for people with rheumatism or arthritis.

The seeds can be ground and made into a porridge. The seeds were considered by some to be an aphrodisiac. They contain about 5% tannin.

An infusion may be made to treat bloating.

The roots may be used for a dye.

This plant is an annual but one reference said that it could be biennial.

Bladderwort

"Greater or Common Bladderwort"
(Utricularia macrorhiza)

2008 July 14

2008 July 14

2008 July 14

2008 July 14

2008 July 14

Here is an interesting excerpt from the book "Plants of Southern Interior British Columbia and the Inland Northwest" about how this plant operates:

"The genus name is from the Latin utriculus, 'a little bag,' and refers to the air bladders. The bladders are borne on specialized, leafless branches. They have trap doors and trigger hairs, which serve to trap aquatic insects that then provide the plants with a supplementary source of nitrogen."

Bladderwort has no known food value to wildlife.