Hawksbeard: "Annual" or "Narrowleaf"

"Annual Hawksbeard" or "Narrowleaf Hawksbeard"
(Crepis tectorum)

2009 July 26

2009 July 26

An introduced weed from Europe occurring in disturbed sites ... in this case, alongside our driveway.

Yarrow

"Yarrow" (Achillea millefolium)

2007 June 19

2007 August 5

2007 August 5

2007 September 18
A pretty pink version

2007 September 18

On the Wane

2008 April 3

What remains as spring starts to emerge.

Yarrow is widely used in herbal remedies. I spent big bucks on a tiny vial of pure yarrow essential oil. In aromatherapy this blue oil is used as an anti-inflammatory, to ease cramps, for constipation, to help circulation, and as an astringent, its qualities being very similar to chamomile.

First Nation peoples burned the plant to ward off mosquitoes, crushed the roots to ease toothaches, and people eased their rheumatism by bathing in an infusion made from leaves and stems.

Thistles

"Bull Thistle" (Cirsium vulgare).

2007 July 7

2007 July 20

2007 July 30

2007 August 9

2008 January 17

These thistles are biennial plants ... but seeds will lay dormant for years in the soil until conditions suit! One should cut them down before the flower heads turn purple ... if one waits too late they must collect those flower heads and bag them, for the seeds will continue to mature even after cutting! (Like a few other pesky flowers I know!)

"Canada Thistle" (Cirsium arvense)
... these grow in abundance, especially near the lakes and by streams, for they like their soil moist!

2007 July 20

2007 July 20

2007 July 20

2007 August 7

2007 August 7

This plant is a perennial ... reproducing not only from seed but by creeping rhizomes. It is very difficult to eradicate ... one has to get the root/rhizome ... ALL of it ... almost impossible. None the less, I'm told that peeled stems and roots of most thistles are edible ... if you can get past the thorns ... so next time you are set adrift in the wilderness ... know that this plant, and its cousins, then become your friend!

Even though this plant is called "Canada Thistle", it is not indigenous to this country and is thought to have been introduced to North America in the 17th century by early colonists.

Sow Thistle

"Sow Thistle" (Sonchus arvensis)

2007 September 1

2007 September 1

2010 July 27

2007 September 1

2007 September 18

This is a perennial with wide spreading roots, propagating by both root and seed. The young leaves may be eaten raw or cooked. Apparently, pigs really do like to eat these ... hence the name. Sow thistles exude a milky latex and so are not a true thistle (which do not have the latex).

Short Beaked Agoseris

"Short-Beaked Agoseris" (Agoseris glauca)

2007 June 23

I thought, surely, this plant will have a very impressive flower ... look at that bud. We had a trip to the coast before I could get back and see what kind of flower it actually produced. I felt the flower was a little disappointing, though this picture shows it off to its best advantage:

2007 July 7

The flower is smallish and they don't seem to bloom very long before they shrivel up and become this:

2007 July 7

But their seed head is kind of fun:

2007 August 7

The latex of this plant was dried and chewed, like gum. The latex was also applied to sores and warts. A wash was made, from an infusion of the plant, for sores and rashes. Need a laxative ... try steeping these roots and sipping it back.

This plant is a perennial.

Salsify

We have two types of Salsify here. These plants are biennial and propagate by seed dispersion. Apparently the roots, young stems and base of lower leaves are edible (see this link). We haven't ventured to try them yet. Salsify is an introduced species.

"Meadow Salsify or Yellow Goat's Beard" (Tragopogon pratensis)

2007 June 19

2007 June 8

2008 June 22

2007 June 27

"Yellow Salsify or Western Goat's Beard" (Tragopogon dubius)

2007 June 18

2008 June 22

Notice that there are 13 floral bracts that extend beyond the flower (Meadow Salsify has only 8 that are pretty much aligned with the flower). The flower is a little paler in yellow than the Meadow Salsify. The foliage is also more blue/gray in color.

2007 June 18

2007 July 20

2008 July 9

2008 July 9

Pussytoes

I have found at least 4 different kinds of Pussytoes growing in our area. I think they are quite homely but they don't look too bad in the photos and up close!

"Field Pussytoes" (Antennaria neglecta)

2007 June 18

2007 June 17

"Rosy Pussytoes" (Antennaria rosea)

2008 May 24

2007 June 18

2007 June 18

"Showy Pussytoes" (Antennaria pulcherrima)

2008 June 2

2008 June 2

2008 June 25

2008 June 25

"Umber Pussytoes" (Antennaria umbrinella)

2007 June 22

2007 June 22

2007 June 25

2007 June 25

2007 June 25