In Chippewa, ga’gawan’dagisid meaning deceptive, common junipers “berries” aren’t as sweet as they appear. (I’m not actually sure that is why deceptive is the descriptive name.) But common juniper is still an edible and medicinal plant, especially popular in Northern Europe. In Haliburton, Ontario you’ll find var. depressa Pursh. It’s been fairly common around here, especially dotting […]
Tag Archives: Carminative
Mint – Mentha SPP.: Freshest of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
Does anyone have an Anishinaabemowin word for mint? We’ll cover the edible and medicinal wild mint, peppermint and spearmint in this post. There are other mints I will cover separately: heal-all, catnip, wild bergamot, etc! Wild mint (mentha arvensis) and peppermint (mentha x piperita) are listed in Haliburton Flora, with wild mint being more common. […]
Hawthorn – Crataegus SPP.: Heart Herb of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
In Chippewa, thornapple is called mine’saga’wunj, meaning “having fruit and also spikes.” No other shrub in Canada has these awl like thorns. Hawthorn, despite its thorny appearance, is both an edible and strongly medicinal plant. Be very careful with the thorns – don’t poke your eye out! They are scary sharp! Northern shrikes have been […]
Queen Anne’s-lace – Daucus Carota: Carrot of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
In Ojibwe, okaadaak means carrot, and Queen Anne’s-lace is literally a carrot. It’s another likely garden escapee, naturalized to Haliburton, and a surprisingly edible and medicinal wild plant. (If you’re not possibly pregnant, anyway!) Edible Uses of Queen Anne’s-lace The whole plant smells distinctly of carrot. But the edible roots are white instead of orange. […]
Chicory – Cichorium Intybus: Coffeeweed of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
Does anyone have a Anishinaabemowin word for chicory? It’s a popular edible and medicinal plant. And yet another naturalized from Europe. Its bright blue blooms are eye catching, scattered along the roadside throughout summer. But keep reading – they aren’t just flair! I thought about calling it the time teller of edible and medicinal wild plants. […]
Goldenrod – Solidago SPP.: Sun Medicine of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
In Chippewa, gi’ziso’muki’ki, goldenrod is a sunny medicinal and edible wild plant. In the past, it was falsely blamed for hayfever allergies, which are actually caused by ragweed. It’s really a medicine to treat allergies! Latin solidare means to join or make whole, and when you come upon the medicinal tags below you’ll see why […]