Eastern Redbud – Cercis Canadensis: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Prettiest Understory Tree

Eastern Redbud – Cercis Canadensis

Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) isn’t in the wilds of Haliburton, Ontario. There is one recorded on iNat in Dysart et al, but I can guarantee it was planted there. It’s only truly native to Pelee island as far as Ontario goes and according to Vascan the species is extirpated. A few hundred miles south and …

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Red-berried Elder – Sambucus Racemosa: Edible & Medicinal Uses of The Other Elderberry

Red-berried Elder – Sambucus Racemosa

Red elderberry or red-berried elder (Sambucus racemosa) is not as edible and medicinal or renown as its relative common elderberry is. But it wins in another area. It’s a wildlife favourite. As soon as the berries are ready, birds flock to this shrub and clear them out quickly. Its early blooms attract pollinators too. And …

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Heartleaf Foamflower – Tiarella Stolonifera: Medicinal Uses of One of Our Prettiest Native Groundcovers for Shade

Creeping Foamflower Syn. Heartleaf Foamflower – Tiarella Stolonifera

Heartleaf foamflower AKA creeping foamflower (Tiarella stolonifera syn. cordifolia) is native to Ontario and found on leafy hummus in deciduous or mixed woods. The leaves resemble miterworts, making one of the folk names false miterwort. I spot foamflower on the roadsides often, and mitrewort more on rocks in streams and deeper in the woods. I …

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Sweet Cicely – Osmorhiza SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Black Licorice of Wild Plants

Sweet Cicely – Osmorhiza SPP.

Edible and medicinal sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) and its close relations have an anise like scent. Wooly AKA hairy sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii) is the only Osmorhiza listed in Haliburton Flora. It’s fairly common on bush roads and trails and in thin deciduous woods. I tend to find it here and there down the center …

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The Wood Folk Diaries: Volume 4 (Poisonous Plants), Chapter 2: Dutchman’s Breeches and Squirrel Corn

The Wood Folk Diaries: Volume 4 (Poisonous Plants), Chapter 2: Dutchman’s Breeches and Squirrel Corn

Dear Wood Folk, You’ve likely heard of or seen the plant bleeding heart. I have some planted over the graves of my beloved pets. Dutchman’s breeches (dicentra cucullaria) and squirrel corn (dicentra canadensis) are the native relations to bleeding heart in Ontario. Dutchman’s breeches have yellow “waistbands” on their upside-down knicker shaped flowers, while squirrel …

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Clubmosses – Lycopodium SPP.: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Not Really a Moss of Wild Plants

Clubmosses – Lycopodium SPP.

In Haliburton Flora, there are 9 clubmosses (Lycopodium spp.) listed. Although, since that survey was taken most of them have been reclassified. Genus flipping aside, by narrowest circumscription just 2 of these are Lycopods hereabouts, and 4 Ontario-wide. Clubmoss/Lycopodium species are vascular plants often referred to as fern allies, closely related to ferns and plants …

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