Staghorn Sumac – Rhus Typhina: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Lemonade Tree of Wild Plants

Staghorn Sumac - Rhus Typhina

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is the “lemonadiest” and most vinegary of edible and medicinal shrubs. Staghorn sumac has been called the vinegar tree and the lemonade tree as its juice can be used as a substitute for vinegar or lemon juice. The “staghorn” part comes from the velvety branches that somewhat resemble antlers. You’ll see …

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Yarrow – Achillea Millefolium: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Woundwort of Wild Plants

Yarrow - Achillea Millefolium

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a “wounderful” edible and medicinal herb. A yarrow salve for healing cuts and scrapes was my first ever herbal medicine maker’s recipe! Yarrow is another European import. It’s most descriptive folk name is woundwort. It’s not the only “woundwort”, so cheers for Latin names. On the same note, it’s been called …

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Jewelweed – Impatiens Capensis: Edible & Medicinal Uses of the Snappiest Wild Plant

Jewelweed - Impatiens Capensis

Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) is a snappy edible and medicinal herb, known for its exploding seedpods.  It’s handy to have around if you like clumsily rooting through wild plants like me, and end up grazing yourself with stinging nettle or worse – poison ivy. Jewelweed is so named because of the way the dew beads on …

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