Forage Friday – Page 14 – LLOYD'S LENS PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Forage Friday #68 Fringed Loosestrife

Color Photography, Forage Friday, wildlife

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Fringed Loosestrife 70319” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Please remember that Forage Friday is only intended to be a conversation starter and is only presented as trivia and should not be mistaken for an endorsement of treatment.

Lysimachus stood his ground as the huge beast glared at him. He could taste the dust in the air that had been kicked up by the rampaging ox. Lysimachus spoke in soft calming tones has cautiously stepped over the broken yoke. Easing closer to the angry beast of burden the toe of his sandal caught on a pottery shard causing him to stumble slightly. The ox snorted and lowered his head ready to charge as they locked eyes. Even though the ox’s horns had been bobbed and capped with ornate brass the sheer mass of it’s body meant Lysimachus would be crushed if the bull charged. Lysimachus extended his hand in offering. The bull began sniffing at the bundle of herbs and walked forward. Lysimachus remained as sill as a statue but held tension in his legs so he could dodge out of the way if the bull changed his mind and decided to charge after all. To his relief the bull accepted the free meal. The herbs did the trick and as the sedative took effect Lysimachus took hold of the ring in the bull’s nose and led it safely out of the street. The people were so impressed by the bravery and wisdom of their king that they named the herb Lysimachia. Today we call it Loosestrife.

The above is my version of the legend of how Loosestrife got it’s scientific name. The whole genus is named for Sicilian king who was a healer and supposedly a general of Alexander the great. The species in tonight’s feature image is Lysimachia Ciliata or Fringed Loosestrife. According to Wikipedia it is actually a native species to the Appalachian Mountains.

The cooked leaves are said to be edible however I have not been able to corroborate this with an independent source. The plant is also listed as astringent and diaphoretic. ( makes you sweat. ) So even though isn’t listed as toxic that doesn’t really mean it makes a pleasant meal. The live plant is reported to repel insects and has been used in smudge fires for the same purposes. According to Peterson’s Field Guide Native Americans used it for “female ailments”, kidney trouble, bowel complaints and as an emetic ( causes vomiting). But it’s interesting that none of the references list sedative qualities which what the genus is named for. It’s even listed as an ingredient in “love potions”.

Interestingly enough, the showy flowers don’t really have a strong scent and attract pollenators with oil instead of nectar.

One last word here, the plant known as purple loosestrife is not the same genus or even the same family of plants. Fringed loosestrife is in the Primrose family while purple loosestrife is in the same family as crape myrtles.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

Hello Friends and thank you for your support of my page. If you have enjoyed the photos or the writings please let me know by commenting and sharing my work on your social media. I also want to invite you to Follow Lloyds Lens Photography on Facebook

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Lloyds Lens Photography web link — Click here to visithttps://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

Did you know that I also do portraits by appointment? If you’re interested in a portrait session either message me on Facebook or Use the Contact form. The YouTube link below takes you one of my slideshows.

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Clicking on the photo takes you tohttps://www.zazzle.com/lloydslensphotos?rf=238248269630914251

Lastly, all of the photos and writings are my original work unless otherwise specified and are not to be copied or reproduced without expressed written permission from the photographer.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Forage Friday #67 St. John’s Wort

Color Photography, Forage Friday

St. John's Wort 71420a — Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “St. John’s Wort 71420a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Please remember that Forage Friday is only intended to be a conversation starter and not an endorsement of treatment. All of the information is presented as trivia only.

The rocket’s red glare had barely faded above the Appalachian Mountains and I’ve turned the big blue truck onto a road I haven’t traveled since the mid 90s. The gravel crunches beneath the tires as I pass the little side roads that once lead to logging operations and then to strip mines. In the years since I last came here to learn how to cruise timber the property has been sold off in plots and a good portion of forest has healed from the disruption of industry. I had gone as deep into the road as I was comfortable with and not knowing if there would be a place farther up the mountain where I could turn the long wheelbase of my truck I took advantage of the nearest private drive. No sooner had I brought the front wheels back around to face the way home I spotted the bright yellow flowers in the ditch.

Image Titled “St. John’s Wort 71020b”

The plant is one that’s commonly found on the shelves of pharmacies and supermarkets but when I was last here this wild medicinal herb was hard to find. That’s because those who harvest for the purpose of selling to commercial buyers had gathered the vast majority of the plants off of the mountain. At the time St. John’s Wort was celebrated as a natural cure for chronic depression and supermarkets couldn’t keep it on the shelf. At this point there was a controversy over if the herb was any better than modern day pharmaceuticals. There were people who took both treatments and from what I can remember a few died from the interactions between the herb and the pharmaceutical.

Image Titled “St. John’s Wort 71020c”

So did it work? Well that’s a bit tricky to answer. Some people say it helped. Others say it did nothing. And since I’m not legally able to give an opinion I’ll have to ask you to do your own research.

However, the use of St. John’s Wort in treating depression was only the latest use. Traditionally it’s a topical ointment for wounds, bruises, herpes and shingles, as well as burns and rashes. The websites and books that I’ve read say that when used topically St. John’s Wort should help sooth the nerves in the affected area but they also warn that St. John’s Wort may cause you to be sensitive to sunlight.

Image Titled “St. John’s Wort 71020d”

To make the ointment the internet suggests collecting fresh buds and flowers and soaking them in olive oil until the oil turns red. Then strain and cap the bottle or jar.

As a forage plant St. John’s Wort would seem to offer a wide variety of herbal uses and it’s probably one that is worth further research.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Forage Friday #66 Heal-all

Color Photography, Forage Friday

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Heal-all 71020a”. Typically, Forage Friday images are taken for the sole purpose of illustrations. All of the photos are my original work and are available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Please remember that Forage Friday is only intended to be a conversation starter and not an endorsement of treatment. All of the information is presented as trivia only.

Setting up on a shelf in my grandfather’s study was an antique medicine bottle. It only held a few ounces and the bottle was half full of liquid. I’m certain that the liquid inside was once green but it had turned brown with age just like the label. The Victorian style font was faded but still legible. Bold letters at the top were formed into an arch and read “Heal-all”. The writing at the bottom in a complimentary arch read “Good For Man Or Beast”. The cork stopper was broken off more or less even with the mouth of the bottle. The exact composition of the contents was unknown and my grandfather figured it was from the turn of the 20th century. But this was my introduction to the herb known as Heal-all or Self-heal.

While brushing up on the plant for tonight’s post more than one source stated that Heal-all is one of the most studied traditional medicinal herbs in the world. And that many of claims made by herbalists have been proven to be true. In the middle ages most of the doctors were actually religious leaders. Somewhere along the way it was decided that God placed clues about how to use the plant within the plant’s anatomy. This was known as The Doctrine of Signatures.

Image Titled “Heal-all 71020b” showing details of the flowers.

Because the flowers of Heal-all resemble an open mouth with the tongue out it was decided that it was best used for sore throat and conditions of the mouth. It turns out that they got lucky. Modern science has confirmed that Heal-all has some antibiotic and antiviralcompounds. According to the internet Heal-all was successful in controlling herpes viruses in mice and was even researched as part of a treatment for HIV. The plant has been used to as a wash for wounds and sores as well as pink eye. The flowers are said to have strong enough antioxidant properties to protect from harmful effects of UV radiation. Not as a lotion that’s spread over the skin but as an internal preventive. Peterson’s Field Guide says that Heal-all contains ursolic acid which is antitumor and diuretic. The list of traditional uses is actually pretty long. It’s said to be effective in treating fevers and that makes sense because it is in the mint family. The stem is square just like deadnettle and ground ivy. However, it doesn’t have the a strong smell or taste like spearmint or peppermint.

In fact the flavor of Heal-all is so mild that it’s used in salads and as a pot herb similar to the way one would use spinach. Mints are notoriously easy to propagate. So much so that some people would consider it an invasive weed. But in truth it’s a source of vitamins A, C and K. Like most plants it’s rich in various flavonoids and the Wikipedia entry specifically lists Rutin. Now I had to look Rutin up and it turns out to be a combination of Quercetin and Rutinose. Both compounds seemed to have a few benefits but were hard for the body to absorb. The information about what Rutin actually is and if it is actually one of the reasons why Heal-all has earned it’s reputation was complex enough for me to say that I’ll need to do a lot of reading before I understand enough to make a judgement.

But I have learned enough to say that Heal-all is definitely worth giving some space on the edge of the forest. Perhaps even it’s own little garden box that’s tucked away in some partial shade where it can just do its thing and be awesome.

Image Titled “Heal-all 71020b2” Shows the plant growing in the shade of the mountain.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Forage Friday #64 Hop Clover

Color Photography, Forage Friday

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Hop Clover 62020a” and is available for purchase by the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Please remember that Forage Friday is only intended to be a conversation starter and all of the information is presented as trivia and any trivia concerning herbalism should not be mistaken for an endorsement of treatment.

Hop Clover is one of the plants that I have not personally experimented with. That’s mostly because I have not really encountered it after becoming interested enough in foraging and herbalism to actually pursue it beyond reading books. And partly because I had mistaken it for Black Medic. Now Black Medic is listed as an edible plant but it’s mostly the roasted seeds that are used. There’s also some concerns that Black Medic might have some side effects that are detrimental to people with certain medical conditions as it is thought to cause blood clots.

Once I had learned that Hop Clover exists and so closely resembles Black Medic I really struggled to distinguish between the two using just a few photos and the internet.

The biggest reason why I settled on Hop Clover as a positive ID was the lack of bur like structure on the tips of the leaves and that the overall shape of the leaves is more oval where Black Medic leaves are blunted except for bur on the very tip.

Now that we’ve established the identity as Hop Clover what’s it good for? Well, the seeds are used to make flour in the same manner as Black Medic but Hop Clover goes beyond that in also being useful as a pot herb. Online resources say that the leaves are edible raw but the flavor of the cooked herb us more pleasant if it’s cooked. The bright yellow flowers are added to teas. I expect that being legumes they would be rich in protein. However it is said that they’re not as sweet as the more familiar clovers.

One last warning before I close this week’s Forage Friday post. There is a toxic look alike that is often mistaken for Black Medic and therefore Hop Clover. Wild Indigo. The main thing that separates Wild Indigo is that it as larger flowers. I have not encountered Wild Indigo at this time so I don’t have a photo to share.

My takeaway for tonight is that the devil is in the details. The visual difference between Hop Clover and Black Medic is very subtle. Both are listed as edibles but one is far more useful than the other and in the case of Black Medic may be dangerous if you’re medically concerned about blood clots.

Image Titled “Hop Clover 62020b”.

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤

Forage Friday #63 Wineberry

Color Photography, Forage Friday

Hello Friends! Tonight’s feature image is titled “Wineberry 62320a”. All of the photos found on my blog are my original work and are available for purchase or license by following the instructions at the bottom of the article.

Please remember that my Forage Friday posts are only intended to be a conversation starter and all the information is presented as trivia. While wineberry is simply one of the best tasting raspberries that you will ever encounter in your life and is as safe as any raspberry I am not a doctor nor a certified herbalist. That means that I am not endorsing any treatment and only covering the topics as trivia or history.

The big blue truck turns into the old parking lot. It’s Not really been used as a parking lot for decades so there are holes in the pavement that would swallow most normal cars. I stopped because I noticed that the roses left behind when the clinic on the other side of the road was abandoned were in bloom. They’ve mixed with several invasive vines and give the old cut stone the look of an ancestral fortress.

As I turned back to truck I noticed the prize humbly waiting at the other end of the lot. The lush green leaves are waving in a light breeze and revealing the white underside. The canes bristle with thorns that look as though they could deter Satan himself.

The thorns of the Wineberry.

Appalachia has always been known for it’s crop of brambles. The characteristic canes of undomesticated varieties always have thorns to one degree or another. But wineberry takes it to the extreme. Fortunately, the majority of the thorns are fine and hair like so they don’t really penetrate the skin. There’s enough of the larger stiffer thorns though to make protection worth the effort.

Wineberry is awesome. The taste is kinda like wine and some people say the flavor reminds them of pomegranates. The older darker berries will be the sweetest of course. The berries in tonight’s post are not quite fully ripe. Unlike regular raspberries wineberry seems to hold the light making it look like they have a glow of their own. They’re pretty much used like native raspberry in jelly, syrup, covered in cream or fresh in the field. It’s well known that raspberry ketones seem to have the ability to keep the body from retaining fat. And a few online articles state that wineberry seems have a higher density of these ketones. However, this is something that I have to do a little research on myself. In fact, wineberry is a fairly new plant to me. It’s invasive nature caused people in my area to aggressively keep it away from their lands and instead chose to favor the less invasive native berries. Wineberry comes to us form Asia and like many Asian plants tends to find the perfect habitat in our mountains. It’s also believed to harbor a virus that’s dangerous to native raspberries and blackberries.

Image Titled “Wineberry 62320b”

When the fruit is removed the cone shaped pith is left behind. In image “Wineberry 62320b” you can also see the papery husk that protects the berry until it’s ripe. The formidable looking husk soften a little when the berry is ready for harvest.

Image Titled “Wineberry 62320c”

The leaves of the wineberry are used in the same way as other raspberries. They are astringent and used to combat diarrhea. It’s my belief that any astringent leaves can be used in the same manner as witch hazel. Raspberry has the added benefit of being able to be used in teas and carry a multitude of vitamins and minerals.

Wineberry self propagates by “walking”. The tops of the cane fall over and take root forming a natural clone of the parent plant. Birds absolutely love wineberry too and unless you can cover it a net to keep them out you’ll be up against stiff competition. If the berry contains viable seed it will be spread by the birds. In fact wineberry is so prolific that it’s illegal to cultivate in many places. So that’s something that you’ll need to check out before making any plans for transplanting.

That’s going to be it for tonight’s Forage Friday post. Have you ever used this berry and have a recipe to share? Let me know in the comments section. 😊

Hey Friends! Just a quick reminder that Lloyds Lens Photography is available for portraits!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

To book me simply reach out using the Contact Page and we’ll set a date. If you’re within a 50 mile radius of Summersville West Virginia all travel fees are waived.

If you would like to Follow me on Facebook the web address is

https://www.facebook.com/aviewfromthelens/

If you’re enjoying my blog and don’t want to miss a post then you can sign up for email alerts on my website.

https://lloydslensphotographyllc.com/

https://youtu.be/FDcrY6w8oY8

Have you checked out the Zazzle Store?

I’m now using Zazzle to fulfil orders. What this means for you is a secure way to place an order, discount codes & a broader product selection! Simplymessage me on Facebookoruse the contact form on my websiteand tell me which image you want and I’ll reply with a direct link to where you can place the order.

Thank you again for your support of my page!❤