Guilt by association. It's not me.

We’ve all heard the term, “guilty by association”, and our mother’s all warned us older individuals in our younger days, we must be careful who we hang around. Well nature has a way of some of its inhabitants being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting the blame for something by which a nearby neighbor is responsible. This time of year a very showy, wild, perennial displays its vibrant yellow plume-like inflorescence along roadsides and along edges of fields and is the target of many a n individuals ire. This plant is the Common Goldenrod, Solidago canadensis, but often is angrily identified by many an allergy sufferer as ragweed.
About this time of year the Common Ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, sports its very inconspicuous inflorescence releasing its pollen across the countryside effecting allergy sufferers all around. However, poor timing by the goldenrod , who catches the eye of all passerby’s gets itself held responsible for this activity and potentially targeted for “artificial selection” by means of removal, while the “quietly” blooming ragweed is allowed to pro-create for weeks. (Note picture above. Goldenrod on left, ragweed on right.) These pictures show the blooming ragweed and the plant that supports the structure of dispersal. There is also a species of ragweed known as Ambrosia trifida, commonly referred to as Giant or Great Ragweed. It grows taller and sports a 3 -5 lobed leaf compared to the deeply pinnately dissected leaves of the smaller cousin. (The small leaf on right is common ragweed, while other 2 are from giant ragweed)
While the common ragweed causes so many to suffer, it was used by Native Americans medicinally as a tea in the treatment of fevers, pneumonia, and nausea. It was also used as a tea in the treatment of fear at night. I have often referred to this as an example of “power of suggestion” in medicinal treatments. If the patient believed strong enough that this tea would prevent fear, then I’m not so sure any tea may have worked.
Now look at what has happened. This is an article about goldenrod and we have spent more time discussing ragweed. Goldenrod was also used for many medicinal purposes. The leaves and flowering tops were used as well as the whole plant and roots. It was used internally in the treatment of urinary infections, chronic catarrh, skin diseases, influenza, and whooping cough. It makes an excellent mouthwash in the treatment of thrush as well.
The whole plant is also used to make dyes colored mustard, orange and brown. A yellow dye is obtained from the leaves and flowers.
So you can see the great value of the goldenrod as well as a need to look at its beauty and not blame it for that series of sneezes you just survived. Put the blame where it belongs…. On the common ragweed. Well that is if you can see it amongst the beauty of the other late summer to fall wildflowers now blooming.

Next time I will discuss a favorite of mine. While it is mostly at the end of its blooming season, Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), is still a very beautiful plant with a good story to tell. I still see an occasional plant in bloom down by our creek bed.

Say hi to the next goldenrod you see and apologize for all the bad names you have called it ....

What's That Purple Flower Out There?

Well … while I recover from my trip out into the pollen laden countryside this morning I have decided to try and start posting some additional thoughts on wildflowers across Tennessee. I am resurrecting my Tennessee Wildflower Blog I started, and have been absent from, back in the spring of 2009. As I allow my allergies to “calm down” a bit, I am looking out the window and observing maybe one of my favorite wild flowers that bloom this time of year. While many look out over the fields this season of the year and point to this weed, many have heard me state before, one can always argue that a weed is merely a misplaced plant. Not only misplaced, but maybe overlooked for its potential with just a little effect of “artificial selection” of its gene pool. I am speaking of Vernonia altissima, commonly known around the southeast as tall ironweed. This herbaceous plant is seen throughout pastures this time of year supporting a very vivid purple “bloom” atop a plant that I have observed averages about 5 or 6 feet tall around Tennessee. If one examines the “bloom” you will discover groupings of 9 or more perfect disc flowers. The leaves of this plant are alternating, and are an oval or lanceolate-oval shape.

This plant is named after William Vernon who was an English botanist who collected this plant in Maryland in the late 1600’s. This plant stands out in pastures this time of year in contrast with the bright yellow goldenrod, which cattle avoid grazing, allowing the plant to stand tall above the grassland.

As with most plants, Ironweed has a history as a medicinal plant used commonly among Native Americans. Let’s remind ourselves that plants produce primary and secondary compounds. The primary compounds; carbohydrates, lipids, peptides and nucleotides, are produced to support life sustaining functions. Secondary compounds are not essential metabolites and are apparently generated as a somewhat defensive response to nature. Many of the compounds serve as a pesticide and anti-grazing agent to help the plant respond to pest and grazing herds. However, very often some of these secondary compounds can, and have been, utilized by humans as medical remedies for a wide range of ailments. These compounds are found in various locations throughout the plants such as leaves, stems, flowers and roots. These compounds are utilized in many ways ranging from poultices, teas, and even inhaling.

The compounds primarily documented in medicinal use of Ironweed are obtained from the roots as an infusion, or tea. This tea was administered for the relief of pain after childbirth and to regulate menstruation. It has also been documented in the treatment of stomach aches and bleeding. Another use of this I found documented in a book by D. Moerman, Native American Ethnobotany, indicated that the infusion was used as a mouth wash to make loose teeth firm.

Well it’s time to go out and spend some time in the fields until I am driven back in by the onslaught of ragweed pollen. I hope that by reading this you will now look out over that pasture as you drive by, or that open area alongside the road, and recognize by name that tall wildflower, and not merely observe them as a grouping of unkempt weeds. I challenge you to also reflect on the fact that in times past many people used such plants to treat their physical needs. Think of that expanse of land you look out over as the medicine-cabinet of days gone by, and ponder where we should go in the future; however, stay focused on the traffic around you also.

Have a wonderful day!

That old nemesis ... the Dandelion - Part 2

While most people refer to the dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, as a weed it has been used for varying purposes throughout history. From medicinal uses to added ingredients in salads and drinks. In French it is reportedly referred to as pissenlit, meaning "piss in bed", a reference to its diuretic properties used in herbal medicine. It's effectiveness as a diuretic is attributed to the high levels of potassium salts found in the plant and capable of replacing the potassium lost from the body when using the plant as a diuretic.

Other uses include utilizing the white latex sap from the plant in the treatment of warts and corns. Reportedly, daily applications can cause the wart to blacken and fall from the body. There have also been reports of antibacterial action from the plant effective against such bacteria as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus dysenteriae. A tea made from the plant has been used as general tonic and also for treatment of kidney problems, gallstones, jaundice and urinary tract disorders.

The leaves have been used in salads. In the book Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas, it is indictative that the plant is very nutritious , with 100g of the raw leaves containing about 2.7g. protein, 9.2g. carbohydrate, 187mg Calcium, 66mg phosphorus, 3.1mg iron, 76mg sodium, 397mg potassium, 36mg magnesium, 14000iu vitamin A, 0.19mg vitamin B1, 0.26mg vitamin B2, 35mg vitamin C.

The plant is known to produce seeds asexually by apomixis, where the seeds are produced without pollination, resulting in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent plant. This attributes to the plants successfully ability to populate an area quickly. It is also reported that due to production of ethylene gas it aids the plant by inhibiting plants close by to successfully flourish. The plant also disperses it seeds in the wind allowing the plant to propagate a large area successfully. This is a microscopic view of one seed with it's "parachute" attached.

So while this plant is rarely recognized as a desirable addition to the landscape it does remind us of the usefulness of all plants. The least desirable plants we encounter can be found to have once played important roles in many cultures. The plant is still one of the most important plants for bees by being one of the first pollen sources bees emerging from their winter survival and venturing out will find in the spring. While the use of these plants may have faded from the normal use in our culture today, with renewed research into the many components produced by plants through their normal life cycles, there may be new discoveries to help in the treatment of many ailments and diseases we experience.

That old nemesis ... the Dandelion

Taraxacum officinale, commonly referred to as dandelion has awakened and reminded us of its presence. This perennial is a herbaceous plant found throughout North America and Canada, even into Puerto Rico and Hawaii according to USDA distribution maps. One popular account for it's name comes from the Old French word dent de lion, meaning lion's tooth, referring to the deeply lobed leaves of the plant.

The common dandelion is generally referenced as, and treated as, a common weed. Now one can always argue that a weed is merely a misplaced plant. As an example, this definition would define a soybean plant growing in the middle of my tomato plants as a weed. Or maybe the presence of butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa, voluntarily existing in the midst of my petunia's. So as you can see, to identify a plant as a weed takes only the consideration of the individual identifying the plant as a weed.

But in the case of the dandelion, it is recognized as a weed under the classification as an invasive and noxious species. This definition does no better than the definition of weed we have already discussed. Noxious by definition refers to something that has harmful characteristics. So you can see we're going to face the same question as before; harmful to who? Or maybe more accurately, harmful to what?

So let's close our opening discussion of the dandelion in this manner. As a plant the dandelion is a very successful survivor in the evolutionary process acting upon the plant kingdom. Consideration of its distribution range alone places it on a scale of acceptable admiration. It contains an arsenal of survival mechanisms to allow it to respond to just about any element nature, or man, can throw at it. It's tenaciousness deserves reference in any encouragement offered to anyone facing tumultuous times or circumstances. So let's admit while it may exist in many places we would prefer it to refrain from, we should re-consider demeaning this organism by calling it names like "weed". Or maybe not......

Next time I will discuss some of the beneficial characteristics, along with some brief natural history facts surrounding this plant. Until then, try and enjoy the dandelions that are blooming. Momentarily forget the amount of time, effort and money you expend on trying to defeat this "enemy" of suburbia landscape, and consider the heralding of more beauty to come that is being announced at the onset of this new season upon us.

What are those yellow weeds growing in the fields and yards?

For the last several weeks around middle Tennessee there have been an abundance of yellow flowers clustering across fields and throughout many large yards. I have had many people asking me what they are and how do you get rid of them, to which I reply they'll be gone in a few weeks. Well at least the blooms will be gone. Come on everyone, at least admit they are a rather striking flower with their waxy and brightly colored yellow blooms standing erect with the green of the spring grasses behind them. Many folks around here have even committed of late how each year there seems to be more and more of these flowers popping up in everywhere. And yes, that would be an astute observation concerning this "wild" perennial.

So what is this flower? Well it actually goes by several common names, but the one I am most familiar with is Meadow Buttercup. Some folks call it Tall Buttercup, but it's scientific name is Ranunculus acris, a member of the Buttercup family. It is commonly recognized as an invasive species as reported by the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health, as well as other recognized resources. It is found throughout North America and Europe. It reportedly is native to Europe, but was introduced into the North America ecosystem and has done very well as many have noticed. It can reach heights of 1-3 feet, with it's one-inch yellow blooms residing on its somewhat spindly stems extending skyward from the somewhat hairy plant.

The plant is considered poisonious, and with some people it can cause contact dermatitis due to the presence of the glucoside ranunculin. Everyone notices that horses and cattle will not eat the plant and this is also due to the presence of ranunculin which can cause inflamation of the digestive system, however, it is safe when found dried in hay. The name acris means sharp and pungent describing well the juice from this plant. While the plant has reported uses in folk or Native American medicine, it is generally advised to avoid the use of this plant due to the toxicity.

The Meadow buttercup employs both seed and vegetative reproduction but seed appears to be the most common method. Interestingly it is reported that the plant passes the winter as a rosette of small leaves that apparently are unaffected by frost. Due to short rhizomes vegatative reproduction occurs very close to the parent plant resulting in very tight colonies of individual plants.


While the plant may be invasive it does provide a striking color against the vivid greens of spring grass. As with most invasives that have established themselves in an area, eradication is difficult and time consuming. There have been reports of some species developing resistance to herbicides but I have not seen reports of acris being resistant. So some broad leave weed killers may be effective in controlling the plant, but for me I think I will just enjoy the yellow flowers from April till late May and control the ones I can through mowing.

Today I took my daughters and we went to Cedars of Lebanon for the annual Elsie Quarterman Glade Festival. While it was raining and cloudy it was still a good day to get out with the girls. As my daughters have been developing a desire to spend time with me outdoors photographing the flowers we find, it is always a rewarding time even on a cloudy day. While we did see a few flowers, we didn't spend much time out in the weather since my oldest daughter has been recovering from a bad virus. But we did stop long enough for her to jump out of the van and get a picture of this Ox-eye Daisy,Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, growing on the roadside.

We plan on many days ahead going out and visiting various locations around the state and identifying wildflowers and taking photographs. We expect to find some we are unable to identify and hope to meet some new friends on this blog that can help us with identifications. Maybe some folks can even suggest some great areas for us to visit and find a good variety of flowers and plants to photograph. I know we will be returning to the glades on sunnier days to spend more time looking for many of the plants we heard talked about today. In future posts I plan to share some natural history on the flowers we find as I research and learn more about the wildflowers of Tennessee. I hope some followers will share additional information to allow us all to learn more about the fascinating world of plants.

We have a lot of flowers and plants to identify over the next 4 or 5 months. I will be slowed down a bit by some knee surgery I have to take care of and will probably miss 4 -6 weeks of prime time, but that will just make me more eager to stick to the therapy plan following the surgery. So over the next few weeks while I'm laid up I will share some of the plants we have photographed over the last few weeks.