Meaning of plant names and their uses
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Recently there was a request to help identify a plant. I am not an expert at identifying plants, do have a quite good “guide to wildflowers.” Even though many of the plants are considered weeds the blossoms (flowers) help identify the plant. Going through information picked up at one of our Prairie Enthusiast gatherings I found some interesting things about some common plants, both native and alien that will be shared with you this week. Some information was new to me, some was not. The meaning of names of plants and their uses are very interesting. Goldenrods are native North American plants. There are several different kinds. Early goldenrod (solidago junces) means “to make whole or strengthen” American Indians used the plant medicinally before the arrival of Europeans. Early settlers exported goldenrod powder to London for medicinal use. Goldenrod was for years believed to be the main cause of hay fever. It is not, we are told today. Did you know the botanical name (Trifolium pratense) for red clover means “three-leaved” and “of meadows.” This European species was an ancient symbol of the Trinity as well as of fertility and domestic virtue. It was introduced into the United States as a forage plant. Red clover was used medicinally by Euroamericans, and was adopted by American Indians as well. Orange hawkweed (Hiera- cium aurantiacum) is native to Europe. Long ago it was used as a medicine for eye ailments, as it was once through that hawks drank the sap to sharpen their eyesight. It was introduced into the U.S. almost 200 years ago as a garden flower. Today it is a problem in a number of states in northern U.S., including Minnesota where dense stands outcompete more desirable species on roadsides and in pastures. It is not yet that profuse in Wisconsin. I have never grown it as a garden flower. A couple wild plants in my yard out near the road bloom each year, have not spread. I mow that area regularly and they are never allowed to produce seed. I always wondered why they are called “hawkweed.” They have pretty blossoms. Did you know ox-eye daisies (Chrysanthemum leucanthe- mum) are not native to North America? They arrived here in the 17th century from England, where they were thought to be a charm against lightning and were also used medicinally. Today they have become so common that many people assume they have always grown here. In fact they can crowd out other species and can be considered a weed. Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) means “food of the gods” or immortal, and “with leaves like artemisia.” This weed is native to North America and is one of the main causes of hayfever. I wonder who gave it the fancy botanical name. The botanical name for Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is from a Greek word for “a swollen vein” for which thistle was a remedy, and “of cultivated fields.” This plant was introduced to Canada in the 18th century in contaminated crop seed. It is native to southeastern Eurasia. It is difficult to control because it reproduces by underground stems. Tilling or other disturbance increases it. Soapwort, bouncing Bet (Saponarta officinalis) means “soap-like” or “lather-forming” and “sold in apothecaries.” Crushed leaves of soapwort added to water make a soapy lather. Medieval friars allegedly brought seeds of soapwort to England from France and Germany, where it is often found near the sites of old monasteries and hospitals. Later it was found to act as a light bleach for fabric and was planted around textile mills. It found its way into Colonial gardens and was used for cleaning and bleaching. We see patches on roadsides and other disturbed soil areas, but it is not a threat to native species at this time.
MORE ON DOVES Last week a typo in this column changed the word their to three which made it say the mourning doves successfully fledged three young when the accurate number is one dove fledged two and the second dove had fledged six, was incubating number seven and eight in her fourth successful brood that Ron thought must be a record. After the paper came out I had a call from Terry Yapp. She and Jon live in Brodhead and have a mourning dove incubating her fifth clutch of eggs in a nest above the front porch light. The dove laid two eggs each time and successfully fledged the young each time. Sunflower seed and water are provided in the yard near the nest. The dove is very calm and Mrs. Yapp can stroke it although she doesn’t often do that.
Last spring it was cold when the first brood was in the nest. Mrs. Yapp left the light on to help keep them warm. She has observed the birds closely all season. Yapps’ neighbor has also observed the nest record of the mourning doves. Surely 2005 must be the year for mourning dove records in Brodhead! thought for the week: The difference between annual and perennial plants is the perennials are usually weeds.
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