botany 4 herbalist - wild rose college of natural healing...(podophyllaceae), as covered in the...

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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Botany 4 Herbalist

Plants Families of InterestFrom:http://www.wildflowers-and-weeds.com

AraliaceaePlantsoftheGinsengFamily

Thenexttimeyouseeabuildingcoveredwithivy(Hedera),stopandnoticetheumbelsofflowersorberries.Notethattheyformsingleumbels,notcompoundlikethecloselyrelatedParsleyfamily.Theseplantstypicallyproduceverysmall,greenish-whiteflowerswith5small,separatesepals,5(sometimes4or10)separatepetalsandusually5stamens(sometimes3tonumerous).

Thestamensarealternatewiththepetals.Theflowersareregularandmaybeeitherunisexualorbisexual.Theovaryispositionedinferior.Itconsistsof5(sometimes2to15)unitedcarpels(syncarpous)withthepartitionwallspresent,forminganequalnumberofchambers.Itmaturesasaredorpurpleberrywithoneseedpercarpel.Thefruitsplitsapartatthecarpelsinsomespecies.Somespeciesproduceflowersandberriesindenseheadsorelongatedspikes.Theplantsofthisfamilyprefermoistenvironments.Worldwide,thereare70generaand700species.VolatileoilsarecommonintheGinsengfamily,usefulasdiaphoreticstostimulatesweating.Englishivy(Hederahelix)alsocontainsvolatileoilsanditisverybitter.Ithasbeenusedexternallytotreatdermatitis,inflammationsandburns.Ivyhasbeenusedinternallytoexpelparasitesandtotreatgout,rheumatismandbronchitis,butcautionisadvisedsincetheplantismildlytoxic,probablyduetothetriterpenesaponins.Scheffleraisacommonhouseplant.Notethatginger(Zingiber)isinaseparatefamily,Zingiberaceae.

KeyWords:Plantsofthedampforestwithumbels(notcompound)andberries.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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AsclepiadaceaePlantsoftheMilkweedFamily

Now considered a subfamily of the Dogbane family. TheMilkweedsareperennialherbs,shrubsorrarelytrees,usuallywithacrid,milkyjuiceandoppositeorsometimeswhorledleaves.Theflowersarebisexualandregular,typicallygroupedinclusters.Thereare5separatesepalsand5unitedpetals,plusinsomespeciesacorona(differentfromthecorolla)thatlookslikeanextrasetofpetals.Thecoronaconsistsof5hood-likeformsfacingtowardsthecenteroftheflower.Insidethecoronathereare5stamensfusedtotheovary.Theovaryispositionedsuperior.Itconsistsof2mostly-separatecarpels.Eachcarpelmaturesasaseparatefollicle,apod-likedryfruitwithaseamdownoneside.Thepodsarefilledwithnumerousseedswithsilkytufts.Worldwide,thereare250generaand2,000species,mostlynativetothetropics.Thewaxplant(Hoya)isacommonhouseplantfromthisfamily.Thereare5generaacrosstheUnitedStatesincludingCynanchum,Gonolobus,Matelea,andSarcostemma.KeyWords:Plantswithoppositeleaves,milkyjuiceandbigpods.Irregular,crown-likeflowers.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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BerberidaceaePlantsoftheBarberryFamily

Ifyoufindadicotplantwithevergreen,holly-likeleavesandflowerpartsinmultiplesofthreethenitislikelyamemberoftheBarberryfamily.Thesmallyellowflowersareclusteredtogetherinracemesandmatureintopurplish,sourberries.Membersofthisfamilymayhave2or3smallbractsmasqueradingassepalsonthebackofaflower,butotherwisetherearetypically6truesepalsand6petals,oftenappearinginseriesof3each.Theovaryispositionedsuperiorandconsistsof2to3unitedcarpels(syncarpous)formingasinglechamber.Itmaturesasasourberry.Theinnerbarkisabrilliantyellow,duetothepresenceofanintenselybitterberberinealkaloid.Worldwide,thereareabout15generaand570speciesinthetraditionalBarberryfamily.Thedescriptionherecoversonlythe2generabelow,whicharecommoninNorthAmerica.Generally,Berberisincludesspinyshrubswithsimple,deciduousleaves,whileMahoniaincludesevergreenplantsandshrubswithpinnateleavesconsistingof5to15leafletswithspinesalongtheedges.However,neitherdescriptionworksforallspecies,andplantsfromthetwogeneraarecapableofhybridizingwitheachother.Thus,manyspeciesareshuffledbackandforthbetweenthesegeneraandmayhaveduplicatenames,suchasMahoniaaquifoliumandBerberisaquifolium.TaxonomistshaveexpandedthetraditionalBarberryfamilytoincludetheformerMayapplefamily(Podophyllaceae),ascoveredinthecurrenteditionofBotanyinaDay:ThePatternsMethodofPlantIdentification.

KeyWords:Evergreendicotplantswithfloralpartsinthreesandbrightyellowinnerbark.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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BoraginaceaePlantsoftheBorageFamily

Ifyouhaveeverpulled"beggar'sticks"(flat,tear-drop-shapedstickers)fromyourclothes,thenyouhavemetonememberoftheBoragefamily,alsocalled"hound'stongue"(Cynoglossum)Theplantsofthisfamilyareoftenroughandhairy,usuallywithsimple,alternateleaves.Theflowersarebisexualandmostlyregular.Theyhave5separatesepalsand5unitedpetals.Thereare5stamens;theseareattachedtothecorollatube,alternatewiththepetals.Theovaryispositionedsuperior.Itconsistsof2unitedcarpelsandproduces4separatenutletsorsometimesachenes(dryseeds).Falsepartitionsmaymaketheovaryappear4-chambered.Somegeneraproducefewerthan4nutletsduetoabortion.Youwillusuallybeabletoseetheabortednutletsaroundthedevelopedones.Worldwide,thetraditionalBoragefamilyincludedapproximately100genera,representingabout2,000species,including

about22generainNorthAmerica.TaxonomistshaveexpandedthefamilytoincludethepreviouslyseparateWaterleaffamilyasasubfamily.Medicinally,theseplantsareprimarilyastringent,goodinternallyasteaorexternallyaspoulticesforprettymuchanywoundsorexcretionsthatneedanastringenttotightenupthetissues.Afewmembersofthefamilyarealsomucilaginous,usefulfortheiremollientproperties.Somecontainvolatileoilsandmayserveasanantidotetopoisonsbyfunctioningasdiaphoretics.Manymembersofthisfamilyhaveirritatinghairsthatmaycausedermatitisonsomeindividuals.Also,severalplantscontainminuteamountsofpoisonousalkaloids,makingthemtoxicwithsustaineduse.

KeyWords:Hairyplantswithflowerpartsinfives.Fournutlets.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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CannabaceaePlantsoftheHempFamily

TheplantsoftheHempfamilymaynothavemuchinthewayofshowyflowers,butthefamilydoesclaimoneofthemostrecognizedplantsonearth:marijuana(Cannabissativa).MembersoftheHempfamilyaredioecious,meaningtheyproducethemaleandfemaleflowersonseparateplants.Themaleflowersgrowinlooseracemesorpanicles,eachflowerwith5sepals,0petalsand5stamens.Femaleflowersformdense

clusters,sometimeshiddenbyleafybracts,with5sepalsand0petals.Theovaryispositionedsuperiorwith2unitedcarpels(bicarpellate)formingasinglechamber.Therearetwocompletelyseparatestyles.Onecarpelisaborted,sothattheovarymaturesasingledryseedcalledanachene.Worldwide,thetraditionalfamilyincludesonly2generaand3to5differentspecies.However,geneticevidencesuggeststhathackberries(Celtis)shouldbetransferredherefromthecloselyrelatedElmfamily.

KeyWords:Coarse,aromaticplantswithpalmateorpinnateleavesandnopetals.

Dipsacaceae PlantsoftheTeaselFamily

The Teasel family is not native to our country, but a few plants, particularly teasel, have become widely naturalized here. The flower heads could easily be mistaken for those of the Aster Family. The individual flowers are bisexual and slightly irregular, clustered in a dense head. There are 5 sepals and 4 or 5 united petals, plus 4 stamens. The ovary is positioned inferior and consists of 2 united carpels (bicarpellate), but aborts one, forming just 1 chamber. It produces a dry seed (an achene) enclosed in a sac. Worldwide, there are 12 genera and 350 species. Three

genera were introduced from Europe, including the cultivated pin cushion flower (Scabiosa).

Key Words: Aster-like blossoms with slightly irregular flowers.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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EricaceaePlantsoftheHeathFamily

TheHeathfamilyisasexcitingtoknowasblueberriesandhuckleberries(Vaccinium).Thisfamilyincludesmostlyshrubs(someherbsandtrees)withusuallyalternate,oftenevergreenleaves.Theplantstypicallygrowinpoor,acidicsoilsorbogs.Thebisexualandregularornearlyregularflowerstypicallyhave5sepalsunitedatthebaseand5usuallyunitedpetals(sometimes4ofeachorrarelymoreorless),ofteninabellshapeandwhitetopinkorredincolor.Expecttofindthesamenumberortwiceasmanystamensas

petals.Theovaryispositionedeithersuperiororinferiorandconsistsofusually5(sometimes4,andrarelymoreorless)unitedcarpelswiththepartitionwallspresent,forminganequalnumberofchambers.Itmaturesasacapsule,aberry,orrarelyasadrupe(afleshyfruitwithastonypit).Worldwidethereareabout126generaand4,000species.TaxonomistshaveexpandedthefamilytoincludethePyrolaandIndianPipefamiliesassubfamiliesoftheHeathfamily.Inaddition,theCrowberryfamilyhasbeenfoldedintothisfamilyasatribeoftheHeathsubfamily.

KeyWords:Mostlyredorwhitebell-shapedflowers

withpartsinfoursorfives.Leavesoftenevergreen.

SubfamiliesoftheHeathFamily

HeathSubfamily|WhiteHeatherSubfamily|BlueberrySubfamilyMadroneSubfamily|PyrolaSubfamily|IndianPipeSubfamily

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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GentianaceaePlantsoftheGentianFamily

Gentianshavedistinctive,bell-shapedblossoms.Theyareusuallybisexualandregularwith4or5separatesepals,4or5unitedpetalsand4or5stamens.Thestamensareinsertedonthecorollatubeandalternatewiththelobes.Theovaryispositionedsuperior.Itconsistsof2unitedcarpels(bicarpellate),forminga

singlechamber.Itmaturesasacapsulewithmanyseeds.Theleavesaremostlyopposite,butsomespeciesofFraserahaveleavesinwhorlsofthreeorfour.Worldwide,thereare70generaand1,100species.ThirteengeneraarenativetoNorthAmerica.MostmembersoftheGentianfamilycontainpotentbitterprinciplesthatstimulatethedigestivesystem.Youmusttastethebitternessinyourmouthforittotakeeffect.Thebittertastesignalsthenervoussystemtoreleasedigestivefluidsallthewaydown,fromsalivatogastricacidtobile.Samplingbitterherbsshortlybeforeamealwillhelpgetyourdigestivesystemreadyforthemaincourse;thiscanhelppreventindigestion.Thereleaseoffluidsthroughoutthedigestivesystemalsohelpsloosenthebowelstorelieveconstipation.VolatileoilsarealsopresentintheGentianfamily;somespecieshavebeenusedtoexpelworms.Thisanthelminticeffectmaybeduetothecombinationofbittersandvolatileoils.

KeyWords:Plantswithoppositeleavesandtubularflowerswithpartsinfoursandfives.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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HypericaceaePlantsoftheSt.JohnswortFamily

Ifyou'vebeentroubledbydepressionthenyoumaybedelightedtolearnabouttheSaintJohn'sWortfamily.SaintJohn'sWorthasbecomeawell-knownandeffectiveherbalalternativetoProzakandotherantidepressants.Theseareperennialherbswithsimple,oppositeleaves.Theleavesareoftencoveredwithdarkglandsorcleardots.Thepetalsareusuallyyellow,butmaybetingedwithredororangespots.Atleastonespecieshaspinkblossoms.Theflowersareregularandbisexualwith4to5sepals,4to5petals,and10ormorestamens.Theovaryispositionedsuperiorandconsistsof3to5unitedcarpels(syncarpous)withthepartitionwallspresent,forminganequalnumberofchambers.Itmaturesasacapsule.

Worldwide,thereareatleast3generaand356speciesinthefamily,mostlyofHypericum.Hypericaceaeisof tenconsideredasubfamilyofthelargerClusiaceae(alsoknownasGuttiferae).

KeyWords:Yellowflowerswithpartsinfoursorfives.Oppositeleaveswithcleardots.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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OnagraceaePlantsoftheEveningPrimroseFamily

Thedelicateflowersofthisfamilyhaveregular,bisexualflowerswith4separatesepalsand4separatepetals(rarely2,3or5ofeach).Thereareanequalnumberortwiceasmanystamensaspetals.Theovaryispositionedinferior,withinafloralcup(hypanthium).Theovaryconsistsof4(rarely2or5)unitedcarpelswiththepartitionwallspresent,forminganequalnumberofchambers.Thestigmaisadistinctivefeatureofmanyspecies,withasmanylobesastherearecarpelsintheovary(usually4).Theovarymaturesasacapsulewith

manyseeds,orsometimesasaberryordrupe(afleshyfruitwithastonypit).Worldwide,thereare20generaand650species,including12generainNorthAmerica.TheornamentalFuchsiaandLopeziaaremembersofthisfamily.Theplantsofthisfamilyaremostlyedible,withastringent,mucilaginousandantispasmodicproperties.

KeyWords:Flowerpartsusuallyinfours,includingafour-lobedstigma.

RhamnaceaePlantsoftheBuckthornFamily

Ifyoufindadicotshruborsmalltreewithvisiblythree-partedcapsulesorberries,thenitislikelyamemberoftheBuckthornfamily.Thefoamy,

white,greenishorevenbluesprayofflowersoftheCeanothusisalsohardtomiss,wheninseason.Theseshrubshavesimple,andusuallyserrated,alternateoroppositeleavesandsometimesthorns.Theflowersaremostlyregularandusually,butnotalways,bisexual.Thereare4to5sepals,4to5(sometimes0)petals,and4to5stamens.Thestamensarealternatewiththesepalsandoppositethepetals.Thepartsarepositionedperigynous(inthemiddleoftheovary).Theovaryconsistsof3(sometimes2or4)unitedcarpels(syncarpous)withthepartitionwallspresent,forminganequalnumberofchambers.Itmaturesasacapsuleorberrywith1(rarely2)seedspercell.Thesectionsoftheovaryareoftenreadilyvisibleonthesurface.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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Worldwide,thereare58generaand900species.TengeneraarefoundinNorthAmerica,includingBerchemia,Colubrina,Condalia,Gouania,Krugiodendron,Reynosia,SageretiaandZiziphus,plusthegenerabelow.

KeyWords:Shrubsorsmalltreeswithvisiblythree-partedcapsulesorberries.

SalicaceaePlantsoftheWillowFamily

ItwouldbehardtomisstheWillowfamily.Youcanusuallyfindeitherwillows,aspens,cottonwoodsorpoplarsalonganystream,lakeormountainmeadow.Botanically,theWillowfamilyconsistsofbushesandtreeswithsimple,alternateleaves.Theflowersareunisexualwithmaleandfemaleflowersappearingincatkinsonseparateplants(dioecious).Thesepalsaregreatlyreducedorabsent,andtherearenopetals.Maleflowershave2ormorestamens.Inthepistillate(female)flower,theovaryispositionedsuperiorandconsistsof2to4unitedcarpels(syncarpous)formingasinglechamber.Itmaturesasacapsule,usuallywithsilky"cotton"tohelptransporttheseedsbyair.Worldwide,thereare2to3generaand350to500species.

Medicinally,theWillowfamilyisanalgesic,anti-inflammatory,astringentanddiuretic.Themembersofthisfamilycontainvaryingamountsofthesimplephenolglycosidespopulin,salicinandmethylsalicylatefromwhichthecommonaspirinwasoriginallyderived.Thesepropertiesarestrongestintheinnerbark,butarealsopresentintheleaves.Likeaspirin,thewillowfamilyisusedforfevers,headaches,arthritisandotherinflammations,particularlyintheurinarytract.Unfortunately,thepresenceoftannicacidinthebarkmakesitdifficulttoingestenoughsalicintoaffectacommonheadache.Astrongteaoftheleavesmightprovemoreeffective,withoutthebadtaste.Astripofthebarkcanbetiedoveracuttoserveasaband-aidandasanastringent-antiseptic.MembersoftheWillowfamilymayalsoexpelworms.Studiesindicatethat,whenusedasalong-termtonic,commonaspirincangreatlyreducea

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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person'sriskofheartdiseaseorcoloncancerinlaterlife.Willowteamayormaynothavethesamepotential-moreresearchneedstobedoneinthisarea.Likeaspirin,largequantitiesofwillowcanirritatethestomachlining.

KeyWords:Trees/busheswithalternateleavesinmoistsoil.Catkinsformmanysmallcapsules.

UrticaceaePlantsoftheStingingNettleFamily

ManyspeciesoftheStingingNettlefamilyhaveamemorablewayofidentifyingthemselvesforyou.Hairsunderneaththeleavesfunctionashypodermicneedlestoinjectformicacidintotheskinwhenyoucomeincontactwiththem.Threegeneraofthefamilyhavestinginghairs:Urtica,Laportea,andHesperocnide,thelastbeinganativeofCalifornia.MembersoftheStingingNettlefamilyareherbswithsimple,usuallyoppositeleavesandoccasionallysquarish,usuallyhairystems.The

greenishorbrownishflowersaremostlyunisexualwithmaleandfemaleflowersonthesameordifferentplants.Thereare4or5sepals,0petalsand4to5stamens.Theovaryispositionedsuperiorandhasonlyonecarpel(unicarpellate).Itmaturesasadryseed,calledanachene.Worldwide,thereare45generaand550species.SixgeneraarefoundinNorthAmerica.TheMulberryfamilyissometimesincludedinthisfamily.Mostspeciesinthefamilyareedibleaspotherbs.Theplantshavestrongfibersformakingcordage.Thesilkplant(Boehmeria)issaidtohavethelongestfibersknownintheplantkingdom,withatensilestrengtheighttimesgreaterthancotton(Fern).

KeyWords:Usuallyhairyplantswithpetallessflowersinstring-likeclustersfromtheleafaxils.

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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ValerianaceaePlantsoftheValerianFamily

NorthAmericanmembersofthisfamilyhavesmallflowersinclusters.Theflowerscanbebisexualorunisexual,regularorslightlyirregular.Thesepalsareinconspicuous.Thereare5unitedpetals,oftenwithaspuratthebaseoftheflower.Thereare1to4stamens.Theovaryispositionedinferiorandconsistsof3unitedcarpels(tricarpellate)butabortstwo,formingjust1chamber.Itproducesanachene(adryseed).Worldwide,thereare13generaand400species.ThreegeneraarefoundinNorthAmerica.Redvalerian(Centranthus)iscultivated.

KeyWords:Plantswithbasalandoppositeleaves.Smallflowerswithtinyspurs.Rootswithpungentaroma.

Verbenaceae Plants of the Verbena Family

TheVerbenafamilyincludesherbs,shrubsandafewtrees.Theleavesareusuallyoppositeorwhorledandsometimesaromatic.VerbenahassquarishstemsandmaybeconfusedwiththeMintsuntilyouexaminetheflowers.Theflowersaremostlybisexualandslightlyirregular.Theybloominelongatedspikes.Therearetypically5unitedsepalsand5unitedpetals,formingatubewithunequallobes.Thereare4stamens(sometimes2or5outsidethecontinent).Theovaryispositionedsuperior.Itconsistsof2(rarely4or5)unitedcarpels(syncarpous)withthepartitionwallspresent,forminganequalnumberofchambers.Additionalfalsepartitionsmaybepresentinsomespecies.Thefruitmaturesas1to2nutletspercarpelwithinNorthAmericanspeciesandoftenasadrupeorcapsuleinotherpartsoftheworld.Worldwide,thereareabout75generaand3,000species,includingteakwood(Tectona)andthefast-growing"whiteteak"(Gmelina).FifteengeneraarefoundinNorthAmerica,mostlyacross

Wild Rose College of Natural Healing BOTANY FOR HERBALISTS Part 2 Plan Families of Interest

W Wild Rose College of Natural Healing T Terry Willard Cl.H PhD. ©2018

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thesouthernstates.OnlyVerbenaiswidespread.NotethatanunrelatedplantintheFour-O'ClockFamilyiscalled"sandverbena."

KeyWords:Oppositeorwhorledleaves.Flowerpartsinfives,united.Slightlyirregular.