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.



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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.



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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.



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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.



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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.



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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



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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.



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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.



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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.



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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



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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.



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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



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

KeyWords:Oppositeorwhorledleaves.Flowerpartsinfives,united.Slightlyirregular.

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

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