Plant lore
Plantain
This plant grows just about everywhere. It is probably the single most important plant to recognize in the wild. It is so distinctive that children can learn to find it very easily.
It’s pretty much an all purpose first aid kit. It is an anti-venom and seems to have both anti-infective and analgesic properties. It works on bites, poison oak, ivy and sumac, scrapes, cuts, itches, and, in a pinch, is edible. Just pick the wild leaf, scrunch it up and put it on the injury. It will tingle for a few seconds, and then the discomfort should pretty much disappear.
The seeds are used in various commercial laxative preparations, as they are very high in water soluble fiber. They are also very high in protein and carbohydrates. Therefore, if you’re in the woods and starving, you can always boil some of these seeds up to make a cereal. Just be sure you know where the mullein grows. It makes a good toilet paper.
Purslane
This is a yummy little weed that grows everywhere. It is very succulent and grows on creeping stems close to the ground. It is reputed to actually lower cholersterol and strenghten the heart. It’s a bit sticky, like okra, and you eat it raw in salads.
