Common Burdock can be found almost

anywhere in Elkins, West Virgina.   It is

loaded with vitamins and minerals, but

it has one drawback, it is bitter and tough

for most of the year.  Its large green

leaves look somewhat similiar to rhubarb,

but the stems are hollow inside.  The

leaves are hairy and are much lighter green

on their undersides.  In the second year they

grow stalks with burrs on them.  The roots

are a food mainstay for parts of the world  like

Japan where they have developed less bitter

and more tender species.

The roots of Common Burdock are not quite

as bitter as the leaves.  A small amount of

roots or leaves can be put into a soup, but

toughness is still a problem.  Cooked roots

are not as bitter as the leaves.

The flowers of Red Clover make a nice tea.  The

leaves of Red Clover are loaded with protein,

B vitamins and minerals.  However, one must

be careful of leaves that are not fresh and starting

to decay as the decaying leaves can be quite

toxic.   Fermenting these leaves could be very

dangerous to your existence on this earth.

Milkweed can be a good tasting vegatable, but it can

easily be confused with its toxic relative-Dogbane.

The only difference between them is that the stem of

Dogbane is bald, while Milkweed has small hairs

ON IT'S STEM

that can only be identified with a strong magifying

glass(15 TO 20 POWER).

Plantains are a good breath freshener.

A European species is the primary

ingredient fo Metamucil.  Plantains

contain beta carotene and calcium.

However, by mid-spring, Plantains

become tough and stringy.

Goldenrod is not the same as ragweed.  Has been

used as a tea, tincture and alchoholic extract.

Helps kidney and stomach problems.  Crushed

fresh leaves can be used for wounds, sores

and insect bites.  The herb is said to help

arthritis.

Angelica Sylvestris, 6-5-05, My backyard.

Has been used to cure many ills and

to keep away evil.  Always check stems to

see if Purple or Magenta streaks are present on

the stems like those on Water Hemlock, which

is very poisonous and can kill you.

Angelica Archangelica is

the European variety of Angelica

that was originally used by

the Benedictine Monks of France

as an ingredient in Liqueurs.

Flower of Angelica Sylvestris 60X with a

toy Computer Microscope.

Angelica Sylvestris.  Notice that the veins go into

the teeth of the leaves.  They are not between the

teeth as they are in the Water Hemlock, which can

kill you.  American Indians used the plant to commit

suicide if their spouse was unfaithful.....................