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Plantains[Genus Plantago] - These weedy plants are found just about everywhere in the temperate to arctic zones of both north and south hemispheres. European varieties spread so rapidly through North America, it is reported that American Indians called them "White Man's Footprint". While only a few are used as food items, many have extensive medicinal uses. Also, the seed husks of several species, called psyllium, are a major ingredient in laxatives and dietary fiber products.
Veronica[American Brooklime, American Speedwell; Veronica americana]
Native to temperate and arctic North America and Asia, this plant
grows near streams and in moist bottomlands. It is edible and
nutritious, tasting somewhat like watercress. It is also medicinal,
used mainly for bronchial congestion. It is sometimes confused with
members of the mint family, but its stems are round, while mints
have square stems.
Photo by Rob Routledge distributed under license
Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.
Ngo Om[Ngo Om, Ba Om, Rau Om (Viet); Phak Kayang (Thailand); Tian Xiang Cao, Zi Su Cao (China); Soyop-pul (Korea); Shiso-kusa (Japan); Limnophila aromatica]
This aquatic herb is native throughout Southeast Asia, extending into
southern China, Japan and Australia. After the Vietnam war, it was
brought to North America by refugees, and is now easily available in
the Asian markets here in Southern California. This plant grows well
in still water, such as found in rice paddies. It's particularly popular
in Vietnam, but is also used in China and Japan. In Chinese, Japanese
and Korean, the name of this herb is the same as for
Perilla, a very distantly related herb. It
is made specific with a suffix meaning green leafy plant (see names
above).
Details and Cooking.
Foxglove[Digitalis purpurea]
DON'T EAT THIS! - It'll stop your heart - dead - and meanwhile
the other symptoms aren't particularly pleasant. It is one of
the most powerful medicinal herbs in the world - all parts of the
plant contain cardiac glycoside digitoxin.
Photo by Jensflorian distributed under license
Creative Commons
Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.
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