Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 45 views

    April 2012 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust

    Uploaded by

    Greenspace, The Cambria Land Trust
    The document discusses several native plants and their uses by indigenous people in California, as well as their current utility. It describes how acorns and yampah roots were important food sources. It also explains that California bay laurel provided edible nuts and was used medicinally, while yerba buena, mugwort, and elderberry were used to treat stomach issues, poison oak rash, and coughs/colds respectively. Additionally, soaproot had uses as a soap, brush, and method to stun fish. The document encourages learning more about native plants by joining a guided botanical walk along the Salinas River.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    April 2012 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust

    Uploaded by

    Greenspace, The Cambria Land Trust
    45 views1 page
    The document discusses several native plants and their uses by indigenous people in California, as well as their current utility. It describes how acorns and yampah roots were important food sources. It also explains that California bay laurel provided edible nuts and was used medicinally, while yerba buena, mugwort, and elderberry were used to treat stomach issues, poison oak rash, and coughs/colds respectively. Additionally, soaproot had uses as a soap, brush, and method to stun fish. The document encourages learning more about native plants by joining a guided botanical walk along the Salinas River.

    Original Description:

    April 2012 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses several native plants and their uses by indigenous people in California, as well as their current utility. It describes how acorns and yampah roots were important food sources. It also explains that California bay laurel provided edible nuts and was used medicinally, while yerba buena, mugwort, and elderberry were used to treat stomach issues, poison oak rash, and coughs/colds respectively. Additionally, soaproot had uses as a soap, brush, and method to stun fish. The document encourages learning more about native plants by joining a guided botanical walk along the Salinas River.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    45 views1 page

    April 2012 Greenspace Insider, Cambria Land Trust

    Uploaded by

    Greenspace, The Cambria Land Trust
    The document discusses several native plants and their uses by indigenous people in California, as well as their current utility. It describes how acorns and yampah roots were important food sources. It also explains that California bay laurel provided edible nuts and was used medicinally, while yerba buena, mugwort, and elderberry were used to treat stomach issues, poison oak rash, and coughs/colds respectively. Additionally, soaproot had uses as a soap, brush, and method to stun fish. The document encourages learning more about native plants by joining a guided botanical walk along the Salinas River.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 1

    Volume 12, Number 4

    April, 2012

    The
    Native plants certainly have a value in maintaining healthy forest ecology. A diverse understory lends its self to a rich forest floor and robust population of trees, and also helps to create wetter microclimates. The value of native plants is immeasurable to wildlife. One plant can provide forage, shelter, and nesting materials to many species of animals. What about human use of native plants? When food comes from the market and medicine comes from the pharmacy, it is easy to overlook the value and utility of the plants surrounding us. The native people of our region had extensive knowledge and use for local plants. Acorns were a staple in the native diet, and were Perideridia bolanderi gathered, leached of tannins Yampah and ground into a flour-like meal. When acorn season passed and stores dwindled, the root of the yampah plant (Perideridia bolanderi) became an important substitute. In fact finding a dense clump of yampah growing today is like finding a living artifact. Such a find is likely to be a patch tended by natives to provide a reliable food source. California-Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica) has edible nuts and medicinal properties associated with its leaves. Natives roasted the bay nuts which eliminates the bitter quality. How about using the plants around you medicinally? Bay-Laurel leaves were used as a compress for both headache and stomach ailments. Leaves were used in steam baths to treat rheumatism. A tea made from fresh Yer-

    Insider
    Many Uses of Native Plants
    ba Buena (Satureja douglasii) leaves is said to help an upset stomach. Western mugwort (Artemisia ludoviciana) leaves can be used to soothe the rash caused by poison oak. The flowers of the elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) can be used as a tea for Chlorogalum pomeridianum Soap Root coughs, colds, and fevers. The berries can be harvested as food, and make a wonderful jam. Some plants serve a function other than food or medicine. Soap root (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) is one such example. Soap root is in the iris family, and can be identified by the ruffled edges and the long brown root fibers extending from the crown of the plant. Soap root was used to create a soap-like lather, its root fibers also made good brushes. Most interesting is the use of the root-fibers and bulb to stun fish making them easy to net. Perhaps your interest is to simply be able to identify more native plants. It is certainly enriching to walk outdoors and recognize the flora. If you are interested in learning about

    more native plants please join Greenspace for a botanist led walk along the upper Salinas river on April 29th. Call to make your reservations as spots are limited, (805)9272866. More info on

    back page.

    Satureja douglasii Yerba Buena

    You might also like