And then I decided it would be fun to do weekly posts re: botany
I'm doing this on tumblr, but I'm going to try to remember to cross-post them here. Because really, who doesn't need flowers (and it's totally relevant to my life, and what else is LJ for?)
Please let me know if the lack of cut makes you terribly unhappy. The pictures aren't large or anything, but I can cut them if need be, I don't want to mess up anyone's LJ experience!
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Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. aggregata)
Phlox family
Scarlet Gilia is also known as Skyrocket or White Fairy Trumpet, so named for its shape and color (Skyrocket is more orange, White Fairy Trumpet is... well, white). This flower is native to Wyoming and much of the western US, where it is found on dry, mountainous hillsides or in open pine forests. It is very drought tolerant, but very shade intolerant. The flowers occur on a single stalk, and they can grow anywhere from 1-3ft. tall, average, although some plants grow up to 5ft (the one in the photo was only about 1ft. tall). The flowers are odorless unless crushed, and are occasionally called honeysuckle for the nectar that can be retrieved from the bottom of the flower when it is picked. Hummingbirds and hawk moths both feed on this nectar, helping to pollinate the plants (they are incapable of selfing, or self-pollinating).
When crushed, the pinnately compound leaves smell like a displeased skunk, but they have still been used medicinally for blood diseases. Other parts of the plant are also used medicinally: the whole plant is also used for blood diseases, and can be crushed and used in a poultice on joints suffering from rheumatism. The roots have been used as both a laxative and to treat colds and high fevers. A decoction of the entire plant can also be used as a disinfectant wash.
A study at the University of Illinois uses Scarlet Gilia to study the phenomenon of overcompensation, where certain plants actually appear to benefit from direct herbivory (as in Scarlet Gilia).
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This should go without saying, but consult someone who knows what they are talking about before you ingest any part of any wild plant.
Sources:
Utah State University's page on Scarlet Gilia
Overcompensation in Scarlet Gilia
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database Page
Top picture by yours truly.
Bottom two pictures from here and here.
Please let me know if the lack of cut makes you terribly unhappy. The pictures aren't large or anything, but I can cut them if need be, I don't want to mess up anyone's LJ experience!
-----------
Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata ssp. aggregata)
Phlox family
Scarlet Gilia is also known as Skyrocket or White Fairy Trumpet, so named for its shape and color (Skyrocket is more orange, White Fairy Trumpet is... well, white). This flower is native to Wyoming and much of the western US, where it is found on dry, mountainous hillsides or in open pine forests. It is very drought tolerant, but very shade intolerant. The flowers occur on a single stalk, and they can grow anywhere from 1-3ft. tall, average, although some plants grow up to 5ft (the one in the photo was only about 1ft. tall). The flowers are odorless unless crushed, and are occasionally called honeysuckle for the nectar that can be retrieved from the bottom of the flower when it is picked. Hummingbirds and hawk moths both feed on this nectar, helping to pollinate the plants (they are incapable of selfing, or self-pollinating).
When crushed, the pinnately compound leaves smell like a displeased skunk, but they have still been used medicinally for blood diseases. Other parts of the plant are also used medicinally: the whole plant is also used for blood diseases, and can be crushed and used in a poultice on joints suffering from rheumatism. The roots have been used as both a laxative and to treat colds and high fevers. A decoction of the entire plant can also be used as a disinfectant wash.
A study at the University of Illinois uses Scarlet Gilia to study the phenomenon of overcompensation, where certain plants actually appear to benefit from direct herbivory (as in Scarlet Gilia).
----------
This should go without saying, but consult someone who knows what they are talking about before you ingest any part of any wild plant.
Sources:
Utah State University's page on Scarlet Gilia
Overcompensation in Scarlet Gilia
USDA NRCS PLANTS Database Page
Top picture by yours truly.
Bottom two pictures from here and here.