Miss Minni Samicki

By Minni

Early autumn

It feels early autumn.
A couple of weeks ago this field was pink purple of fireweeds. Now the feathering seeds are blowing across the land in their thousands.
When i looked for the English name of the herb i learned some new things about fireweed. (Maitohorsma in Finnish.) Fireweed is derived from the plant´s tendency to quickly colonize disturbed ground in open areas, especially those areas which have been cleared through forest fires. Another name is Rosebay Willowherb.
Then young and tender the shoots can be eaten raw or steamed. The roots can be eaten, too.
The herb is antispasmodic, hypnotic (!), laxative and tonic. Woww
I knew that in Russia its leaves were used as tea substitute and were been exported as Karpor Tea. But i didn´t know that the Blackfoot Indians used a tea of roots and inner cortex for gastric upsets and bronchial complaints.
Here in Finland the cottony seed hairs has been used to stuff bedding. Now it´s an important honey plant.

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