As the drought and heat have caused many wildflowers to die prematurely, I am pulling up some from past posts that are blooming at this time of summer. This one grows almost everywhere and is quite drought tolerant. It is a member of the Asteraceae family (sunflower family). It blooms from late April through November depending on weather conditions.
The dark brown central disk give this flower its name. It is also called Brown-Eyed Susan, Brown Betty, Golden Jerusalem, Poorland Daisy and Yellow Ox-Eye Daisy. Fields will often be solid with these beautiful flowers. It is self-pollinating, but insects swarm all over it. It is a favorite of the Painted Lady Butterfly and many other insects.
Native Americans used this wildflower for many medicinal purposes. Roots were used to make a juice for treating earaches. Teas were made from the leaves and used as a tonic. It was used as an astringent for washing wounds, treating sores and to reduce swelling. Poultices were made of the entire plant to treat snakebites. Black-Eyed Susans also have diuretic qualities.
The flowers of this plant were also used by Native Americans and early settlers as a dye for fabrics, making a yellow color.
"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was the Tree of Life, which bear twelve fruits, and yielding her fruit every month: the the leaves were the healing of the nations."
Revelation 22:2 KJV
No comments:
Post a Comment