Starting The Savannah and Beargrass Prairie |
Typical days in the prairie included; weeding and turning soil, planning the design, mapping the plot, watering plants, removing excess debris, planting collected plants, laying rocks, re-mulching the trail, and general clean-up in the area. The plot was started in week 2 and continually worked on until week 6. Mid-week, the planting of new beargrass plants began and the lot started to look more like a western Washington glacial prairie.
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Savannah and Beargrass Prairie week 2
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Before
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After |
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The Savannah and Beargrass Prairie
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Weeding the Savannah and Beargrass Prairie
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Savannah and Beargrass Prairie week 6
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The prairie is ready to have plants added and cared for. Daily watering of the plants now is important. The newly transplanted plants are fragile and need special care. Work is conducted on a daily basis to help keep the garden alive and well. Water has been limited due to the lack of rain and the plants that were watered show a contrast between the wet soil and the parched soil. Removal of the unwanted plants is important in these conditions because invasive plants would compete for water and important nutrients.
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Contrast of week 2 and week 6
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Week 2
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Week 6
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The removal of unwanted plants can be appreciated by more than just the plants in the garden, but by the people who view the plot and see its resemblance to a Washington glacial prairie. Bunch grasses, wildflowers, and other prairie plants, including yarrow and tall Oregon grape, were added to make the prairie authentic.
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Mari-lee’s garden
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The friendly Petersons were accommodated us and even offered to donate their personal specimens of beargrass to the longhouse ethnobatnical garden.
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The Savannah and Beargrass Prairie
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These bunch grasses were and transplanted into the prairie. Pete and Mari-lee told us where to find the plants without much trouble and we appreciated their advise.
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The condition of the grasses should improve in the garden with proper care.
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Planted Beargrass
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Here are two of the beargrass plants that were donated by the Peterson’s.We are very thankful for their helpful advice and generosity. Mari-lee offered to help students next fall, and we are happy to have them as friends of Our garden.
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The Savannah and Beargrass Prairie
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Xerophyllum Tenax specimen purchased at the Olympia farmers market.
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This stand at the farmers market is where the bear grass specimen was purchased.
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Olympia farmers market beargrass procurement
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The Savannah and Beargrass Prairie
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These boulders were laid in the garden thanks to Mike Smith who had the know-how and transportation to maneuver these rocks onto the garden’s edges. A total of 8 new rocks were placed in the garden.
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Mike determined the boulders to be a type of Granite rock. Looks like Mike needs a bigger truck
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Lynch quarryEatonville, Washington
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Plants in the prairie
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Beargrass
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Tall Oregon Grape
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Yarrow
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Violet
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Buttercup
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Camas
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Protected Glacial Prairie |
Mima Mounds
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Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve (DNR) From Littlerock, go West for 0.8 mile. Turn right on Waddell Creek Rd. Go 0.9 mile. Turn left at entrance with sign. Continue for 1 mile to site. |
Mima Mounds Background
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n The Mima mounds is a glacial prairie and grassland in the southern Puget Sound area. It is home to a variety of wildlife and vegetation that have been maintained from the end of the Pleistocene glaciation. The prairie’s sediment contains a large concentration of glaciated rocks and pebbles that help to maintain a drier saturation index than the surrounding forest soils. Roemer's Fescue is the common bunchgrass found on the grassland. This type of grassland once covered thousands of acres of the western Washington region. The prairie is a habitat to a variety of butterflies, birds, and flowers.n Butterfly species include; the Ochre Ringlet (gold and tan) and Tiger and Anise Swallowtails (large black and orange). n Wildflowers include; yellow Buttercups, deep pink Shooting Stars, wild Strawberries, Common Camas, Chocolate Lilies, Woolly Sunflower, yellow Slender Cinquefoil, Death Camus, Blue-purple crown Brodiaea Lilies, white Yarrow, Scot’s Bluebells, Goldenrod, White Topped Aster. Lichen in the prairie is reindeer lichen, which changes from seasonally from dry to saturated. n Birds in the prairie include; Vesper, White Crowned Sparrow, Northern Harriers, Western Meadowlarks, Western Bluebird, n Thanks to the DNR pacific cascade region office. www.wa.gov.dnr
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Plants of the Puget Sound Prairie
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Shooting Star
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Buttercup
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Virginia Strawberry
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Common Camas
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Chocolate Lily
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Potentilla
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Death Camas
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Brodiaea Lily
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Plants of the Puget Sound Prairie
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Yarrow
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Scots Bluebells
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Goldenrod
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White Tipped Aster
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Reindeer Lichen
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Garry Oak
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Serviceberry |
Amelanchier |
Genus:
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Maloideae [2] |
Subfamily:
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Rosaceae [3] |
Family:
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Rosales [4] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [5] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [6] |
Division:
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Plantae [7] |
Kingdom:
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Edible berries ripen in June
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Violet |
Flowers leafs and roots are eaten for their medicinalpurposes
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Scientific classification [8]
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Viola
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Genus:
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Violaceae [9] |
Family:
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Malpighiales [10] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [11] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [12] |
Division:
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Plantae [13] |
Kingdom:
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Comfrey |
Roots and leaves used for medicinal propertiesPoultice, whooping-cough, sprains, swellings and bruises.
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Scientific classification [14]
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Symphytum |
Genus:
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Boraginaceae [15] |
Family:
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Lamiales [16] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [17] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [18] |
Division:
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Plantae [19] |
Kingdom:
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Kinnikinik |
Edible red berries, tea made from leaves .
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Arctostaphylos [20] |
Genus:
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Ericaceae [21] |
Family:
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Ericales [22] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [23] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [24] |
Division:
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Plantae [25] |
Kingdom:
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Roemer’s Fescue |
Long-lived perennial bunchgrass
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Scientific classification [26]
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F. pratensis |
Species:
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Festuca [27] |
Genus:
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Poaceae [28] |
Family:
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Poales [29] |
Order:
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Liliopsida [30] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [31] |
Division:
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Plantae [32] |
Kingdom:
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Reindeer Lichen |
Scientific classification [33]
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C. rangiferina
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Species:
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Cladonia [34] |
Genus:
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Cladoniaceae [35] |
Family:
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Lecanorales [36] |
Order:
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Lecanoromycetes [37] |
Class:
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Ascomycota [38] |
Division:
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Fungi [39] |
Kingdom:
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Can not survive fires as a ground cover
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Cascara |
Scientific classification [40]
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R. purshiana |
Species:
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Rhamnus [41] |
Genus:
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Rhamnaceae [42] |
Family:
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Rosales [43] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [44] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [45] |
Division:
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Plantae [46] |
Kingdom:
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Bark used as a laxative and nausea inducer
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Garry Oak |
Scientific classification [47]
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Q. garryana |
Species:
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Quercus [48] |
Section:
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Quercus [49] |
Genus:
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Fagaceae [50] |
Family:
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Fagales [51] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [52] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [53] |
Division:
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Plantae [54] |
Kingdom:
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Sacred to the gods of thunder, Grow small reddish acorns.
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Hawthorn |
Scientific classification [55]
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C. monogyna |
Species:
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Crataegus [56] |
Genus:
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Maloideae [57] |
Subfamily:
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Rosaceae [58] |
Family:
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Rosales [59] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [60] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [61] |
Division:
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Plantae [62] |
Kingdom:
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Hawthorn is effective for curing insomnia. Hawthorn is used to prevent miscarriage and for treating nervousness. Hawthorn has been used for centuries in treating heart disease, as regular use strengthens the heart muscles, and to prevent arteriosclerosis, angina, and poor heart action.
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Yarrow |
Scientific classification [63]
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A. millefolium |
Species:
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Achillea [64] |
Genus:
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Asteraceae [65] |
Family:
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Asterales [66] |
Order:
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Magnoliopsida [67] |
Class:
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Magnoliophyta [68] |
Division:
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Plantae [69] |
Kingdom:
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Yarrow has seen historical use as a medicine, mainly because of its astringent effects. Decoctions have been used to treat inflammations, and also headaches. Confusingly, it has been said to both stop bleeding and promote it. Infusions of Yarrow, taken either internally or externally, are said to speed recovery from severe bruising. The most medicinally active part of the plant are the flowering tops. They also have a mild stimulant effect, and have been used as a snuff. Today, yarrow is valued mainly for its action in colds and influenza, and also for its effect on the circulatory, digestive, and urinary systems.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarrow
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April |
May |
June |
July |
Aug |
Sept |
Shooting Star |
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Blue Violet |
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Buttercup |
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Camas |
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Oxeye Daisy |
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Self-heal |
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Scotch Bellflower |
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Spotted Cats Ear |
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Goldenrod |
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St. Johns Wort |
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Slender Cinquefoil |
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Virginia Strawberry |
Signs needed in the prairie |
n Tall Oregon Grape Mahonia aqifoliumn Western Buttercup Ranunculus occidentalisn Garry Oak Quercus garryanan Yarrow Achillea millefoliumn Bear-grass Xerophyllum tenaxn Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albusn Serviceberry Amelanchier |
Plants to look for in procurement |
n Argoseris elata (tall goat chickory) n Argoseris grandiflora (large-flowered agoseris, large-flower goat-chicory) non palatable to human according to usda.n Artemesia ludoviciana (white sagebrush, gray sagewort) non-toxic, non-palatable.n Anthasanus pussilus (common sandweed) species not known to be poisonous.“According to the e-flora atlas”n Crepis occidentalis (largeflower hawksbeard, western hawksbeard) non palatable to human”USDA” leaves eaten raw according to Kelly, Isabel T. 1932 Ethnography of the Surprise Valley Paiute. University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology 31(3):67-210 (p. 103). [70]n crocidium multicaule (common spring-gold, gold star) nontoxic, not palatable to humans according to usda.n crytantha intermedia (Clearwater cryptantha, common cryptantha, clearwater cat's eye) n draba verna (spring draba, spring whitlow-grass) edible and astringrnt acording to “plants for a future” [71]n erigeron oreganus (gorge fleabane, gorge daisy, Oregon fleabane) basalt outcropping in the Columbia river gorgen erigeron salishii (Star Peak fleabane, Salish daisy) [72]n erigeron speciousus (aspen fleabane, splendid fleabane) dandelion.n erysimum capitum (sanddune wallflower, rough wallflower, prairie rocket) cultivated for its blooms and blossoms. [73]n githopsis speculaiodes (common bluecup) n grindelia integrifolia (Puget Sound gumweed, Willamette Valley gumweed, Puget Sound gumplant) Preparation & Uses: The resin is listed as being antispasmodic, diuretic, expectorant and sedative. It has most specifically been used for treating spasmodic respiration problems such as asthma, dry hacking coughs or whooping cough. Moore says it was sometimes combined with Yerba Santa. As a mild stomach tonic, it has been used for indigestion and colic.
For kidney and bladder problems, both tincture and tea have been used. A little brandy is usually added to the tea to dissolve the resin. Moore says it is specific for cystitis caused by fungi or food but not so good for ``honeymoon`` cystitis. He also states it is a mild cardiac relaxant though not all that reliable. The Blackfoot Indians made a decoction of the dried ground root for liver problems and as a spring purge. Nevada Indians used small doses of the decoction during measles and smallpox epidemics. Gumweed is known to increase excretions. Externally, fresh gumweed or fresh plant tincture can be applied as a wash for poison ivy/oak. It has also been used as a wash for burns, rashes, sores, wounds and the like. A poultice can be made of the herb and used for rheumatic joints, breaks, and wounds. [74]http://www.wrc.net/wrcnet_content/herbalresources/herbwalk/herbwalk.aspx?hwid=26n lepidium oxycarpum (forked pepperweed, sharpfruited pepperwort) mustard family not yet assessed. |
1,808,000-11,550 calendar years
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evolution of anatomically modern humans, present ice age starts
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Pleistocene
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Neocene
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Cenozoic
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Phanerozoic
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11,550 calendar years
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end of recent glaciation, rise of human civilization
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Holocene
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Neocene
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Cenozoic
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Phanerozoic
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Time Line
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Major Events
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Series
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Period
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Era
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Eon
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Plants to look for in procurement
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n minuartia tenella (slender stitchwort) grows on limestone [75]n opuntia fragilis (brittle prickly-pear) fruit used as food. Conservational acts protect the species as an endangered cactus.n senecio neowebsteri (Olympic Mountain ragwort) [76]n sericocarpus rigidus (Columbian white-topped aster, rigid white-topped aster) n solidago missouriensis (Missouri goldenrod) infusion of blossoms used for various fevers. [77]n solidago simplex (Mt. Albert goldenrod) non toxic non palatable to humans according to usda n stellaria nitens (shiny chickweed, shiny starwort) Flowering spring. Dry, open habitats: sand dunes, stream banks, rocky outcrops, open woodlands, beneath boulders, disturbed areas; 0-2000 m; B.C.; Ariz., Calif., , Mont., Nev., Oreg., Utah, Wash. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250060937n symphyotrichum chilense (Pacific aster, common California aster) Symphyotrichum chilense is restricted to coastal habitats from southwestern British Columbia to central California. It is almost entirely coastal in Oregon, Washington, and southern British Columbia, where it is mainly hexaploid (2n = 48). In Oregon, where it is sympatric with S. subspicatum, the latter is mainly duodecaploid (2n = 96). The distinction does not hold in British Columbia, however, where S. subspicatum is both 2n = 48 and 96, and where S. chilense is less common (G. A. Allen 1984). The species was erroneously thought by Nees to occur in Chile. The plants named Aster chilensis var. medius Jepson are hybrids of S. chilense and S. lentum. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250060937 [78]n symphyotrichum novae- angliae (New England aster) can be used for roadside plantings, prairie restoration, wildlife cover, prairie landscaping, and wetland situations. http://plants.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_syno2.pdfn symphyotrichum hallii (Hall's aster)
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Bibliography |
n Plants Of The Pacific Northwest Coast: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia & Alaska by Jim Pojar [79] (Compiler), Andy MacKinnon [80] (Compiler) Paperback: 528 pages Publisher: Lone Pine Publishing; Revised edition (November 30, 2004) Language: English ISBN-10: 1551055309 ISBN-13: 978-1551055305 http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/comfre92.htmln http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Harrier.html [81]n http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant [82]n http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ [83]n http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/washington/preserves/art12967.html [84]n http://www.southsoundprairies.org/documents/Indigenousburning.pdf [85]n http://depts.washington.edu/propplnt/Plants/Festuca%20idahoensis%20subsp.htmn http://www.davidsonia.org/files/17_2_dunwiddie.pdf [86] n http://www.wnps.org/plant_lists/counties/thurston/documents/MimaMounds.pdf [87]n http://www.wnps.org/plant_lists/counties/thurston/documents/ThurstonCounty.doc [88] n http://www.gaiagarden.com/products/hawthorn/?source=google&gclid=CN_v3dnMw4wCFSmkhgodu2ZyVgn http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/ [89]n Information Center
(360) 902-8844 (Hours: 8AM - 5PM, Monday - Friday) http://www.parks.wa.gov/ [90] n http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=250060937 [91] |