aster

Sunflower Family--Asteraceae or Compositae--most of these flowers seem to have a disk inflorescence, and achene seeds. This is a really versatile family, from an herbal perspective.

Latin Botanical Name

common name

Medical, herbal or nutritional use

Achillea millefolium

Yarrow

Yarrow: native to America, Europe and Asia. These stalks are traditionally used in Chinese divination (I Ching). Means "1000 leaves" Latin is millfolium. Chop into salads or boil like spinach: older leaves are peppery. Tea is astringent. Mouthwash for sore gums: most herbals recommend external use. It is alleged to heal cuts (mix with cold creme, or bees wax). The Illiad apparently refers to Achilles using this for himself and his men, to heal and staunch bleeding when they were wounded in battle: thus the name. Natives of the Pacific Northwest have a huge laundry list of herbal remedies associated with this plant, listed in Pojar & McKinnon. When grown in garden, said to help other plants, and promotes good composting. Apparently very rich in vitamins. Some herbals I read about this say it's good for "what ails ya" :) Traditional medicinal use was for colds, T.B. and typhoid. Yarrow seems to improve health of other plants growing nearby. Riotte says it's good for goats and sheep, and so does Levy.

Adenocaulon bicolor

Pathfinder, or Trail Plant

Ambrosia chammisonis

Cut leaf Beach bur

Anaphalis margaritacea

Pearly Everlasting

Bellis perennis

English Daisy

Chicorium intybus

Common Chicory

has a LOT of uses, mostly having to do with the liver and the circulation. Please click on this link for info: http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/herbs/fortheliver/chicory.html. This is in Spanish, but if you click on the botanical name and pan down, there is a very nice picture of it, it's a pretty blue flower. This is introduced from Europe: the French blanch the leaves and use in winter salads.

Cirsium arvense

Canada Thistle

Really good info here, http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ciar1.htm this is apparently introduced, and a pest.

Cirsium vulgare

Bull Thistle

Eriphyllum lanatum

Common Woolly Sunflower

The problem is, it looks like every OTHER cute little sunflower!!!

Grindelia stricta

Coastal Gumweed

Hieracium albiflorum

White flowered Hawkweed

No herbal remedies mentioned, but according to Pojar and McKinnon, Ancient Greeks believe hawks used this for an eye poultice! (Go figure).

Hieracium aurantiacum

Orange Hawkweed or Devil's Paintbrush

invasive to Wisconsin.

Hypochaeris radicata

Rough Cat's Ear

often mistaken for dandelions, looks like a tall version of that.

Jaumea carnosa

Salty Susan! :) [carnosa translates as "meat" or "dead body" so take your own guess on how it got the name]

common to salt marshes in California wetlands and deltas

Lactuca serriola

Prickly Lettuce

Lapsana communis

Nipplewort

This is a very amusing herbal: http://www.homeoint.org/clarke/l/lapsana.htm Enjoy :)

Leucanthemum vulgare

Oxeye Daisy

Companion plant with rosemary. Said to be good for baths and foot soaks, and general herb for "what ails ya" young leaves are edible and flowers can be used for Dandelion Wine

Petasites frigidus

Sweet Colt's foot

Apparently our American plant, is related to the European plant, Tussilago farfara Pliny recommended smoking the leaves (through his "version" of a bong!!) for bronchitis (Tusillago means "cough dispeller"), and headache. Tea should be drunk no more than a cup at a time (strain the hairs out) or apply to wounds for antiseptic use. Colt's Foot was so widely used in Medieval times, that for those who could not read, the local apothecary would habitually paint a Colt's foot leaf on his shingle. Gibbons has a really good recipe for the cough drops in his Stalking the Healthful Herbs; he swears it is wonderful for coughs, even more so than medicines. Betel says "shortness of breath" is aided by this herb, I wonder if it works for asthma???

Senecio vulgaris

Common Groundsel

photo makes it look nicer than it is, this is a scruffy weed! The name translates roughly as seneco--old man and vulgare--common or dirty. Dirty Old Man weed. Groundsel: like dandelions, is rich in vitamins and minerals, good for livestock.

Sonchus oleraceus

Sow Thistle

Sow Thistle: according to Riotte, companions well with gourd or "pepo" type plants in the garden.

Tanacetum vulgare

Garden Tansy

try this link for herbal properties http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb71.htm

Tea is poisonous (don't drink it, despite what old herbals might say!). Again, Levy has no fear, and says it makes a good vermifuge (expels worms) she was writing for livestock use; goats and other farm critters eat it readily. (Go to the doctor, and clean up your act if YOU get worms!) The good news is the smell is pleasant to us, and it makes a good plant to encourage in the garden and orchard, as it repels insects. Has a place in Catholic rituals, is associated with the Virgin Mary. Good in the compost pile.

Taraxacum officinale

Common Dandelion, Piss a Beds

Every herbal sings hosannas to the weed, Dandelion. Riotte claims they don't compete with your lawn, as their taproots are so deep, and most lawn grass is shallow rooted. (They just look bad) The leaves are a source of many vitamins and may be used freely in salads, cooked with butter and spices, or as pot herbs: they have Vitamin A. The unopened bloom cooks up well with leeks. The flower is used for Dandelion Wine. Roots are full of starch, also can be eaten (stew them or dry them). The tea is laxitive, and good for kidneys and liver. Root produces yellow-beige dye; root also used for coffee by poor people. Cage birds also love these greens, as do most caged pet rodents. Be sure they have not been sprayed with poison when you harvest them...[some people have limited views on the worth of this herb]. As they have deep roots, they enable earthworms to get down deeper than they might otherwise, via the root channel. According to Riotte, dandelions expell ethylene gas, which inhibits height of nearby plants: also hastens the ripening of flowers and fruits nearby.

Artemisia suksdorfii

Coastal Mugwort

Artemisia vulgaris is used in goose stuffing in Europe, flavoring for ale. It has magical associations. Rose claims that pillows stuffed with mugwort will give vivid dreams (she has a very funny story she tells about dreaming of UFOs, using a mugwort pillow). Mugwort is used in the ceremonies of the Maidu people of Mt. Lassen (they consider dreams during their religious Bear Dance, using mugwort, to be highly prophetic). Alleged to be good for "female troubles" and digestion. Roots and leaves give off toxicins, which are not good for other plants. It is alleged to be the counter agent against poison oak.

Chrysanthemum leucanthemum

Oxeye Daisy

The oxeye daisy is mildly aromatic, like its close cousin, chamomile. The leaves and flowers are edible, though palatability may vary. A tea of the plant is useful for relaxing the bronchials. It is diuretic and astringent, useful for stomach ulcers and bloody piles or urine. Also used as a vaginal douche for cervical ulceration. The daisy is aromatic, used as an antispasmodic for colic and general digestive upset.

Senecio jacobaea

Tansy Ragwort

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Latin Botanical Name	common name	Medical, herbal or nutritional use
Achillea millefolium	Yarrow	Yarrow: native to America, Europe and Asia. These stalks are traditionally used in Chinese divination (I Ching). Means "1000 leaves" Latin is millfolium. Chop into salads or boil like spinach: older leaves are peppery. Tea is astringent. Mouthwash for sore gums: most herbals recommend external use. It is alleged to heal cuts (mix with cold creme, or bees wax). The Illiad apparently refers to Achilles using this for himself and his men, to heal and staunch bleeding when they were wounded in battle: thus the name. Natives of the Pacific Northwest have a huge laundry list of herbal remedies associated with this plant, listed in Pojar & McKinnon. When grown in garden, said to help other plants, and promotes good composting. Apparently very rich in vitamins. Some herbals I read about this say it's good for "what ails ya" :) Traditional medicinal use was for colds, T.B. and typhoid. Yarrow seems to improve health of other plants growing nearby. Riotte says it's good for goats and sheep, and so does Levy.
Adenocaulon bicolor	Pathfinder, or Trail Plant
Ambrosia chammisonis	Cut leaf Beach bur
Anaphalis margaritacea	Pearly Everlasting
Bellis perennis	English Daisy
Chicorium intybus	Common Chicory	has a LOT of uses, mostly having to do with the liver and the circulation. Please click on this link for info: http://hepatitis-central.com/hcv/herbs/fortheliver/chicory.html. This is in Spanish, but if you click on the botanical name and pan down, there is a very nice picture of it, it's a pretty blue flower. This is introduced from Europe: the French blanch the leaves and use in winter salads.
Cirsium arvense	Canada Thistle	Really good info here, http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/ciar1.htm this is apparently introduced, and a pest.
Cirsium vulgare	Bull Thistle
Eriphyllum lanatum	Common Woolly Sunflower	The problem is, it looks like every OTHER cute little sunflower!!!
Grindelia stricta	Coastal Gumweed
Hieracium albiflorum	White flowered Hawkweed	No herbal remedies mentioned, but according to Pojar and McKinnon, Ancient Greeks believe hawks used this for an eye poultice! (Go figure).
Hieracium aurantiacum	Orange Hawkweed or Devil's Paintbrush	invasive to Wisconsin.
Hypochaeris radicata	Rough Cat's Ear	often mistaken for dandelions, looks like a tall version of that.
Jaumea carnosa	Salty Susan! :) [carnosa translates as "meat" or "dead body" so take your own guess on how it got the name]	common to salt marshes in California wetlands and deltas
Lactuca serriola	Prickly Lettuce
Lapsana communis	Nipplewort	This is a very amusing herbal: http://www.homeoint.org/clarke/l/lapsana.htm Enjoy :)
Leucanthemum vulgare	Oxeye Daisy	Companion plant with rosemary. Said to be good for baths and foot soaks, and general herb for "what ails ya" young leaves are edible and flowers can be used for Dandelion Wine
Petasites frigidus	Sweet Colt's foot	Apparently our American plant, is related to the European plant, Tussilago farfara Pliny recommended smoking the leaves (through his "version" of a bong!!) for bronchitis (Tusillago means "cough dispeller"), and headache. Tea should be drunk no more than a cup at a time (strain the hairs out) or apply to wounds for antiseptic use. Colt's Foot was so widely used in Medieval times, that for those who could not read, the local apothecary would habitually paint a Colt's foot leaf on his shingle. Gibbons has a really good recipe for the cough drops in his Stalking the Healthful Herbs; he swears it is wonderful for coughs, even more so than medicines. Betel says "shortness of breath" is aided by this herb, I wonder if it works for asthma???
Senecio vulgaris	Common Groundsel	photo makes it look nicer than it is, this is a scruffy weed! The name translates roughly as seneco--old man and vulgare--common or dirty. Dirty Old Man weed. Groundsel: like dandelions, is rich in vitamins and minerals, good for livestock.
Sonchus oleraceus	Sow Thistle	Sow Thistle: according to Riotte, companions well with gourd or "pepo" type plants in the garden.
Tanacetum vulgare	Garden Tansy	try this link for herbal properties http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb71.htm Tea is poisonous (don't drink it, despite what old herbals might say!). Again, Levy has no fear, and says it makes a good vermifuge (expels worms) she was writing for livestock use; goats and other farm critters eat it readily. (Go to the doctor, and clean up your act if YOU get worms!) The good news is the smell is pleasant to us, and it makes a good plant to encourage in the garden and orchard, as it repels insects. Has a place in Catholic rituals, is associated with the Virgin Mary. Good in the compost pile.
Taraxacum officinale	Common Dandelion, Piss a Beds	Every herbal sings hosannas to the weed, Dandelion. Riotte claims they don't compete with your lawn, as their taproots are so deep, and most lawn grass is shallow rooted. (They just look bad) The leaves are a source of many vitamins and may be used freely in salads, cooked with butter and spices, or as pot herbs: they have Vitamin A. The unopened bloom cooks up well with leeks. The flower is used for Dandelion Wine. Roots are full of starch, also can be eaten (stew them or dry them). The tea is laxitive, and good for kidneys and liver. Root produces yellow-beige dye; root also used for coffee by poor people. Cage birds also love these greens, as do most caged pet rodents. Be sure they have not been sprayed with poison when you harvest them...[some people have limited views on the worth of this herb]. As they have deep roots, they enable earthworms to get down deeper than they might otherwise, via the root channel. According to Riotte, dandelions expell ethylene gas, which inhibits height of nearby plants: also hastens the ripening of flowers and fruits nearby.
Artemisia suksdorfii	Coastal Mugwort	Artemisia vulgaris is used in goose stuffing in Europe, flavoring for ale. It has magical associations. Rose claims that pillows stuffed with mugwort will give vivid dreams (she has a very funny story she tells about dreaming of UFOs, using a mugwort pillow). Mugwort is used in the ceremonies of the Maidu people of Mt. Lassen (they consider dreams during their religious Bear Dance, using mugwort, to be highly prophetic). Alleged to be good for "female troubles" and digestion. Roots and leaves give off toxicins, which are not good for other plants. It is alleged to be the counter agent against poison oak.
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum	Oxeye Daisy	The oxeye daisy is mildly aromatic, like its close cousin, chamomile. The leaves and flowers are edible, though palatability may vary. A tea of the plant is useful for relaxing the bronchials. It is diuretic and astringent, useful for stomach ulcers and bloody piles or urine. Also used as a vaginal douche for cervical ulceration. The daisy is aromatic, used as an antispasmodic for colic and general digestive upset.
Senecio jacobaea	Tansy Ragwort