Salicaceae--Willow Family-- Salix: used to keep stream banks from eroding. Literally a twig or branch can fall to the ground, and the nodes will sprout roots and leaves if the soil is moist. Willow bark is the source of aspirin (and I think it was first used by the Aztecs and various Native American tribes). Inflourescence is in form of catkins.

Latin name	common name	herbal or edible use
Populus balsamifera	Black Cottonwood	This is apparently one source of Balm of Gilead. Buds only are indicated for this, brewing for tea won't work for this herbal, the buds must be boiled in oil for ointments and salves. Buds can be steeped in Jamaican Rum rub on cuts (Rose). Indicated for use in lung ailments, and as a stimulent. (Bethel). Further research would be needed before recommending internal use; Rose says 1 tsp of the bud-and-rum concoction is good for relaxing. Gilead is a place referred to in the Songs of Solomon, and apparently Balm of Gilead is a soothing ointment and used for aromatherapy. Tacomahaca is the name this is marketed under in Europe. The bark of the P. balsimafera is used for constipation and "what ails ya".
Populus tremuloides	Quaking Aspen
Salix lucida	Shining Willow
Salix scouleriana	Scouler's Willow	Taller than Sitka willow
Salix sitchensis	Sitka Willow	These last two are very very hard to tell apart. Sitka willow is lower to the ground.

Saxifragaceae--Saxifrage Family. The flowers for this family tend to be very small, and have little modified petals that look like TV antenna under a magnifying glass! They seem to thrive in rocky spots; in warmer climes, are used in rock landscaping. Very cute little flowers!

Latin name	common name	herbal use?
Mitella caulescens	Leafy stemmed Bishop's Cap
Tellima grandiflora	Fringe Cups
Tiarella trifoliata	Coolwort
Tolmiea menziesii	Youth-on-age, or Piggy Back Plant	This is sold as a wonderful houseplant in California, or it WAS, very neat plant! The flowers are little, brown and very cute, like little faces.

Scrophulariaceae--Figworts. I think snapdragons belong to this family.

Latin name	common name	herbal use
Digitalis purpurea	Foxglove, or Deadman's thimbles	Source of digitalis (in the leaves), which is a powerful heart stimulant.Used to strengthen heart muscles. Consult physician before using, I believe digitalis is cumulative, and can poison if taken in large doses. External use in poltices is indicated.
Mimulus guttatus	Common Monkey-Flower
Parentucellia viscosa	Eyebright
Verbascum thapsus	Common Mullein
Veronica americana	Common Speedwell
Veronica filliformis	Creeping Speedwell	rather pretty plant, little blue flowers, crawls along the ground in a spidery manner.
Veronica serpyllifolia	Thyme-leaf Speedwell

Solanaceae--Nightshade Family --tomatos and potatos are in this family. Thhe leaves and stems of most of them are poisonous.

Latin name	common name	herbal use?
Solanum dulcamara	Bittersweet Nightshade	Poisonous, but has pretty flowers.

Urticaceae--Nettle Family

Latin name	common name	herbal use?
Urtica dioica [photo is done sideways]	Stinging Nettle Indian Spinach	Famous for their use of formic acid in giving you one heck of a good sting when you brush up against them; use gloves when harvesting. Rubbing dock leaves on the affected area is supposed to neutralize it, and often dock and nettles are growing near one another (according to Gibbons anyway.....he's a true optimist!): also rubbing any member of the rhubarb family, jewelweed or sorrel will help ease the sting. Nettles grow in good soil; many books I consulted say that they make excellent pot herbs, rich in many vitamins (iron, potassium). (eat like spinach, with butter or vinegar). Use gloves when you harvest them! Farm animals eat them after they have dried out, with apparent relish! (they lose their stinging feature after they wilt a bit, apparently). Cows give better milk if they eat nettles: hens lay better if the dried herb is included in their feed. Some Native Americans have a trick of rolling them just right and eating them raw.....I don't plan to try it. I touched one in the interest of science, and got a tiny burn on my finger from the underside, it felt like a jellyfish sting, and went away after 24 hours or so, untreated. Apparently this nettle is also in England, and the infamous Pepys himself loved them cooked (in a "pudding" or beef casserole); Gibbons put the recipe in his book if you are interested. And of course, it's in Pepys' Diary. Bethel claims eaten, they will expel bladder stones. Water from cooked leaves makes good hair tonic. Makes nearby plants more insect and slug resistant! Good for composting. Stalks are heavily fibrous, used for fishing line, sewing, baskets.

Violaceae--Violet Family--There is a LOT of information on the herbal uses of this wonderful plant and flower. We have two on our list, Viola glabella (yellow), the Yellow Wood Violet or Pioneer Violet; and Viola sempervirens (also yellow). The Evergreen Violet. Some are native to this area, others have escaped cultivation. In Europe, they have been hybridized for so long, that the species outstrip even the most dedicated person's desire to ennumerate them! Basically the bloom of the Violet is edible, high in Vitamin C, and in years past, the small, delicate blooms were candied and put on cakes! The African Violet is a totally different species and genus, and is NOT edible, so don't get them mixed up. Violet lore is vast and extensive; the flower has been known to Europeans for many many centuries. Seeds propigate in an explosive manner (like the Scotch Broom) making them difficult to keep out of your yard once they get going. They are mentioned in Shakespeare "Heart's Ease" (Midsummer Night's Dream) and possibly were the favorite flower of ER I.