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Also called Moccasinflower.

This flower blooms May through Early July in dry forests and pine woods from Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, south to Georgia, west to Alabama and Tennessee, and north to Minnesota. (1)

The Pink Ladyslipper is the most common of it's genus. Two large leaves form directly from the root without a stem. From this grows a long slender stem which is terminated by a flower. The flower is pouch like and crimson pink with deeper pink veins. Brown and green leaflets grow from the top like tri-petals. (2)

Ladyslipper was used for medicinal purposes. A decoction of the boiled root was used to treat nervousness, the Chippewa also used the root to make a medicine for toothache. (3)

(1) Niering, William A: "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Flowers" : 1979 Alfred A Knopf, New York, NY
(2) Mathews, F. Schuyler : "Fieldbook of American Wildflowers" : 1902 Putnam's and Sons New York, NY
(3) Retrieved from : www.nativetech.org/plantgath/ladyslip.htm

Also known as Bee Balm and Oswego Tea.

Wild Bergamot is a member of the mint family and grows to 2' to 3' in height. The plant has a smooth or downy, slender stem and the leaves are ovate and toothed, typically about 1.5" to 3" in length. (1)

Flowers range in coloring from lavender (fistulosa) to scarlet in color (didyama) and it's common habitat is dry fields, thickets and borders. Bergamot ranges from western New England, south to Maryland, west to Texas and beyond. (2)

The flower and leaves were used by the Tewa Indians for flavoring meat. (3) The iroquois used the plant in a beverage. The Ojibwa used the plant to relieve headache by placing a wad of chewed leaved in a nostril. Various woodlands tribes used bergamot as a cold, cough or cattarh remedy. These tribes included the Ojibwa, Menonimee, Meskawi, and Winnebago. (4)

The leaves can be used to make a good tea, or to enhance the flavor of lemonade.

(1) Mathews, F. Schuyler : "Fieldbook of American Wildflowers" : 1902 Putnam's and Sons New York, NY
(2) Niering, William A: "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Flowers" : 1979 Alfred A Knopf, New York, NY
(3) USDA.gov
(4) Foster, Steven: "Herbal Renaissance" : 1993 Gibbs-Smith Salt Lake City, UT

Also known as "Indian Turnip" this perennial prefers shaded, wet woodlands. Species has two stemmed, tri-parted leaves that have no gloss. The flower is singular, hooded and grows between the two stems. In late summer the flower dies back to reveal the berries with are green at first but turn red by early autumn. (1)

Jack in the Pulpit blooms from April through June and is a member of the arum family. the root is edible but due to a natural compound is peppery to the taste and burns the mouth. If cooked this compound if broken down and the peppery taste goes away. (2)

Aside from the plant's value as a food source, the Chippewa made a medicine of the plant to relieve sore eyes and the berries were commonly used to make red dye (3).

(1) Mathews, F. Schuyler : "Fieldbook of American Wildflowers" : 1902 Putnam's and Sons New York, NY
(2) Niering, William A: "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Flowers" ; 1979 Alfred A Knopf, New York, NY
(3) Retrived from: www.nativetech.org/plantgath/jackpulp.htm

A perennial herb native to Eastern North America. Flowers from May to August in it's range which goes from Manitoba to Quebec, South to Florida, and as far west as Oklahoma.

Leaves are large and deep green, pointed and branch out into a palm shaped cluster of five. (1) the leaves are similar to those of the Horse chestnut tree. Flowers are a yellowish green and smell similar to lily of the valley. They are crowded onto a cluster, fruit is a deep ruby color.

The root is prized and collected in the fall before the plant dies back. The age of a single ginseng root can be determined by counting the number of dieback scars t it's base. (2)

Plant was used by the Cherokee for colic, convulsions, dysentery, and headache. They described the plant as "the little man". Other tribes used the plant as an aid to digestion as well as a remedy for cramps and other menstrual problems.

This plant has been over harvested due to it's demand in the last century and is now considered threatened within it's range. Best practice would be to not harvest American Ginseng.

(1) Mathews, F. Schuyler : "Fieldbook of American Wildflowers" : 1902 Putnam's and Sons New York, NY
(2) Niering, William A: "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Flowers" : 1979 Alfred A Knopf, New York, NY
(3) Retried from : http//www.telliquah.com/ginseng/ginseng.htm

Flowers April to June in rich foods with damp and shady clearings from Southern Ontario and Western Quebec, south to Florida and west to Minnesota. (1)

The plant has distinctive broad leaves and a single white flower typically bearing six petals with twice as many stamens. Fruit is large and yellow and edible though the rest of the plant is extremely poisonous. (2)

The root had been used as a strong purgative, liver cleanser, emetic and worm repellant. The Penobscotts of Maine treated cancers and warts with the root, while the Cherokees considered drops of the fresh root to be helpful for deafness. (3)

Ingestion, particularly of the root has been known to be fatally toxic. Hand with caution. (4)

(1) Niering, William A: "National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Flowers" 1979 Alfred A Knopf, New York, NY
(2) Mathews, F. Schuyler : "Fieldbook of American Wildflowers" : 1902 Putnam's and Sons New York, NY
(3) Foster, Steven: "Herbal Renaissance" : 1993 Gibbs-Smith Salt Lake City, UT
(4) ibid