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This
is the beginning of our 24th
year of looking at wildflowers
in Cook County, MN. We are three
senior women who just love to
get out and explore and learn
new things. We are even getting
together all winter but don't
find too many flowers at that
time, but no matter.
Meadowsweet
- Photo by Lorraine
Adele Anderson
July 19th & 20th, 2005 -
Report
by
Lois & L spent two days
hiking trails at Cascade
State Park. Tuesday we went
on the trail that starts at the
Group Campsites. It was an easy
trail and after going up we
crossed the highway and went
down towards the lake, along the
lake, then back up. A the
intersection of the hiking trail
and #61 on the 
NE
corner was a big patch of Blue
Vervain. I believe this is
our first sighting of it. It was
mostly gone to seed but there
were still some flowers. On that
hiking trail we saw lots of
Shinleaf, Heal-all
& Spurred Gentian. We
also saw one Purple
Fringed Orchis and one Northern
Green Orchid.
There were many flowers along
the highway: Bird's-foot
Trefoil, Black-eyed
Susan, Daisy, both Ox-eye
& Scentless
Chamomile, St.
Johnswort, Fireweed, many
kinds of clovers including
Rabbit's-foot, How & Purple
Vetch. Also along the highway
the short red grassy things are Sheep
Sorrel, the brown, Dock
& lavender, Canada
thistle.
On Wednesday we took the trail
just before the group campsite.
That trail was more difficult
and no new flowers. We did need
to stop occasionally for Raspberries,
Strawberries and Dewberries.
_______________________
About
Blue Vervain (Verbena
hastata) - also known as
American Vervain, False Vervain,
Indian Hyssop, Purvain,
Simpler's Joy, Traveler's Joy,
Vervain, and Wild Hyssop-
this perennial herb is native to
the northern U.S., England, and
Canada. It can be found
along roadsides and in open
sunny fields. The plant
reaches a height of 2-5 feet and
has serrated leaves, 3- 6 inches
long. The Blue Vervain's
blooms June - September, and is
in the form of small, deep blue
or purplish-blue flowers
clustered in dense spikes, 2 to
3 inches long. The fruit
consists of four nutlets which
ripen soon after the plant
flowers.
The seed, or fruit can be
roasted and dried, then
pulverized into a pinole flour.
The leaves and roots can be
boiled in a tea or
infusion. Blue Vervain is
a natural tranquilizer and is
used as an antiperiodic for
nervous problems. As a tea
it is used to treat fevers and
colds, especially as a natural
expectorant for getting rid of
congestion in throat and chest.
It can also be used for
insomnia, eliminating intestinal
worms, treating kidney stones,
and as an anti-diarrheal.
Taken cold, the infusion acts as
a tonic. Externally, Blue
Vervain tea heals sores and
wounds.
Medicinal tea: To 1 tbsp. dry
herb add 1 pint boiling water,
steep 10 min. take 1 tbsp. up to
six times a day and take ½
teacup (2 oz.) warm before
bedtime.
This is provided on an
informational basis. It is
not recommended for individuals
to attempt to identify and use
herbs found in the woods.
For any persistent ailment,
consult your physician.
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Be sure to stop back
throughout the Spring and
Summer to see our weekly
wildflower reports from
Lorraine Anderson of Grand
Marais, Minnesota.
