Category: Native Plants

Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Estrella del Mar (Ulam Raja) : Cosmos caudatus

Cosmos caudatus Synonyms Common Names Sometimes called “Spanish needles” although this name is typically used for the (closely related) herb Bidens pilosa. Some Common Names in Asian countries Indonesia: kenikir (Java), randa midang (West Java). Philippines: cosmos (Tagalog), turay-turay (Bisaya), onwad (Ifugao). Thailand: daoruang-phama (Bangkok), khamhae (northern). Malaysia: ulam raja, hulam raja, pelampong. In Malay culture, the word “ulam” refers to certain plants found locally … Continue reading Estrella del Mar (Ulam Raja) : Cosmos caudatus

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Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Cempasuchil Confusion During Dia de Muertos.

It’s that time of year again. No! Not pumpkin spice season. Dia de Muertos season cabrones (pardon my Galician). This means it is cempoalxóchitl (1) season (2). I have Posted on this herb/flower previously (3). This previous Post discussed the edible and medicinal uses of cempasuchil (and supplies a few recipes too) My social media feeds of late have been filled with a lot of … Continue reading Cempasuchil Confusion During Dia de Muertos.

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants, The Kitchen

Quelite : Piojito : Galinsoga parviflora

Researching this herb has been a joy. It has identified a plant I have seen (as a weed) and am now able to identify as a useful quelite. Research has also uncovered several related plants that also fall into the same categories as weed/quelite. This has expanded my knowledge both as a medical herbalist and as a chef. These are the plants I find the … Continue reading Quelite : Piojito : Galinsoga parviflora

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Herbs, Native Plants

Identify Me : Am I a Poreleaf?

Cover image by Cempasúchil Tattoo in Morelia via Facebook An inquisitive botanist, Carmen Thierry, has posted on the Facebook page “Identificación de plantas mexicanas” an image of a plant she seeks the identification of. This is quite an attractive flower and, at first glance, my initial impression was that this was a variety of narrow leaved poreleaf (Porophyllum species) in the vein of chepiche/pipicha/pipitza although … Continue reading Identify Me : Am I a Poreleaf?

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History, Native Plants

México’s contributions to the World : The Botanical Treasures of Mexico

This last Saturday (27/06/22) I was blessed with the opportunity of being able to present a talk on México at the Western Australian Museum. I was invited by the Friends of Mexico Society (FOMEX) to present one of a series of four talks on México. Cesar (the President of FOMEX in W.A.) presented the first talk on 10 Interesting Facts About Mexico and Ernesto (the … Continue reading México’s contributions to the World : The Botanical Treasures of Mexico

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants

Porophyllum filiforme

Porophyllum filiforme Rydb. (S .F Blake) : Syn. Syn. Porophyllum filifolium Gray, Proc.fl Amer. Acad. 19:35. 1883, not P. filifolium DC, 1836. Also called : Yerba del venado, Benna dia, Jarilla esbelta marron (slender brown jarilla), slender poreleaf P.filiforme is one of the less common poreleafs. It is native to areas around Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi. As of 2016 Rebman (etal) states … Continue reading Porophyllum filiforme

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants

The Pore Leaf in Peru

Porophyllum ruderale Synonyms (1): Homotypic synonyms (2): Cacalia ruderalis (Jacq.) Sw.; Kleinia ruderalis Jacq.; Porophyllum ruderale subsp. ruderale (Jacq.) Cass.; Heterotypic synonyms (3): Cacalia glandulosa Salisb.; Kleinia glandulosa Moc. & Sessé; Kleinia glandulosa Sessé & Moc.; Kleinia porophyllum (L.) Willd.; Porophyllum ellipticum (L.) Cass.; Porophyllum latifolium Benth.; Porophyllum macrocephalum DC.; Porophyllum macrolepidium Malme; Porophyllum porophyllum (L.) Kuntze; a word or phrase that means exactly or … Continue reading The Pore Leaf in Peru

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Native Plants, The Kitchen

The Queen of Tomatillos : Reina de Malinalco

We all know (at least I hope we all know) that the home of the tomato is Mesoamerica. This where the greatest genetic diversity of this plant can be found. If we include the cultivars as well as the heirloom and landrace varieties there are over 10,000 (that’s right TEN THOUSAND) types of tomato out there (Moore 2021). In Nahuatl this fruit was known as … Continue reading The Queen of Tomatillos : Reina de Malinalco

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Curanderismo, Herbs, Native Plants

The Pore Leaf in Brazil

Porophyllum ruderale can be found as an urban weed in Brazil with it growing in both urban areas and in high altitude fields. Confirmed sightings of the species have been made at…… North (Acre, Amazonas, Amapá, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins) Northeast (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Maranhão, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Sergipe) Central-west (Distrito Federal, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso) Southeast (Espírito Santo, … Continue reading The Pore Leaf in Brazil

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Herbs, History, Native Plants, Uncategorized

Xochipilli : Intoxicating Scent.

Cover image : cacaloxochitl (Nahuatl raven – flower)(Plumeria rubra) or the Frangipani tree. This tree was highly prized in Aztec society. It was planted in the gardens of the elite classes of society and, amongst the Maya, plumeria was associated with deities representing life force and fertility. The flowers became strongly connected with a wide range of expressions of female sexuality (Zumbroich 2013). Intoxication need … Continue reading Xochipilli : Intoxicating Scent.

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