The Hidden Treasures of Carolinian Canada

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1 The Hidden Treasures of Carolinian Canada Outline Nina Barabas, PhD November 9, 2011 Credit Valley Horticultural Society Overview of Carolinian Canada Species at risk: why? & what can we do? Carolinian woodland species What is a Carolinian Ecosystem? 1

2,200 herbaceous species, including 64 ferns, 110 grasses, 130 sedges At least 100 endemic 70 species of trees Over 125

Ontario; Threatened species priority 1 (highest) for protection!

antimicrobial for eye infections, skin diseases, ulcers, cancer 1800s-inflamation of mucous tissues; for digestive

diarrhoea, food poisoning, giardia, cholera.

drugs Goldenseal Perennial, 20-50 cm, blooms April-May It takes 2-3 year to mature Difficult to start from seeds

or in fall Mulch in summer to conserve moisture Companions: American ginseng, Bloodroot, Wild ginger (Asarum canadense),

Aralia/Araliaceae Shady, open deciduous woods, 75-80% shade Contributes $100 million to the Canadian economy Threatened

long life, the fountain of youth 5,000 years of use in Asian medicine Used by indigenous NA peoples as a tonic to

2 2,200 herbaceous species, including 64 ferns, 110 grasses, 130 sedges At least 100 endemic 70 species of trees Over 125 species declared at risk Over 400 other species considered rare 2/3 of Ontario plants species grow here Carolinian zone a unique ecosystem Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis Buttercup/Ranunculacea Shady, open deciduous woods, 75-80% shade; in Canada ONLY in S Ontario; Threatened species priority 1 (highest) for protection! Goldenseal Alkaloids (hydrastine, berberine) from the rhizome, collected in the fall Used by indigenous NA peoples as antimicrobial for eye infections, skin diseases, ulcers, cancer 1800s-inflamation of mucous tissues; for digestive disorders, general tonic Today- some anti-tumour & antibiotic properties (bacteria, protozoan, fungi) Traveler s diarrhoea, food poisoning, giardia, cholera. Component of hundreds of commercial formulations; in demand for chronic diseases, AIDS Present in ~40 over the counter drugs Goldenseal Perennial, cm, blooms April-May It takes 2-3 year to mature Difficult to start from seeds Propagation by rootlets is more reliable than propagation by seed Divide rhizomes when plant is dormant, in early spring or in fall Mulch in summer to conserve moisture Companions: American ginseng, Bloodroot, Wild ginger (Asarum canadense), Canada violet (Viola canadense), Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) American/Canadian Ginseng Panax quinquefolius Aralia/Araliaceae Shady, open deciduous woods, 75-80% shade Contributes $100 million to the Canadian economy Threatened in Canada (1988 COSEWIC) Ginseng World s most used medicine; elixir of life, source of happiness, symbol of strength and long life, the fountain of youth 5,000 years of use in Asian medicine Used by indigenous NA peoples as a tonic to increase mental powers, for female infertility, cough, rheumatism Today- Aphrodisiac, healing, increase energy, retards the aging process, for neurological disorders, speeds recovery Male tonic, fatigue, poor sex drive, poor sexual performance, lack of endurance; for over 40 years only due to estrogenic effect Stimulating, tonic effect; used as preventative medicine. Adaptogen 2

American Ginseng Long lived perennial, 20-70 cm, blooms in midsummer

the ground freezes, to 1-3 cm depth Cold stratification needed Some

It takes 3-6 year to mature Mulch in summer to conserve moisture

$125 to $500 per dried pound for wild roots Companions: Goldenseal,

Gillenia trifoliata (Porteranthus trifoliatus) Rose/Rosaceae Open

late summer Bowman s Root Dried and pulverized root is expectorant,

and emetic Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis Poppy/Papaveraceae Moist

15 Bloodroot Antimicrobial properties; alkaloids like sanguinarine,

in Canada: cough syrups, expectorants, tinctures, anti-plaque oral

3 American Ginseng Long lived perennial, cm, blooms in midsummer Reproduction entirely by seeds Sow seeds anytime from September until the ground freezes, to 1-3 cm depth Cold stratification needed Some seeds will remain dormant for 1-3 years! It takes 3-6 year to mature Mulch in summer to conserve moisture American ginseng contributes $100 million to the Canadian economy $125 to $500 per dried pound for wild roots Companions: Goldenseal, Bloodroot, Wild ginger, Canada violet, Wild columbine Bowman s Root Gillenia trifoliata (Porteranthus trifoliatus) Rose/Rosaceae Open sandy woods and edges, partial to full shade, cm, blooms mid- late summer Bowman s Root Dried and pulverized root is expectorant, emetic and blood purifier Used for digestive disorders, as laxative and emetic Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis Poppy/Papaveraceae Moist woody areas, March-May, p.15 Bloodroot Antimicrobial properties; alkaloids like sanguinarine, which inhibits root rot fungi Used in more than a dozen preparations in Canada: cough syrups, expectorants, tinctures, anti-plaque oral rinses Black Cohosh (Black Snakeroot, Fairy Candle) Actea racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa Buttercup/Ranunculaceae Woodland habitat, late spring-early summer, m 3

Black Cohosh Rhizome boiled in water used by First

settles extracted it in whiskey for rheumatism

products Remifemin formulation used in Europe and

Tongue Erythronium americanum Lily/Liliaceae

4 Black Cohosh Rhizome boiled in water used by First Nations for female complaints, rheumatism Early settles extracted it in whiskey for rheumatism Europeans used it for cough, high blood pressure White Trillium Trillium grandiflorum Bunchflower/Melanthiaceae Currently for depression, tinnitus, PMS, menopause, sedative and anti-inflammatory effects Used in 29 Canadian products Remifemin formulation used in Europe and Australia Rich shady woods, April-June, p.1 Red Trillium Trillium erectum Bunchflower/Melanthiaceae Yellow Trout-lily/Adder s Tongue Erythronium americanum Lily/Liliaceae Deciduous forests, April-May, p.72 White Trout-lily Erythronium albidum Lily/Liliaceae Virginia Spring Beauty Claytonia virginica Purslane/Portulacaceae Deciduous forests, April-May, p.2 Mixed forests, moist meadows & valleys; March-May, p.52 4

5 Jack-in-the-Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum Arum/Araceae Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virginica Borage/Boraginaceae Moist areas in the woods, April-June, p.113 Rich woods and meadows, blooms in spring Rue Anemone Anemonella thalictroides Buttercup/Ranunculaceae Bird s foot Violet Viola pedata Violet/Violaceae Open woods, blooms in spring Dry open woods; Lilac-purple flowers bloom in early spring Round-lobed Hepatica Hepatica americana Buttercup/Ranunculaceae Large-flowered Bellwort Uvularia grandiflora Butcher s-broom/ruscaceae Woods; Blue, pink or white flowers bloom in early spring Rich woods and tickets, April-June 5

Resources: Books 150 wildflowers from 50 families; more than half are native.

wildflower charts Plant Families accompanied by a short description Index to Common

Native Plants for Canadian Gardens, 1999 Resources: Books Resources: Books 1931

com 1931 2000 National Research Council of Canada, 1999 By Joerg Gruenwald, Medical

org Royal Ontario Museum, www.rom.on.ca Royal Botanical Gardens, www.rbg.

ca Natural Heritage Information Centre, http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca University of Toronto Library, www.

ca The Database of Canadian Vascular Plants, http://data.canadensys.

gov Species at Risk Public Registry, Gov. of Canada, http://www.sararegistry.gc.

6 Resources: Books 150 wildflowers from 50 families; more than half are native. Resources: Books Index to Native Wildflowers A Day in the Spring, Summer and Fall wildflower charts Plant Families accompanied by a short description Index to Common English & French, and Latin scientific names The Riverwood Conservancy, 2008, Edited by Lorrain Johnson, The Carolinian Canada Coalition, Easy to Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens, 1999 Resources: Books Resources: Books National Research Council of Canada, 1999 By Joerg Gruenwald, Medical Economics, 2000 Resources: Websites Carolinian Coalition of Canada, Royal Ontario Museum, Royal Botanical Gardens, Toronto Botanical Garden, Natural Heritage Information Centre, University of Toronto Library, Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, The Database of Canadian Vascular Plants, USDA Plant Database, Species at Risk Public Registry, Gov. of Canada, Resources: Native Plants Nurseries Richters Herbs in Goodwood Wildflower Farm in Coldwater Sweet Grass Gardens, Six Nations of the Grand River Lost Horizons in Acton Verbinnen's Nursery Ltd Grow Wild Van Den Nest Nursery Native Plant Source Connon Nurseries Aquaphyte Remediation Inc. Acorus Restorations North American Native Plant Society 6

7 Thank You! treas ure/ˈtrezhәr/ Noun: A quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects Verb: Keep carefully (a valuable or valued item) Synonyms: noun. jewel -hoard -gem wealth verb. value -prize -cherish Merriam-Webster Dictionary Happy gardening! 7

Spring Native Wildflower Challenge

Spring Native Wildflower Challenge Medina County Park District March 1 through June 1 2018 We offer this challenge as a means to get you outside and enjoy the unfolding of nature in Medina County parks