Common Name: English Plantain Scientific Name: Plantago lanceolata General: 10-23 inches. Common in waste places and yards. Flowers: Tiny whitish flowers on a short cylindrical head. Flower parts indistinguishable. Leaves: Basal leaves are long and narrow. Leaves have 3 ribs. Medicinal Uses: Leaves are applied to blisters, sores and stings. Tea is used to treat coughs and diarrhea.
Common Name: Common Plantain Scientific Name: Plantago major General: 6-18 inches. Common in waste places and yards. Flowers: Tiny white-green flowers on a slender head. Flower parts indistinguishable. Leaves: Basal leaves are broad and oval. Medicinal Uses: Leaves are applied to blisters, sores and insect bites. Tea is used to treat coughs and diarrhea.
Common Name: Dandelion Scientific Name: Taraxacum officinale General: 2-18 inches. Common in lawns and roadsides Flowers: A head of many yellow flowers. Leaves: Basal leaves that have large teeth. This is the origin of the name - teeth of lion. Medicinal Uses: Roots and young leaves used to stimulate liver and kidney function. Weak antibiotic against yeast.
Common Name: Purple Dead Nettle Scientific Name: Lamium purpureum General: 5-20 cm. Common in lawns and roadsides Flowers: purple, irregular flowers in whorls of 3-6 on upper leaves Leaves: Opposite, toothed leaves on square stem. Medicinal Uses: Fresh leaves used as an astringent, styptic and tonic. Tea used as a laxative and tonic.
Common Name: Common Chickweed Scientific Name: Stellaria media General: prostate plant Flowers: white with 5 divided petals that give the appearance of 10 petals Leaves: Opposite, entire, lower leaves petiolate, upper sessile Medicinal Uses: Used externally to treat rheumatic pains, wounds and ulcers as well as for the relief of itching.
Common Name: Curly Dock Scientific Name: Rumex crispus General: 1-5 feet. Common in fields and roadsides. Flowers: Flowers are small and green in branching whorls. Seed has a heartshaped wing. Leaves: Large, lance-shaped, alternate leaves with wavy margins. Medicinal Uses: Fried roots are used for chronic skin diseases, rheumatism, liver ailments and sore throats. Contains anthraquinones which kill fungi.
Common Name: Wild Garlic/Onion Scientific Name: Allim sativum General: Plant is 1-3 feet. Flowers: Small whitish flowers in a small cluster on a leafless stalk. Leaves: Basal leaves long and very narrow with a strong onion smell. Medicinal Uses: Juice from leaves and bulb are anti-fungal, antibacterial and anti-worm.
Common Name: Red Clover Scientific Name: Trifolium pratense General: Large clover, common in fields and roadsides. Flowers: Rounded heads of red, pealike flowers. Leaves: Three leaflets per leave, each with a prominent V mark. Medicinal Uses: Used as wash for sores, burns and ulcers. Used as a tea for coughs, bronchitis and asthma.
Common Name: Yarrow Scientific Name: Achillea millefolium General: 1-3 feet high Flowers: Small, white, 5-petaled flowers arranged in a flat cluster. Leaves: Leaves are alternate and very finely divided giving them a lacy appearance. Medicinal Uses: Teas from the whole plant are used to treat cold and flue symptoms and indigestion. Fresh herb is used to stop bleeding and sooth cuts and bruises.
Common Name: Chicory Scientific Name: Cichorium intybus General: 2-4 feet. Common on roadsides. Flowers: Blue flowers with square tipped rays. This is a cluster of many flowers that appear as one. Leaves: Lower leaves similar to dandelion. Upper leaves are small and alternate. Medicinal Uses: Root extracts are antibacterial. Roots used as a laxative and to treat fever and liver ailments. Flowers used on cuts and bruises.
Common Name: Purple Cone Flower Scientific Name: Echinacea purpurea General: 1-2 feet tall, grows in dry woods, fields, cultivated beds. Flowers: Purple petals and cone-shaped head of golden flowers in center. Leaves: Leaves are elliptical, toothed and opposite. Medicinal Uses: Used to treat infected wounds, psoriasis, and eczema. It is used internally to activate the immune system when fighting colds and flu, or almost any type of infection. The root is the most potent part.
Common Name: Ginkgo Scientific Name: Ginkgo biloba General: Small tree. Flowers: None. This plant is related to pines which do not have flowers. Leaves: Fan-shaped leaves with very fine branching veins. Medicinal Uses: Antibacterial
Common Name: Peppermint Scientific Name: Mentha piperita General: 2-3 feet tall, grow in moist, temperate areas Flowers: Tiny purple flowers in spikes. Leaves: Leaves are opposite and aromatic. Medicinal Uses: Used internally to treat indigestion, bloating and irritable bowel syndrome. Externally, it is used to treat itching and skin irritations from bites or poison ivy.
Common Name: Yellow Sweet Clover Scientific Name: Melinotia officiinalis General: 2-6 feet long, straggly plant, often found along roadsides. Flowers: Long spikes of yellow, pea-like flowers. Leaves: Three leaflets per leave, cloverlike. Medicinal Uses: Used as a poultice on wounds, also used as a tea for headaches, menstrual pain, and aching muscles.
Common Name: Jewelweed Scientific Name: Impatiens capensis General: 3-5 feet. Found in wet, shady soil. Flowers: Orange irregular flowers with red spots. Leaves: Leaves are oval and toothed. Lower leaves are opposite and upper are alternate. Medicinal Uses: Crushed leaves are used on poison-ivy rash. Poultice can be used for bruises, burns, cuts, insect bites, warts and ringworm.
Common Name: Smooth Sumac Scientific Name: Rhus glabra General: Shrub or small tree with smooth bark. Flowers: Dense upright cone of many small, whitish, 5-petaled flowers that form red, fuzzy berries. Leaves: Large compound leaves with 11-31 leaflets. Leaflets are opposite but leaves are alternate. Medicinal Uses: The bark and leaves are antibacterial and stop bleeding. Tea from leaves can be used to treat sore throats.
Common Name: St. Johnswort Scientific Name: Hypericum perforaturm General: 1-3 feet. Common in fields and waste places. Flowers: Bright yellow flowers with 5 separate petals that are dotted on the margins and bushy in center. Leaves: Opposite leaves that are narrow and oblong, 1 1/2 inches or less. Medicinal Uses: Fresh flowers used to stop bleeding and heal cuts and burns. Antimicrobial infusion used to treat coughs.
Common Name: Self-Heal, Heal-All Scientific Name: Prunella vulgaris General: Low plant, up to 1 foot tall. Common in lawns and waste places. Flowers: Small, irregular purple flowers on an oval head. Leaves: Opposite leaves on a square stem. Leaves oval or lance-shaped. Medicinal Uses: Used externally on sores and bruises. Leaf tea is used as a gargle for sore throats and to treat fevers.