Bloodroot

[power napper]

This morning while on walk we discovered a big patch of wild flowers that I had no idea of their name.
The blossums were closed due to heavy cloud conditions but the petals are white and the leaf was wrapped around the stem of the flower, I removed one leaf and unrolled to see a multi lobed almost grape leaf shape.
When back home the Audobon wildflower book proved it to be bloodroot.
The Almerican Indians used it for basket dying-war paint etc according to write up.
Also it states the red juice is an insect repellant.
I was impressed.

[ScadsOBees]

That is interesting, although I've never needed to dye the baskets that I've never made. And it is too colorful to smear over myself for moskitoos.

We did enjoy picking them, although the flower is too delicate to last long, and see the red "blood" welling from the broken stem. I love seeing these things and the wildflowers in the spring.

Rick

[dragonfly]

Wow, I looked up a photo of bloodroot. I don't think they grow in Texas, or at least I have never seen one.

[dragonfly]

And it is too colorful to smear over myself for moskitoos.


Rick

Hehe, if you ever do, I want to see a picture. :D

[Bizzybee]

I remember a lot of folks gathering bloodroot and yellow root every year back home for different reasons. Its pretty prolific in the WNC mountains, a beautiful flower to see every spring and lines many of the old road sides from about 3000 ft and above.

I didn't know until recently that it has been used for so long in the treatment of skin cancer. Or if whether it actually works? I've forgotten many of the plants uses over the years not being around it like I used to be. Not many of those plants are around here so far south in GA. I keep looking but I don't have much luck.

You've been having all kinds o fun out gawkin this spring haven't you napper!! :)

[mistergil]

Bloodroot rhizome juice is escharotic, a caustic substance that produces a mass of dead tissue after application. The USDA has listed it as "unsafe" to use. It is in the poppy family and is used to produce morphine. Be careful using it as it is powerful medicine.

[dragonfly]

It is in the poppy family and is used to produce morphine.

Ahhh, that explains its use as body paint. The drug effect knocks out the pain from having your skin tissue killed off. ;)

[Bizzybee]

WOW, I knew I should have never smoked that stuff!!! :eek::D

[dragonfly]

WOW, I knew I should have never smoked that stuff!!! :eek::D


:D
Feeling a little escharotic in the lungs?

[power napper]

I have to wonder if the juice would be a good wart remover.

[dragonfly]

I have to wonder if the juice would be a good wart remover.


Hmmm, I don't know. I think I would rather have a wart than a big blackened dead scar ;)

[Bizzybee]

I saw somewhere that it was used for that napper. Guess you wouldn't wanna apply it with a paint brush though :)

You know what the warning labels all say; Apply first in an inconspicuous area! :D