Avena sativa Gramineae Habitat: Widely distributed as a cereal crop. Collection: The fruit and straw are gathered at harvest time, inAugust. The stalks are cut and bound together. Leave them upright to dry andthen thresh out the fruit. The straw is...
Berberis aquifolium Berberidaceae Names: Oregon Grape Root, Mountain Grape. Habitat: Oregon, N. America, cultivatied as a garden plant elsewhere. Collection: The underground parts are collected in the autumn,carefully cleaned, cut into slices and...
Lobelia inflata Campanulaceae Common name: Pukeweed, Indian tobacco. Habitat: Eastern USA, cultivated elsewhere. Part used: Aerial parts. Collection: The entire plant above ground should be collected at the end of the flowering time, between August...
Pulmonaria officinalis Boraginaceae Habitat: Shady places throughout Europe including Britain, cultivated in gardens. Part used: Leaves. Collection: The leavres should be gathered during and after flowering, between March and September...
Ephedra sinica Ephedraceae Names: Ephedra Habitat: China Collection: Gather the young branches in the autumn before the first frost, as the alkaloid content is then highest. They may be dried in the sun. Part Used: Aerial stems. Constituents:...
Althaea officinalis Part Used: Root and leaf. Constituents: In the root: Mucilage, l8-35% Miscellaneous; about 35% pectin, l-2% asparagine, tannins. In the leaves: Mucilage; including a low molecular weight D-glucan Flavanoids such a kaempferol...
Filipendula ulmaria Names: Queen-of-the-Meadow, Bridewort. Habitat: A common wild plant in Britain, throughout Europe, parts of Asia and an escape in North America. Collection: The fully opened flowers and leaves are picked at the time of flowering...
Silybum marianum Part Used: The seeds. Constituents: Flavolignans; the mixture of these is known as “silymarin” and composed mainly of silybin (=silibinin), with isosilybin, dihydrosilybin, silydianin, silychristin, and in some varieties...
Cetraria islandica Parmeliaceae Habitat: Grows in most Northern Countries. Part used: The entire plant. It is a lichen. Collection: The lichen may be gathered throughout the year, though between May and September is perhaps best. It should be freed...
Leonurus cardiaca Labiatae Names: Lion’s Tail. Habitat: Throughout Europe and occasionally in Britain. Collection: The stalks should be gathered at the time of flowering, which is between June and September. Part Used: Aerial parts...
David L. Hoffmann BSc Hons MNIMH