City Plants

Black Locust

The Black Locust (Ceratonia siliqua) received its somewhat erroneous nomenclature from William Strachey, a member of the Third Supply mission to Jamestown. Before encountering this piece of local flora however, the mission’s ship, Sea Venture, wrecked on the coast of Bermuda in 1609

City Plants

Tree of Heaven

Let’s just be real. The Tree of Heaven, ailanthus altissima, is a badass.

City Plants

Mullein

In 322 BC Aristotle noted the exceptionally useful employment of mullein (verbascum thapsus) as a piscicide (fish poison) in his Historia Animālium. Gabriel Garcia Marquez also noted this use in Love in the time of Cholera 2307 years later.

City Plants

Woody Nightshade

If you were to ask the scientific historian and nature writer Neltje Blanchan about Woody Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara), you may have received a poem in return.

City Plants

Mugwort

Artemisia vulgaris tastes good in beer, but that’s not how it got its common name, Mugwort. More of that later. Drinks first.

City Plants

Horseweed

Meanwhile, the goons at Monsanto thought they would counter by spreading more of their toxic agent. But to no avail and there are some reports of Superweeds growing up to three inches a day.

City Plants

Shaggy Soldier

Like its namesake, the Shaggy Soldier is apt to take up quarters in the homes of other plants, a clear violation of the third amendment if there ever was one.

City Plants

Virginia Pepperweed

Native to North America, Virginia pepperweed has been used in traditional medicine for over 2,000 years to curb diabetes, expel intestinal worms, ease rheumatic pain, treat poison ivy rash, cure scurvy, and relieve the croup.

Uncategorized