A Pernese Herbal

Root (powdered form) is anaesthetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, cardiotonic, stimulant and vasodilator
It is used in the treatment of shock and collapse, chronic diseases with symptoms of cold, gastralgia and rheumatic arthralgia, oedema and diarrhoea due to hypofunction of the spleen and kidney

Outside Info:

Edible Use: Toxic

Very poisonous and should not be used internally

Other Use: None

Adonis (DLG, Moreta)

Habitat: Cultivated, requires well-drained soil, semi-shade or no shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Medicinal Uses: Cardiotonic; Diuretic; Sedative; Vasoconstrictor, anodyne, for heart palpitations.

improve the heart's efficiency, increasing its output at the same time as slowing its rate. It also has a sedative action and so is generally prescribed for patients whose hearts are beating too fast or irregularly.
used internally as a cardiotonic with success where the better-known foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) has failed - especially where there is also kidney disease.
The herb is also used in the treatment of low blood pressure and its strong diuretic action can be used to counter water retention.
It is included in many proprietary medicines, especially since its effects are not cumulative. The plant is used in homeopathy as a treatment for angina.

Outside Info: The plants are harvested every third year as they come into flowert, they are dried for use in tinctures and liquid extracts. Grows to 20cm. Has feathery leaves with bright yellow daisy-like flowering tops in spring. All parts of the plant are toxic, and the flowering tops contain seeds, which contain sedatives and heart stimulants. The herb does not store well so stocks should be replaced every year. Use with great caution as toxic.

Edible Use: Toxic

Extremely poisonous, poisonous to runners

Other Use: None

Sub Variety: Cardiotonic; Diuretic; Laxative; Lithontripic.

The plant is a cardiotonic, diuretic and stimulant.

The flowers are considered to be diuretic, laxative and lithontripic.

This variety grows more easily in the wild.

Air vines (Renegades)

Habitat: Paradise River, tropical

Uses: Unknown

Alfalfa (2) (Dragonsdawn, Ford of Red Hanrahan)

Habitat: Cultivated beds. requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil, requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. Prefers sunlight.

Medicinal Uses: Anodyne; Antibacterial; Antiscorbutic; Aperient; Diuretic; Emetic; Febrifuge; Haemostatic; Nutritive; Stimulant; Tonic.

Alfalfa leaves, either fresh or dried, have traditionally been used as a nutritive tonic to stimulate the appetite and promote weight gain.
The plant has an oestrogenic action and could prove useful in treating problems related to menstruation and the menopause. Some caution is advised in the use of this plant, however. It should not be prescribed to people with auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. See also the notes above on toxicity.
The plant is antiscorbutic, aperient, diuretic, oxytocic, haemostatic, nutritive, stimulant and tonic. The expressed juice is emetic and is also anodyne in the treatment of gravel. The plant is taken internally for debility in convalescence or anaemia, haemorrhage, menopausal complaints, pre-menstrual tension, fibroids etc.
A poultice of the heated leaves is applied to the ear in the treatment of earache[The leaves can be used fresh or dried.
The leaves are rich in vitamin K, which is used medicinally to encourage the clotting of blood. This is valuable in the treatment of jaundice. The plant is grown commercially as a source of chlorophyll and carotene, both of which have proven health benefits.
The leaves also contain the anti-oxidant tricin.
The root is febrifuge and is also prescribed in cases of highly coloured urine.
Extracts of the plant are antibacterial.
as a tea it is good for the stomach. diuretic.

Outside Info: rows to 80cm. Has purple flowers and 3-part leaves. Leaves and sprouted seeds can be eaten in salads. It is an appetite stimulant for convalescents, and is used by Arabs as horse fodder to increase speed. It is also said to increase production of cow's milk.

Edible Uses: Leaves; Seed; Tea.

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked. The leaves can also be dried for later use. Very rich in vitamins. Poisonous in large amounts.
The seed is used sprouted added to salads, or cooked in soups.
The seeds can be ground into a powder and used as a mush, or mixed with cereal flours for making a nutritionally improved bread etc.
An appetite-stimulating tea is made from the leaves, flavour of boiled socks and is slightly laxative

Other Uses: Green manure; Hedge; Oil.

Often grown as a green manure in positions where it can remain for 2 or more years. Alfalfa is very vigorous from its second year, producing a huge bulk of material that can be cut down 2 or 3 times during the season. Plants are very deep rooting, descending 6 metres or more into the soil, and are able to fix large quantities of atmospheric nitrogen, this makes them one of the very best green manures.
A drying oil is obtained from the seed, it is used in paints etc.
The plant can be grown as a low dividing hedge in the vegetable garden in grubbed areas.
The seeds are used to make a yellow dye.
Used to restore soil as it brings up deep nutrients. Good near fruit trees, poor near onions.

Farm Notes:

Plants are intolerant of competition from grass etc.
Alfalfa must remain planted for more than 2 years to fully achieve its potential.

Algae (DLG, Rescue Run, The P.E.R.N Survey, Dragons Dawn)

Habitat: Various

Medicinal Uses: Unknown

A species of algae may be the cause of ‘Firehead’

Outside Info: Unknown but there are Red and Green algae’s mentioned.

Edible Uses: Unknown but not likely.

Other Uses: Dye

Terran algae can be used for dyeing.

Farm Notes:

Almond (DLG)

Habitat: Cultivated ground, thickets, hedges and rocky places near cultivation.

Growth form: tree

Known locations: Benden Hold, but capable over much of Pern.

Medicinal Use: Antitumor; Demulcent; Emollient; Nutritive; Pectoral.

As well as being a tasty addition to the diet, almonds are also beneficial to the overall health of the body, being used especially in the treatment of kidney stones, gallstones and constipation.
Externally, the oil is applied to dry skins and is also often used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy.
The seed is demulcent, emollient, laxative, nutritive and pectoral. When used medicinally, the fixed oil from the seed is normally employed.
The leaves are used in the treatment of diabetes.
The plant contains an antitumor compound taxifolin.

Edible Use: edible nuts

Outside Info: Has dark bark, and rose to white flowers in early spring.

Other Use: Adhesive; Cleanser; Cosmetic; Dye; Gum; Oil; Soap making.

An oil expressed from the seeds is an excellent lubricant in delicate mechanisms such as agenothree sprayer springs.
It is often used in soaps and cosmetics because it has a softening effect on the skin.
A green dye can be obtained from the leaves.
A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
A yellow dye is obtained from the roots and leaves.
The bruised leaves, when rubbed within any container, will remove strong odours such as garlic or cloves so long as any grease has first been fully cleaned off.
A gum from the stems is used as an adhesive.
The burnt shell yields a valuable absorbent for coal gas.
The burnt pericarp is rich in potassium, it is used in soap making.
The fixed oil from the kernel is used in cosmetics and as a base for some medicines.

Aloe Vera (DLG)

Habitat: Maritime sands and rocks. Requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil, cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. Does not seed well in temperate or higher zones.

Medicinal Uses: medicinal herb, for burns Cancer; Emmenagogue; Emollient; Laxative; Miscellany; Purgative; Skin; Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic; Vermifuge; Vulnerary.

The clear gel in the leaf makes an excellent treatment for wounds, burns and other skin disorders, placing a protective coat over the affected area, speeding up the rate of healing and reducing the risk of infection.
This has an immediate soothing effect on all sorts of burns and other skin problems.
A yellow sap is obtained from cutting base of the leaf and the liquid that exudes is dried. It is called bitter aloes and contains anthraquinones, which are a useful digestive stimulant and a strong laxative. When plants are grown in pots the anthraquinone content is greatly reduced.
The plant is emmenagogue, emollient, laxative, purgative, stimulant, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge and vulnerary. Extracts of the plant have antibacterial activity.
Apart from its external use on the skin, aloe Vera (usually the bitter aloes) is also taken internally in the treatment of chronic constipation, poor appetite, digestive problems etc. It should not be given to pregnant women or people with haemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome. The plant is strongly purgative so great care should be taken over the dosage.
The plant is used to test if there is blood in the faeces.
This plant has a folk history of treatment in cases of cancer.

Outside Info: An evergreen perennial growing to 0.8m by 1m at a slow rate. In flower from May to June.

Edible Uses: Leaves; Seed.

Leaves – cooked, used as an emergency food that is only used when all else fails as very bitter.
Seed. An emergency food used when all else fails.

Other Uses: Cosmetic; Pollution.

The leaf extracts are used in skin-care cosmetic products.
Plants have been grown indoors in pots in order to help remove toxins from the atmosphere. It is also unusual in that it continues to release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide in the dark, making it very suitable for growing in bedrooms.

Apples (DLG, Skies of Pern)

Habitat: Found other a wide range of Temperate Pern. Grows in semi-shade or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Medicinal Use: Antibacterial; Astringent; Laxative; Stomachic.

The fruit is astringent and laxative.
The bark, and especially the root bark, is anthelmintic, refrigerant and soporific. An infusion is used in the treatment of intermittent, remittent and bilious fevers.
The leaves contain up to 2.4% of an antibacterial substance called 'phloretin'. This inhibits the growth of a number of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in as low a concentration as 30 ppm.
A ripe raw apple is one of the easiest foods for the stomach to deal with, the whole process of digestion taking about 85 minutes. The apple juice will reduce the acidity of the stomach, it becomes changed into alkaline carbonates and thus corrects sour fermentation.
The apple is also an excellent dentifrice, the mechanical action of eating a fruit serving to clean both the teeth and the gums.

Outside Info: A deciduous tree growing to 9m. Hardy, flowers from April to June. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can

Edible Use: Fruit; Oil; Pectin.

Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use. Apples are one of the most common and widely grown fruits of the temperate zone. There are a great many named varieties with differing flavours ranging from sour to sweet and textures from dry and mealy to crisp and juicy. There is also a wide range in the seasons of ripening with the first fruits being ready in late July whilst other cultivars are not picked until late autumn and will store for 12 months or sometimes more.
The fruit of some cultivars is rich in pectin and can be used in helping other fruits to set when making jam etc. Pectin is also said to protect the body against radiation.
An edible oil can be obtained from the seed. It would only really be viable to use these seeds as an oil source if the fruit was being used for some purpose such as making cider and then the seeds could be extracted from the remaining pulp.

Other Use: Wood

hard, compact, fine-grained. Used for turnery, tool handles, canes etc. It makes an excellent fuel.

Other Notes: not to be grown or stored close to root crops (as these will spoil). Ideally clover should be sown near and around apple trees.

Arnica (Dragonsblood)

Habitat: Calcareous soils in mountain pastures. Found especially on granite or siliceous soils up to 2500 metres. Pasture and open woodland, usually on poorer acid soils. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, requires well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soil. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil.

Medicinal Use: Antiecchymotic; Antiphlogistic; Nervine; Sternutatory; Vulnerary..

Used as an external treatment for bruises and sprains
Internally, it has been used in the treatment of heart complaints and as a booster for the immune system
It is anti-inflammatory and increases the rate of absorption of internal bleeding.
If used as a decoction or tincture it stimulates the circulation and is valuable in the treatment of angina and a weak or failing heart, but it can be toxic even at quite low doses and so is rarely used this way
The flowers are the part most commonly used and are harvested when fully open and dried
The root is also used, it is harvested after the leaves have died down in the autumn and dried for later use[4]. Although a very valuable remedy, it should be used with caution
The homeopathic dose has also been used effectively in the treatment of epilepsy and seasickness, and it might be of use as a hair growth stimulant.

Outside Info:

Perennial growing to 0.3 by 0.15m bush. Flowers in Month 7. The plant is self-fertile.

Edible Use:.

None Known

Other Use:

possible use as tobacco.

Other Notes:

Ash (DLG, Moreta)

Habitat: It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist or wet soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. Found across higher ground.

Medicinal Uses: Antiperiodic; Astringent; Carminative; Cathartic; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Laxative; Purgative; Tonic.

The leaves are astringent, cathartic, diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, laxative and purgative.
Used as a mild laxative. The leaves should be gathered in June, well dried and stored in airtight containers.
The bark is antiperiodic, astringent and a bitter tonic. Occasionally taken in the treatment of fevers.
The seeds, including their wings, have been used as a carminative. They will store for 12 months if gathered when ripe.

Outside Info: A deciduous tree growing to 30m by 20m at a fast rate.

Edible Uses: Manna; Oil; Seed; Tea.

Immature seed - usually pickled by steeping in salt and vinegar, and then used as a condiment for other foods.
The leaves are sometimes used as an adulterant for tea.
A manna is obtained from the tree. No further details are given.
An edible oil similar to sunflower oil is obtained from the seed.

Other Uses: Dye; Fuel; String; Tannin; Wood.

A green dye is obtained from the leaves.
The bark is a source of tannin.
A tying material can be obtained from the wood fibres.
Wood - hard, light, flexible, strong, resilient. A very valuable wood, it is much used for tool handles, oars, furniture, posts etc.

Ash Sub Strains: There are a number of different varieties of Ash, all similar to one another. I have labelled the more useful types below:

Oregan Ash –

Medicinal Uses: Anthelmintic; Febrifuge; Vulnerary.

The pulverised fresh roots were used by some cotters and holdless to treat serious wounds in the absence of better solutions.
A cold infusion of the twigs is used to treat fevers.
The bark is anthelmintic.

Black Ash – Grows to 25 m.

Medicinal Uses: Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Tonic.

The leaves are diaphoretic, diuretic, laxative. They should be gathered in June, well dried and stored in airtight containers.
The inner bark is used as a tonic for the liver and stomach, to check vaginal discharge and to treat painful urination. An infusion of the inner bark is used as an eye wash for sore eyes.

Other Uses: Basketry; Dye; Fuel; Wood.

Logs of wood can be beaten with mauls to separate the growth layers, these layers can then be cut into strips and woven into baskets.
A blue dye can be obtained from the bark.

Manna Ash: 9x6m

Edible Uses: Manna.

Manna - a sweetish exudate is obtained from the stems by incision. The quality is better from the upper stems. A mild sweet taste, its main use is as a mild and gentle laxative although it is also used as a sweetener in sugar-free preparations. The tree trunk must be at least 8cm in diameter before the manna can be harvested. A vertical series of oblique incisions are made in the trunk in the summer once the tree is no longer producing many new leaves. One cut is made every day from July to the end of September. A whitish glutinous liquid exudes from this cut, hardens and is then harvested. Dry and warm weather is essential if a good harvest is to be realised. The tree is harvested for 9 consecutive years, which exhausts the tree. This is then cut down, leaving one shoot to grow back. It takes 4 - 5 years for this shoot to become productive. Average yields of 6 kilos per hectare of top quality manna, plus 80 kilos of assorted manna are achieved.

Medicinal Uses: Laxative; Tonic.

The manna obtained from the trunk is a gentle laxative and a tonic. It is especially valuable for children and pregnant women. Its action is normally very mild, though it does sometimes cause flatulence and pain.

Red Ash – 20 m

Edible Uses : Inner bark.

Inner bark - cooked. The cambium layer can be scraped down in long, fluffy layers and cooked. It is said to taste like eggs. Inner bark can also be dried, ground into a powder and then used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread.

Medicinal Uses: Bitter; Diuretic; Tonic.

· The bark and leaves are a bitter tonic. An infusion of the inner bark is used in the treatment of depression and fatigue.

The root is diuretic

Other Uses: Basketry; Dye; Wood.

A red dye is extracted from the bark.
Logs of wood can be beaten with mauls to separate the growth layers, these layers can then be cut into strips and woven into baskets.

· Wood - hard, heavy, rather strong, tough, elastic, brittle, coarse-grained. Not as good as regular ash.

Blue Ash – 20m

Other Uses: Dye; Wood.

A blue dye is obtained from the inner bark. The bark is ground into a powder and then steeped in water in order to obtain the dye.

Asparagus (DLG)

Habitat: Fertile and sandy soils by the seashore and along river banks

Medicinal Use: Antibiotic; Antispasmodic; Aperient; Cancer; Cardiac; Demulcent; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Laxative; Sedative; Tonic.

Both the roots and the shoots can be used medicinally, they have a restorative and cleansing effect on the bowels, kidneys and liver.
The plant is antispasmodic, aperient, cardiac, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative and tonic. The freshly expressed juice is used.
The root is diaphoretic, strongly diuretic and laxative. An infusion is used in the treatment of jaundice and congestive torpor of the liver. The strongly diuretic action of the roots make it useful in the treatment of a variety of urinary problems including cystitis. It is also used in the treatment of cancer. The roots are said to be able to lower blood pressure. The roots are harvested in late spring, after the shoots have been cut as a food crop, and are dried for later use.
The seeds possess antibiotic activity. Another report says that the plant contains asparagusic acid, which is nematocidal and is used in the treatment of schistosomiasis.
Asparagus tincture used (primarily in Weyrs) to stave off drunkenness. Also is a part of the 'killer cure' for hangovers.

Outside Info: Perennial growing to 1.5m by 0.75m, the shoots are harvested in the spring but must not be over-harvested or the plant will be exhausted for the next year.

Edible Use: Klah; Stem.

Young shoots, harvested in spring - raw or cooked. The shoots are a good source of protein and dietary fibre.
Roasted seeds are a Klah substitute.

Other Use: Insecticide.

The plant contains asparagusic acid, which has nematocidal properties.

Sub Variety: Fern Asparagus

Habitat: sunny edge, woodland

Edible Uses: Stem.

Young shoots - cooked.

Medicinal Uses: Antipyretic; Antitussive; Diuretic; Expectorant; Nervine; Stomachic; Tonic.

The dried root is antipyretic, antitussive, diuretic, expectorant, stomachic, nervous stimulant and tonic.

Bamboo grasses (DLG, Dolphins of Pern)

Growth form: bamboo-like grassoid,

Known locations: Nerat Hold, Southern Hold – presumably in other large sections across most of the planet.

General habitat: marshy land

Medicinal Use: Unknown

Outside Info: triangular cross-section

Edible Use: Leaves

:"...grow so swiftly that in the afternoon a kitchen auntie has to cut down stalks she planted in the morning, or they will be too tough to eat at dinner." (Dragonlovers)(at Southern)

Other Use: Wood

braided and twisted like wicker, used for furniture (Nerat) or more substantial building (paradise)

Banana (DLG, White Dragon)

Known locations: Boll. They grow in the humid tropics.

Habitat: Woodland, Sunny Edge, By Walls, By South Wall, By West Wall

Medicinal Use: Diuretic; Febrifuge; Sialagogue.

The roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sialagogue. A decoction is used in the treatment of beriberi, constipation, jaundice, dropsy, restlessness due to heat, and eucorrhoea
The leaves are diuretic.
leaves and the juice from the stem are used on burns and blisters
Burn urination: Chew the tuber of once a day to get relief from burn urination.
Dandruff: Burn the leaves and apply the ashes on hair and keep it for 10 minutes before taking bath. Continue this process a day three days.
Dysentery: Extract juice from the flower. Take two teaspoonful of this juice orally along with a glass of sugar candy water, once only.
Jaundice: Apply quicklime over the ripe fruit. Keep it on the roof of the house for a night. In the morning peel off the fruit and take it orally. Take one ripe fruit in each dose, thrice a day for two days.
Labour pain: Take orally one ripe fruit during labour pain.
Menopause: Extract juice from 20 g flowers. Mix 250 g of solid curd to this juice. Take this juice orally to stop the excess bleeding during menopause. Bleeding will be stop within fifteen minutes. Salt, non-vegetarian and sour things are restricted in the diet.
Worm infection: Grind together 500 g tuber root and 100 g par boiled rice to make a paste. Fry this paste with 50 g pure ghee. Mix 100 g molasses with this fried paste. Make 6 pills out of this paste. Take one pill orally two times a day for three days.

Outside Info:These are treelike herb plants with several large leaves at the top. Their flowers are borne in dense hanging clusters. The banana has a soft, herbaceous stalk, with leaves of great length and breadth. The flowers grow in bunches, covered with a sheath of a green or purple colour; the fruit is five or six inches long, and over an inch in diameter; the pulp is soft, and of a luscious taste, and is eaten either raw or cooked. This plant is a native of tropical countries, and furnishes an important article of food.

Edible Uses:Fruit; heart; flour; rootstock; leaf sheath

Their fruits are edible raw or cooked. They may be boiled or baked. You can boil their flowers and eat them like a vegetable.
You can cook and eat the rootstocks and leaf sheaths of many species.
The centre or "heart" or the plant is edible year-round, cooked or raw (see Moreta - Plaintains never get sweet and are cooked like potatoes)
The chopped and grated pulp of the corms and leaf sheaths is fermented and used as a flour in making kocho bread. 100% kocho flour or a mixture of kocho and other cereal flours may be used. It is said to taste like a good quality bread

Other Uses: Fibre.

A fibre is obtained from the leaf stems. Used for cloth, sails etc. The fibre can also be used for making paper. The leaves are harvested in summer and are soaked in water for 24 hours prior to cooking. The fibres are cooked for 2 hours with lye and then beaten in a ball mill for 4½ hours before being made into paper.

Barley (DLG, Dragons Dawn)

Habitat: Cultivated Beds. Succeeds in most soils and in climates ranging from sub-arctic to sub-tropical. Easily grown in light soils.

Medicinal Uses: Abortifacient; Cancer; Carminative; Demulcent; Digestive; Diuretic; Emollient; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Galactofuge; Hypoglycaemic; Lenitive; Nutritive; Poultice; Stomachic.

The shoots are diuretic
Brewed as tea to combat symptoms of cystis (common complaint of female dragon riders)
The seed sprouts are demulcent, expectorant, galactofuge, lenitive and stomachic. They are sometimes abortifacient, which are used in the treatment of dyspepsia caused by cereals, infantile lacto-dyspepsia, regurgitation of milk and breast distension. They are best not given to a nursing mother since this can reduce milk flow.
The seed is digestive, emollient, nutritive, febrifuge and stomachic. It is taken internally as a nutritious food or as barley water (an infusion of the germinated seed in water) and is of special use for babies and invalids. Its use is said to reduce excessive lactation.
Barley is also used as a poultice for burns and wounds.
The plant has a folk history of antitumor activity.
The germinating seed has a hypoglycaemic effect preceded by a hyperglycaemic action.
Barley bran may have the effect of lowering blood cholesterol levels and preventing bowel cancer.

Outside Info: Annual growing to 1.2m. The plant requires well-drained soil, cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Edible Uses: Klah; Drink; Salt; Seed; Sweetener.

Seed - cooked as a whole grain or ground up and used as a flour for making bread, porridges etc. The bread does not rise well. The seed can also be sprouted and added to salads. Barley Juice can be made from the seed.
The decorticated seed is called pearl barley. This is no longer viable since the decortication process damages the embryo. It is used in soups, stews etc
Malt is obtained by sprouting the whole seed and then roasting it. The seed is then ground into a flour and boiled in water. The resulting liquid is very sweet and can be used in making beer or other drinks, and as a nutritious sweetener in various foods
The roasted (unsprouted) seed is used as a Klah and a salt substitute.

Other Uses: Biomass; Mulch; Paper.

After harvesting, the stems are a source of fibres for paper making, shredding for mulch and bedding for animals.

Farm Notes: Seed - sow in situ in March or October and only just cover the seed. Make sure the soil surface does not dry out if the weather is dry. Germination takes place within 2 weeks.

Basil (DLG)

Habitat: Basil is perennial in the tropics, but a half-hardy annual in temperate zones.. It requires a good hot summer in temperate climates if it is to do well outdoors.
Medicinal Uses: Antibacterial; Antispasmodic; Aromatherapy; Aromatic; Carminative; Digestive; Galactogogue; Ophthalmic; Stomachic; Tonic.

Sweet basil is a culinary and medicinal herb. It acts principally on the digestive and nervous systems, easing flatulence, stomach cramps, colic and indigestion.
The leaves and flowering tops are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, digestive, galactogogue, stomachic and tonic. They are taken internally in the treatment of feverish illnesses (especially colds and influenza), poor digestion, nausea, abdominal cramps, gastro-enteritis, migraine, insomnia, depression and exhaustion. Externally, they are used to treat acne, loss of smell, insect stings, snake bites and skin infections. The leaves can be harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried.
The mucilaginous seed is given in infusion in the treatment of dysentery and chronic diarrhoea. It is said to remove film and opacity from the eyes.
The root is used in the treatment of bowel complaints in children.
Extracts from the plant are bactericidal and are also effective against internal parasites.
The essential oil scents soaps and perfumes, and is used to treat anxiety, headaches, respiatory problems, and aids concentration and digestion. An infusion of basil aids digestion and is a nerve tonic.
The essential oil should be avoided during pregnancy..

Outside Info: Grows in many forms. Perennial growing to 0.45m by 0.3m. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Edible Uses: Condiment; Drink; Leaves; Seed; Tea.

Leaves and flowers - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring or as a spinach, they are used especially with tomato dishes, pasta sauces, beans, peppers and aubergines. The leaves are normally used fresh but can also be dried for winter use. A very pleasant addition to salads, the leaves have a delightful scent of cloves. Use the leaves sparingly in cooking because the heat concentrates the flavour.
A refreshing tea is made from the leaves.
The seed can be eaten on its own or added to bread dough as a flavouring.
When soaked in water it becomes mucilaginous and can be made into a refreshing beverage called 'sherbet tokhum' in the Mediterranean.
An essential oil obtained from the plant is used as a food flavouring in mustards, sauces, vinegars etc

Other Uses: Essential Oil; Repellent; Strewing.

An essential oil obtained from the whole plant is used as a food flavouring and in perfumery, dental applications etc. An average yield of 1.5% essential oil is obtained from the flowering tops.
The growing or dried plant is an effective insect repellent. It is a good plant to grow in the home, where it repels flies, or in the greenhouse where it can keep all manner of insect pests away from nearby plants. It is used as a strewing herb.

Farm Notes:

Sweet basil is a good companion plant for tomatoes but it grows badly with rue and sage.
When grown near raspberries it can retard their fruiting.

Bay leaf (DLG)

Habitat: Hedge, Woodland, Secondary, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, By Walls. It requires dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Medicinal Uses: Abortifacient; Antiseptic; Appetizer; Aromatic; Astringent; Cancer; Carminative; Diaphoretic; Digestive; Diuretic; Emetic; Emmenagogue; Narcotic; Parasiticide; Stimulant; Stomachic.

The bay tree has a long history of folk use in the treatment of many ailments, particularly as an aid to digestion and in the treatment of bronchitis and influenza. It has also been used to treat various types of cancer.
Internally employed in the treatment of hysteria, amenorrhoea, flatulent colic etc. Another report says that the leaves are used mainly to treat upper respiratory tract disorders and to ease arthritic aches and pains.
It is settling to the stomach and has a tonic effect, stimulating the appetite and the secretion of digestive juices.
The leaves are antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emetic in large doses, emmenagogue, narcotic, parasiticide, stimulant and stomachic
The fruit is antiseptic, aromatic, digestive, narcotic and stimulant. An infusion is used to improve the appetite and as an emmenagogue.
The fruit has also been used in making carminative medicines and is used to promote abortion.
A fixed oil from the fruit is used externally to treat sprains, bruises etc, and is sometimes used as ear drops to relieve pain.
The essential oil from the leaves has narcotic, antibacterial and fungicidal properties.

Outside Info: An evergreen tree growing to 12m by 10m.

Edible Uses: Condiment; Tea.

Leaves - fresh or dried. A spicy, aromatic flavouring, bay leaves are commonly used as a flavouring for soups, stews etc.
The dried fruit is used as a flavouring.
The dried leaves are brewed into a herbal tea.
An essential oil obtained from the leaves is used as a food flavouring

Other Uses: Essential; Hedge; Repellent; Strewing; Wood.

An essential oil from the fruit is used in soap making.
The plant is highly resistant to pests and diseases, it is said to protect neighbouring plants from insect and health problems.
The leaves are highly aromatic and can be used as an insect repellent, the dried leaves protect stored grain, beans etc from weevils.
It is also used as a strewing herb because of its aromatic smell and antiseptic properties.
Wood - sweetly-scented, does not wear quickly. Used for marqueterie work, walking sticks and friction sticks for making fires.

Beachberry (Smallest Dragon Boy) – may be the same as the native blackberry

Growth form: rambler

Known locations: Southern Coast.

General habitat: Maritime exposure, poss sandy soil

Medicinal Use: Unknown

Outside Info: Unknown

Edible Use: Fruit.

Eaten raw or sweet in pies.

Other Use: Unknown

Beans (DLG)

There are a variety of different beans, with different characteristics. I have selected a number of the more common types in use. These all belong to the Legume Family:

Soya Bean – see separate entry

Runner Bean

General habitat: It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil

Medicinal Use: Unknown

Outside Info: Perennial growing to 3m by 1m at a fast rate

Edible Use: Flowers; Leaves; Root; Seed; Seedpod.

Immature seedpods - raw or cooked. They have a pleasant mild flavour and are widely used as a vegetable in many areas of the world. They can be added to salads, cooked as a vegetable or added to soups, stews etc.
The immature seed is used like shelled beans as a vegetable
The protein-rich mature seeds can be dried and stored for future use. They need to be thoroughly cooked before being eaten in order to destroy a toxic principle. They are soaked for 12 hours prior to use and are eaten boiled or added to soups etc. The seed can also be ground into a powder and added to cereal flours for making protein-enriched bread etc
Flowers - raw. A bean-like taste
Young leaves - cooked and used as a potherb

Other Use:

This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen

Other Notes:

Runner beans grow well with carrots, cauliflowers, cucumbers, cabbage, leek and celeriac.
They are inhibited by alliums and fennel growing nearby

Kidney (French) beans

General habitat: It requires moist soil

Medicinal Use: Cancer; Diuretic; Homeopathy; Hypoglycaemic; Hypotensive; Narcotic.

The green pods are mildly diuretic and contain a substance that reduces the blood sugar level. The dried mature pod is used according to another report. It is used in the treatment of diabetes.
The seed is diuretic, hypoglycaemic and hypotensive.
Ground into a flour, it is used externally in the treatment of ulcers. The seed is also used in the treatment of cancer of the blood.
When bruised and boiled with garlic they have cured intractable coughs.
The root is dangerously narcotic
A homeopathic remedy is made from the entire fresh herb. It is used in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis, plus disorders of the urinary tract.

Outside Info: Annual growing to 2m

Edible Use: Klah; Leaves; Seed; Seedpod.

Immature seedpods - raw or cooked. The green pods are commonly used as a vegetable, they have a mild flavour and should only be cooked for a short time. When growing the plant for its seedpods, be sure to pick them whilst they are still small and tender. This will ensure the continued production of more pods by the plant. Flowering is reduced once the seeds begin to form inside the pods.
The immature seeds are boiled or steamed and used as a vegetable.
The mature seeds are dried and stored for future use. They must be thoroughly cooked before being eaten and are best soaked in water for about 12 hours prior to this. They can be boiled, baked, pureed, ground into a powder or fermented into 'tempeh' etc. The powdered seed makes a protein-enriching additive to flour, it can also be used in soups etc. The seed can also be sprouted and used in salads or cooked.
The roasted seeds have been used as a Klah substitute.
Young leaves - raw or cooked as a potherb.

Other Use: Dye; Fungicide.

A brown dye is obtained from red kidney beans
The plant contains phaseolin, which has fungicidal activity
Water from the cooked beans is very effective in reviving woollen fabrics

Farm Notes:

It can fix Nitrogen
French beans grow well with strawberries, carrots, cauliflowers, cucumbers, cabbage, beet, leek and celeriac.
They are inhibited by alliums and fennel growing nearby

Broad Bean

General habitat: requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure

Medicinal Use: Unknown

Outside Info: Annual growing to 1m at a fast rate

Edible Use: Leaves; Seed.

Broad bean seeds are very nutritious and are frequently used as items of food. Toxic in large quantities.
The immature seeds can be eaten raw when they are small and tender, as they grow older they can be cooked as a vegetable. They have a very pleasant floury taste.
The young pods can be cooked as a vegetable, though they quickly become fibrous and also have a hairy coating inside that can become unpleasant as the pods get larger.
Mature seeds can be eaten cooked as a vegetable or added to soups etc. They are best soaked for 12 - 24 hours prior to cooking in order to soften them and reduce the cooking time. They will also become more nutritious this way. The flavour is mild and pleasant with a floury texture.
They can also be dried and ground into a flour for use in making bread etc with cereal flours.
The seed can also be fermented to make 'tempeh'.
The seed can be sprouted before being cooked.
Popped seeds can be salted and eaten as a snack or roasted like peanuts.
Young leaves - cooked. They are very nutritious and can be used like spinach.

Other Use: Fibre; Soap making.

A fibre is obtained from the stems.
The burnt stems are rich in potassium and can be used in making soap.

Farm Notes:

A green manure crop
Grows well with carrots, cauliflowers, beet, cucumber, cabbages, leeks, celeriac, corn and potatoes, but is inhibited by onions, garlic and shallots
When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Chickpea Bean

General habitat: Does not like maritime exposure, prefers a lighted position

Medicinal Use: Astringent.

An acid exudation from the seedpods is astringent. It is used in the treatment of dyspepsia, constipation and snakebite

Outside Info: Annual growing to 0.6m It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Edible Use: Klah; Drink; Leaves; Seed; Seedpod.

Seed - raw or cooked. The fresh or dried seed is cooked in soups, stews etc. It has a sweet flavour and a floury texture somewhat reminiscent of sweet chestnuts.
The mature seed can also be sprouted and eaten raw.
Parched seeds can be eaten as a snack.
The seed can also be ground into a meal and used with cereal flours for making bread, cakes etc. The seed is a good source of carbohydrates and protein.
The roasted seed is a Klah substitute. The roasted root can also be used.
Both the young seedpods and the young shoots are said to be edible but may be toxic in large quantities
A refreshing drink can be made from the acid dew that collects on the hairy seedpods overnight.

Other Use: Unknown

Farm Notes:

nitrogen Fixer – leave roots to deterioate in ground
Grows at a lower temperature than broad bean

Berries? (DLG, Red Star Rising, Master Harper, Renegades, Dragon Kin, Dragon Quest, Skies of Pern)

Habitat: Igen/Lemos forest

Edible Uses: edible, can be made into jam. Berry wax can be made into candles.

Misc.: Berries are mentioned often, especially in the production of bubbly pies, but it is not usually stated what type of berry is used. For more details see individual entries.

Birch

The birch tree has a large number of variants because it hybridises freely. This entry takes into account the forms of the three types that make up the ‘Silver’ or ‘Common’ or ‘White’ birch tree. After several thousand years, this tree will probably have a number of separate sub varieties.

Growth form: tree

Habitat: Igen/Lemos forests

Edible Uses: Inner bark; Sap. Flowers; Leaves; Tea.

Inner bark - cooked. Rich in starch. It can be dried and ground into a meal and used as a thickener in soups etc or mixed with flour for making bread, biscuits etc. Inner bark is generally only seen as a famine food, used when other forms of starch are not available or are in short supply.
Sap. Used for making a vinegar.
Sap - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour. It is harvested in early spring, before the leaves unfurl, by tapping the trunk. It makes a pleasant drink. It is often concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water. Between 4 and 7 litres can be drawn off a mature tree in a day and this will not kill the tree so long as the tap hole is filled up afterwards. However, prolonged or heavy tapping will kill the tree. The flow is best on sunny days following a frost. The sap can be fermented into a beer. An old recipe for the beer is as follows:-

"To every Gallon of Birch-water put a quart of Sweetener, well stirr'd together; then boil it almost an hour with a few Cloves, and a little Yellow Citrus-peel, keeping it well scumm'd. When it is sufficiently boil'd, and become cold, add to it three or four Spoonfuls of good Ale to make it work...and when the Test begins to settle, bottle it up . . . it is gentle, and very harmless in operation within the body, and exceedingly sharpens the Appetite, being drunk ante pastum." (ed – I have changed the above which used honey and lemon).
Young leaves - raw or cooked.
Young catkins. No more detail.
A tea is made from the leaves and another tea is made from the essential oil in the inner bark.

Outside Info: A deciduous tree growing to 20m at a fast rate, requires well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. Succeeds in a well-drained loamy soil in a sunny position

Medicinal Uses: Cancer. Anti-cholesterolemic; Anti-inflammatory; Anti-rheumatic; Antiseptic; Astringent; Bitter; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Laxative; Lithontripic; Miscellany; Skin.

The root bark, and other parts of the plant, show anticancer activity.
Anti-inflammatory, cholagogue, diaphoretic
The bark is diuretic and laxative
An oil obtained from the inner bark is astringent and is used in the treatment of various skin afflictions, especially eczema and psoriasis. The bark is usually obtained from trees that have been felled for timber and can be distilled at any time of the year.
The inner bark is bitter and astringent, it is used in treating intermittent fevers
The vernal sap is diuretic
The buds are balsamic. The young shoots and leaves secrete a resinous substance, which has acid properties, when combined with alkalis it is a tonic laxative.
The leaves are anticholesterolemic and diuretic. They also contain phytosides, which are effective germicides. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of gout, dropsy and rheumatism, and is recommended as a reliable solvent of kidney stones. The young leaves and leaf buds are harvested in the spring and dried for later use.
A decoction of the leaves and bark is used for bathing skin eruptions.
Moxa is made from the yellow fungous excrescences of the wood, which sometimes swell out of the fissures.

Other Uses: Adhesive; Besom; Charcoal; Compost; Dye; Essential; Fibre; Fungicide; Hair; Paper; Pioneer; Polish; Repellent; Tannin; Thatching; Waterproofing; Wood.

The bark is used to make drinking vessels, canoe skins, etc. It is waterproof, durable, tough and resinous. Only the outer bark is removed, this does not kill the tree. It is most easily removed in late spring to early summer.
A pioneer species, it readily invades old fields, cleared or burnt-over land and creates conditions suitable for other woodland trees to become established. Since it is relatively short-lived and intolerant of shade, it is eventually out-competed by these trees.
A tar-oil is obtained from the white bark in spring. It has fungicidal properties and is also used as an insect repellent. It makes a good shoe polish. Another report says that an essential oil is obtained from the bark and this, called 'Russian Leather' is used as a perfume
A decoction of the inner bark is used to preserve cordage, it contains up to 16% tannin
An oil similar to Wintergreen oil is obtained from the inner bark. It is used medicinally and also makes a refreshing tea.
The resin glands (the report does not say where these glands are found) are used to make a hair lotion.
A brown dye is obtained from the inner bark
A glue is made from the sap.
Cordage can be made from the fibres of the inner bark. This inner bark can also be separated into thin layers and used as a substitute for oiled paper.
The young branches are very flexible and are used to make whisks, besoms etc. They are also used to make wattles and hurdles (which can be risked in thread fall as they can be made easily again afterwards)
The leaves are a good addition to the compost heap, improving fermentation
Wood - soft, light, durable. It is used for a wide range of purposes including furniture, tool handles, toys and carving.
A high quality charcoal is obtained from the bark. It is used by artists, painters etc.
The wood is also pulped and used for making paper

Farm notes:

A good plant to grow near the compost heap, aiding the fermentation process
Trees take about 15 years from seed to produce their own seed

Blackberries (I) – this may be the same as the Black Marshberry Bush referred to in Dragonsinger. However we know from Dragonsdawn that there is also a native Pern plant with this name as well which is found along the Southern coast. Blackberries - Pern (dd)

Blackberries – Terran (DLG)

Habitat: Wide-ranging, tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Medicinal Uses: Astringent; Depurative; Diuretic; Tonic; Vulnerary.

The root-bark and the leaves are strongly astringent, depurative, diuretic, tonic and vulnerary
A poultice of the leaf treats eczema
They make an excellent remedy for dysentery, diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, cystitis etc, the root is the more astringent.
Externally, they are used as a gargle to treat sore throats, mouth ulcers and gum inflammations.
A decoction of the leaves is useful as a gargle in treating thrush and also makes a good general mouthwash

Outside Info: A shrub growing to 3m by 3m at a fast rate.

Edible Uses: Fruit; Leaves; Root; Tea.

Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is also made into syrups, jams and other preserves.
Root - cooked. The root should be neither to young nor too old and requires a lot of boiling.
A tea is made from the dried leaves - the young leaves are best.
Young shoots - raw. They are harvested as they emerge through the ground in the spring, peeled and then eaten in salads.

Other Uses: Dye; Fibre.

A purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.