Aconite,
Adonis,
Alfalfa
|
Algae,
Almond,
Aloe
Vera
|
Apples,
Arnica, Ash
|
Oregan
Ash, Black
Ash, Manna
Ash, Red
Ash, Blue
Ash
|
Asparagus,
Fern Asparagus, Bamboo
Grass, Banana
|
Barley,
Basil
|
Bayleaf
|
Beachberry,
Beans (Runner,
Kidney)
|
Beans (Broad,
chickpea)
Berries
|
Birch
|
Blackberries, blackberries
– Terran, Blackmarsh
Berry, Black
Mustard
|
Blooming
Plant, Blueberry,
Borage
|
Box,
Bran, Brassicae
|
Broccoli,
Brown
Mustard, Brussels
Sprouts
|
Bulge-nut,
Cabbage,
Cauliflower,
Celery
|
Cherries
|
Cinnamon,
Cinquefoil,
Citron,
Citrus,
Clovers, redclover
|
white,
Coconut,
Comfrey
|
Conifers, Alpine
Pine
|
Norway
Spruce, Silver
fir
|
Maritime
Pine, Coriander
|
Corn,
Cotton
|
Cottonwood
Tree, Eastern
Cottonwood
|
Creeper
Vine, Cress,
Land Cress
|
Cucumber,
Deal,
Dragons
Tongue, Ezob
|
Featherfern,
Feverfew,
Fellis
Tree, Fern,
Fingeroots
|
Flax
|
Flax, Frond
Tree, Fungi,
Garlic
|
Ging,
Gingko,
Glovecap
|
Goru
Pear, Grain,
Grapes
|
Grasses,
Grasses
– River Island, Sweet Grass, Green
Fruits
|
Greens,
Gooseberry,
Grass
Reeds, Hardwoods
|
Hazelnut
Tree, Hemp,
Hyssop
|
Honeywood,
Hops
|
Ilex,
Itch-leaf,
Kale
|
Kiwi,
Klahbark
Tree, Kohlrabi,
Land
Cress
|
Lavender,
Legumes,
Lemongrass
|
Lentils,
Litmus,
Lovage
|
Lur-weed,
Mandamo
Tree, Mango,
Marjoram
|
Marsh
Berry, Meadowsweet,
Melon
|
Mint,
Spearmint/Gardenmint, Peppermint
|
Watermint,
Moonflower,
Moss, Mugwort
|
Mushroom,
Needlethorn, Nettle
|
Numbweed
|
Nutmeg,
Nutmegoid,
Oak
|
Oats,
Oilbrush
|
Onion,
Orange
|
Parsley,
Parsnip
|
Pawberry,
Peach,
Peanuts
|
Pears,
Peas,
Field
Pea, Sugar
snap pea
|
Pecan,
Peppers,
Capsicum
|
Pepper-chilli,
Pepper-black,
Peppermint,
Pine
|
Pinkroot,
Pineapple,
Plum,
Damson
|
Purplegrass,
Quince,
rapes
|
Raspberry,
Redfruit,
Redroot
|
Redwort,
Reeds,
Rindfruit,
Rivergrains
|
Rockweed,
Rowan,
Rosemary
|
Rue
|
Rushes,
Sabsab
Bush, Sage,
Saponin
root
|
Saw
Grass, Scrub
Pine
|
Seabeachplum,
Sea
bush, Seagrass,
Sea
plant, Seaweed
|
Shallow
Water Sea grass, Shrub,
Sisal,
Sisal-Terran,
Sky
Broom
|
Softwood,
soybean,
Spearleek
|
Spiceroot,
Spinach, Starsuckle
|
Sticklebush,
Straw,
Streamer
|
Sugar
Beet, Swamp
Grass, swede
|
Sweet
Cane, Sweet Grass, Sweet
Potato, Sweatroot
|
Tansy
|
Tarragon,
Teakwood, thymus
|
Tomato
|
Trace
moss, Tubers,
Turnip
|
Tusilago,
Verbena
|
https://www.angelfire.com/dragon2/perneseherbal/ref/aph.htm#vinesista,
https://www.angelfire.com/dragon2/perneseherbal/ref/aph.htm#vinesnerat,
Walnut
|
Water
Cress, Water
Lily, Water
Melon
|
Wedgenut,
Wheat
|
White Bulb, White
Root, White
Thorn
|
Willow,
Wintergreen,
Witch
hazel
|
Withies,
Woodruff,
Yarrow
|
Yellow
Fruit
|
Yellow
Veined Grass
|
Aconite (DLG,
Moreta, Nerilka)
Habitat: near Fort Hold, Woodland, Dappled Shade.
Growth form: root
Medicinal Uses: Anaesthetic; Analgesic; Anti-inflammatory;
Antirheumatic; Cardiotonic; Vasodilator, anodyne, for heart palpitations.
- 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:
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.
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:.
Other Use:
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
- young
shoots (with alum as a Mordant) make a creamy fawn colour dye.
- A
fibre is obtained from the stem and used to make twine
Blackberries – (DLG, Dragons Dawn)
Habitat: Full range
unknown – may be related to Black marsh berries. Certainly a coastal plant so can tolerate maritime exposure.
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Similar to Terran variety in
appearance
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Other Uses: Oil
Black marsh berries (Dragon Song)
Habitat: Marshy
areas, inc Half Circle Seahold
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Unsure
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Other Uses: Oil; tinder
- Pressed
for oil in large quantities
- Menolly
used the dry bush carcasses for tinder
Habitat: requires
well-drained, moist, soil, and can tolerate maritime exposure. Prefers tropics
but grows well in temperate regions.
Medicinal Uses: Appetizer; Digestive;
Diuretic; Emetic; Rubefacient; Stimulant.
- Mustard
seed is used as a rubefacient poultice.
- The
seed is ground and made into a paste then applied to the skin for
treatment of rheumatism, as a means of reducing congestion in internal organs.
- Applied
externally, mustard relieves congestion by drawing the blood to the
surface as in head afflictions, neuralgia and spasms.
- Used
internally, it is an appetizer, digestive, diuretic, emetic and tonic.
- Swallowed
whole when mixed with molasses, it acts as a laxative.
- A
decoction of the seeds is used in the treatment of indurations of the
liver and spleen.
- It is
also used to treat carcinoma, throat tumours, and imposthumes.
- A
liquid prepared from the seed, when gargled, is said to help tumours of
the "sinax.".
- The
seed is eaten as a tonic and appetite stimulant.
- Hot
water poured onto bruised mustard seeds makes a stimulating foot bath and
can also be used as an inhaler where it acts to throw off a cold or dispel
a headache.
Outside Info: Annual growing to 1.2m by 0.6m
Edible Uses: Leaves; Oil; Seed; Stem.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A hot flavour, they can be finely chopped and added to
salads or cooked as a potherb
- The
seedlings can also be used in salad when one week old
- Immature
flowering stems - cooked and eaten like broccoli
- Mustard
seed is ground into powder as a food flavouring
An edible oil is obtained from the seed
Other Uses: Green manure; Oil; Repellent;
Antiseptic
- Mustard
flour is considered antiseptic[269].
- A
semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed, as well as being edible it is
also used as a lubricant, illuminant, hair tonic, animal repellent and in
making soap
- Scent:
Flowers: Fresh, The flowers have a pleasing perfume, though this is only noticed
if several flowers are inhaled at the same time.
Habitat: Southern
Boll
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Has fragrant pink blossoms
tangling in clusters. Blooms in
'winter'. possibly year round.
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Blueberry (DLG)
Growth form: bush
Habitat: open
barrens, peats and rocks. A very hardy
plant, some species tolerating temperatures down to about -40°c or marshland.
Medicinal Uses: Blood tonic; Oxytoxic.
- A tea
made from the leaves is used as a blood purifier and in the treatment of
infant's colic.
- It
has also been used to induce labour and as a tonic after a miscarriage.
Outside Info: shrub growing to 0.2m
Edible Uses: Fruit; Tea.
- Fruit
- raw, cooked (Popular in bubbly pies) or used in preserves etc. A very
sweet pleasant flavour with a slight taste of honey.
- The
fruit can be dried and used like raisins. The fruit is about 12mm in
diameter.
- A tea
is made from the leaves and dried fruits[101].
Other Uses:
Dye
- bluish-purple
Dye from the berries
Borage, Borrago (DLG,
Moreta)
Growth form: bush
Habitat: tolerates
drought, prefers shade and semi-shade
Medicinal Uses: Demulcent; Depurative;
Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emollient; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Hypotensive; Lenitive;
Poultice; Sedative; Skin; Women's complaints.
- Has a
good reputation for its beneficial affect on the mind, being used to
dispel melancholy and induce euphoria
- It is
a soothing saline, diuretic herb that soothes damaged or irritated
tissues.
- The
leaves, and to a lesser extent the flowers, are demulcent, diaphoretic,
depurative, mildly diuretic, emollient, expectorant, febrifuge, lenitive
and mildly sedative.
- An
infusion is taken internally in the treatment of a range of ailments
including fevers, chest problems and kidney problems, but not for people
with liver problems.
- Externally
it is used as a poultice for inflammatory swellings.
- The
leaves are harvested in late spring/summer as the plant comes into flower.
They can be used fresh or dried but should not be stored for more than one
year because they soon lose their medicinal properties.
- The
seeds are a rich source of gamma-linolenic acid, which oil helps to
regulate the hormonal systems and lowers blood pressure.
- It is
used both internally and externally, helping to relieve skin complaints
and pre-menstrual tension.
Outside Info: Annual growing to 0.6m by 0.3m
with blue star-like flowers
Edible Uses: Colouring; Flowers; Leaves;
Oil; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked can be used as a pot-herb or be added to salads. They are
also added whole as a flavouring to wine. The leaves are rich in potassium
and calcium, they have a salty cucumber flavour. Very hairy and unpleasant
to eat whole leaves so chop finely, and add to rest of salad. The leaves
should always be used fresh, because they lose their flavour and colour if
dried.
- Flowers
– raw are a decorative garnish on salads and summer fruit drinks. The
flowers are very nice, both to look at and to taste with a sweet slightly
cucumber-like flavour.
- A refreshing
tea is made from the leaves and/or the flowers.
- The
dried stems are used for flavouring beverages.
- The
seed yields 30% oil.
- An
edible blue dye can be obtained from the flowers and is use to colour
vinegar.
Other Uses:
Dye; Repellent; cleanser; paint.
- The
growing plant is said to repel insects.
- A
blue dye is obtained from the flowers. This turns pink on contact with
acids.
- Mix
leaf with barley and bran in a small muslin bag and use in a bath to
cleanse and soften skin.
- The
flowers produce a nice pure blue for paints.
Farm Notes:
- The
seed ripens intermittently over a period of time and falls from the plant
when it is ripe, making harvesting very intensive.
- A good
companion for strawberries, tomatoes, courgettes and most other plants
Box (DLG,
Moreta)
Habitat: usually found wild on chalk and Limestone.
Medicinal Uses: Alterative; Antiperiodic;
Antirheumatic; Cathartic; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Febrifuge; Homeopathy;
Narcotic; Odontalgic; Oxytoxic; Sedative; Tonic; Vermifuge.
- Use
with caution and only under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
The plant has not been fully tested for its toxic side effects.
- Occasionally
used in the past as a sedative and to treat syphilis.
- The
leaves and the bark are alterative, antirheumatic, cathartic, cholagogue,
diaphoretic, febrifuge, oxytocic and vermifuge.
- The
leaves have been used as a quinine substitute in the treatment of malaria.
- The
leaves are harvested in the spring, before the plant comes into flower,
and they are dried for later use.
- The
bark can be harvested at any time of the year and is dried for use in
decoctions.
- The
wood is diaphoretic, in full dose it is narcotic and sedative, in overdose
it is convulsant and emetico-cathartic.
- A
tincture of the wood is used as a bitter tonic and antiperiodic,.
- A
volatile oil distilled from the wood is prescribed in cases of epilepsy.
- An
essential oil obtained from the plant is used in dentistry.
- A
homeopathic remedy is made from the plant for use in the treatment of
rheumatism.
Outside Info:
An evergreen shrub growing to 5m by 5m at a slow rate. requires
well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. The foliage is pungently
scented, especially when wet
Edible Uses: Beer.
- Although
the leaves have been used as a substitute for hops in making beer, the
result would probably prove to be
injurious.
Other Uses: Dye; Hedge; Wood.
- Box
makes an excellent hedge from 45cm to 4.5 metres tall according to the
variety grown (in grubbed areas).
- The
leaves and sawdust, boiled in lye, have been used to dye hair an auburn
colour.
- Wood
- hard, close grained, heavy. Although the wood is rather small, it is highly
valued on account of its hardness - it is twice as hard as oak. Used for
engraving, turnery, carving, printing blocks, bowls, combs, furniture and
small items such as musical and mathematical instruments.
Farm Notes: A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures
down to at least -23°c, though it prefers milder winters.
Bran: Not a
plant!
For those unsure of just what Bran is here you go: it is the
indigestible outer husk of wheat, rice, oats and other cereal grains
- Wheat
bran when used properly in a high-fibre diet can help prevent intestinal
disorders, as it helps prevent constipation; bran may also benefit people
suffering from hemorrhoids. Used in excessive amounts can cause bloating
and intestinal gas
- Oat
bran is loaded with soluble fibre, which is sticky and combines with water
to form a thick gel. It helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and improves
the glucose metabolism for people with diabetes. This helps in reducing
the need for insulin and other medications.
- Rice
bran reduces cholesterol level from either the bran fibre or from the oil
that is in the rice.
Note: All types of bran play an important role in weight
control by promoting a feeling of fullness without overeating. Do not eat raw
bran! (it can be painful and unpleasant) -
Eat whole grain breads, cereals and other products that contain bran.
Brassicae is part of the scientific name of a variety of
plants including mustards. At one time,
it may have been adopted as another name for mustard. Typical plants in the
family are Broccoli, mustards, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, vetches etc – such
plants are marked in this guide by the number 1 next to them.
Habitat: Temperate, resisting temperatures
down to -17°c requires moist soil; can tolerate maritime exposure. Some varieties like dry and hot climates.
Medicinal Uses: None Known
Outside Info: Biennial growing to 0.9m;
Edible Uses: Flowers; Leaves.
- Young
flowering stems and leaves - raw or cooked.
- The shoots
of sprouting broccoli are harvested when about 10cm long, and before the
flowers open, the shoots look somewhat like a small white or purple
cauliflower and have a delicious flavour.
Calabrese produce a central inflorescence like a small cauliflower
and are very productive if they are regularly harvested
Other Uses: None Known
Farm
Notes
- When
picking the stems, make sure that you leave behind a section of the stem
with leaves on it, since the plants will often produce new side shoots
from the leaf axils
- A
useful winter plant – as certain varieties (calabrese) are available Late
summer to Autumn and others throughout the winter with some available
(under cover) in late spring.
- A good
companion for celery and other aromatic plants since these seem to reduce
insect predations.
- Grows
badly with potatoes, beet and onions.
- Grows
well with potatoes, beet and onions
Brown Mustard – 1 (DLG)
Habitat: Succeeds in full sun in most well-drained
moisture-retentive fertile soils. Prefers a heavy soil and some shade. Dislikes
very hot weather. Plants tolerate high rainfall and, although fairly deep
rooted, are not very drought resistant.
Widely adapted from Tropics to Temperate zones.
Medicinal Use: Anodyne; Antibiotic;
Aperient; Diuretic; Emetic; Galactogogue; Rubefacient; Stimulant.
- The
seed is a warming stimulant herb with antibiotic effects.
- Reported
to be anodyne, aperitif, diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, and stimulant,
Brown Mustard is a folk remedy for arthritis, foot ache, lumbago, and
rheumatism.
- The
seed is used in the treatment of tumours, of abscesses, colds, lumbago,
rheumatism, and stomach disorders. The root is used as a galactagogue in
Africa.
- Ingestion
may impart a body odour repellent to certain insects.
- Mustard
oil is used in the treatment of skin eruptions and ulcers. Believed to be
aperient and tonic, the volatile oil is used as a counterirritant and
stimulant.
- The
plant is used as an antisyphilitic emmenagogue.
- Leaves
applied to the forehead are said to relieve headache.
- Eat
the leaves in soups for bladder, inflammation or haemorrhage.
Outside Info: Annual growing to 0.75m by 0.25m
Edible Use: Condiment; Flowers; Leaves;
Oil; Root; Seed.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A peppery flavour that can range from mild to hot. The
leaves can also be eaten raw, when finely shredded they make a very
acceptable addition to mixed salads.
- The
protein extracted from the leaves mixes well with banana pulp and is well
adapted as a pie filling.
- Flowers
and young flowering stems - raw or cooked. Sweet and succulent.
An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed which contains 25 -
30% oil.
- The
seed is used as mustard flavouring. Pungency of mustard develops when cold
water is added to the ground-up seed. The reaction takes 10 - 15 minutes.
Mixing with hot water or vinegar, or adding salt produces a mild bitter
mustard.
- The
seed is also used whole in curries and pickles. They are often heated in
oil to destroy their pungency and give them a nutty flavour.
- The
root of some forms of this species is edible.
- Sprouted
seeds can be added to salads.
Other Use: Green manure; Repellent.
- If
this plant is grown as a green manure it is effective in reducing
soil-borne root rots in pea crops. This is attributed to chemicals that
are given off as the plants decay.
Farm Note:
Sow the variety best adapted for the climate you are farming in.
Brussels Sprouts -1
Habitat: Temperate plant. Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained
fertile preferably alkaline soil; tolerate maritime exposure. hardy to about
-10°c
Medicinal Uses: None known
Outside Info: Biennial growing to 1.2m
Edible Uses: Leaves.
- Leaf
buds - raw or cooked. Well-grown plants produce an abundance of leaf-buds
(looking rather like miniature cabbage heads) along the main stem at the
leaf axils. These can be shredded and eaten raw in salads, though many
people find them indigestible when eaten this way. They have a very nice
cabbage flavour when cooked and are a very popular winter vegetable.
Other Uses: None known
Farm Notes:
- By
careful selection of varieties, and cutting out the central stalk on early
varieties, it is possible to harvest the buds from summer until late
spring.
- Grows
badly with strawberries, each plant serving to retard the growth of the
other
- Grows
well with many aromatic herbs, these herbs help to repel insect pests.
Some other plants that grow well with Brussels sprouts include potatoes
and celery
Bulge-nut (Menai)
I have been unable to find this reference in the books.
Habitat: Igen/Lemos forest.
Edible Uses:
Large quantities can be processed into flour for bread
Cabbage – 1
Habitat: Succeeds in any reasonable soil. Succeeds in
maritime gardens
Medicinal Uses: None Known
Outside Info: Biennial growing to 0.75m
Edible Uses: Leaves; Seed.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. Cabbages are generally used as a cooked vegetable, though
the shredded leaves can also be eaten in salads.. Those leaves in the
heart of the plants are more tender than outside leaves and so are also
more suitable for eating raw. These heart leaves, though, are less
nutritious because they have been excluded from the light. Many people
find that the raw leaves give them indigestion. The leaves can be
fermented and made into sauerkraut, used as a health food and said to be
good for the digestive system.
- Seeds
- sprouted and added to salads. Very good eating.
Other Uses: Dye.
- A
blue dye can be obtained from the leaves of purple cultivars
Farm Notes:
- By
careful selection of cultivars, it is possible to harvest cabbages all
year round. There are also some varieties that can be harvested in early
winter and stored for a few months in a cool place to provide leaves in
areas with very severe winters
- Good
companions for dill, camomile, sage, wormwood, mint and other aromatic
plants which help to reduce insect predations on the cabbages.
- Cabbages
also grow well with potatoes and beet.
- They
grow badly with strawberries, tomatoes and climbing beans
Cauliflower – 1
Habitat: Succeeds in full sun in a well-drained
moisture-retentive fertile soil with plenty of lime. Succeeds in maritime
gardens. Heads will not form at temperatures about 20°c. Need to be exposed to temps of -10°c for some
plants to regrow.
Medicinal Uses: None Known
Outside Info: Biennial growing to 0.75m.
Edible Uses: Flowers; Leaves.
- Immature
flowering head - raw or cooked. A mild cabbage-like flavour, they make an
excellent cooked vegetable and are also very acceptable in salads Leaves -
cooked.
- A
mild cabbage flavour, they make a good cooked vegetable.
Other Uses: Fungicide.
- An
extract of the seeds inactivates the bacteria that causes black rot
Farm Notes:
- By careful
selection of cultivars, it is possible to produce flowering heads all year
round.
- Grows
well with celery and other aromatic plants since these seem to deter
insect predations. Grows badly with beet, tomatoes, onions and
strawberries
Celery (DLG)
Habitat: Nabol
Medicinal uses: Antiarthritic; Aperient;
Carminative; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Galactogogue; Nervine; Stimulant; Tonic.
- Although
not as medicinally active as wild celery, the cultivated forms of celery
also have the same medicinal properties and, when used as an item of the
diet, will have a similar effect upon the body. These medicinal uses are
as follows:-
- Wild
celery is an aromatic bitter tonic herb that reduces blood pressure,
relieves indigestion, stimulates the uterus and is anti-inflammatory.
- The
ripe seeds, herb and root are aperient, carminative, diuretic,
emmenagogue, galactogogue, nervine, stimulant and tonic.
- It is
useful in cases of hysteria, promoting restfulness and sleep and diffusing
through the system a mild sustaining influence.
- The
herb should not be prescribed for pregnant women.
- The
root is harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried.
- The
whole plant is harvested when fruiting and is usually liquidized to
extract the juice.
- An essential
oil obtained from the plant has a calming effect on the central nervous
system. Some of its constituents have antispasmodic, sedative and
anticonvulsant actions. It is shown to be of value in treating high blood
pressure.
- A
homeopathic remedy is made from the herb. It is used in treating
rheumatism and kidney complaints.
Outside Info:
Edible Uses: Condiment;
Leaves; Root; Seed.
- Leaf
stems - raw or cooked. A fairly common salad ingredient, celery stems are
also used to make soups, stews etc. The winter varieties can be bitter if
they are not blanched by excluding light from the stems for at least a few
weeks prior to harvesting. Many people find the raw stalks are somewhat
indigestible.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. They are often used as a flavouring in soups etc. They
can also be eaten raw but have a very strong flavour and are probably best
as a minor ingredient in a mixed salad.
- Seed
- used as a flavouring for sauces, soups, pickles etc
- An
essential oil from the seed is also used as a flavouring. Root - cooked.
There is not much of it but it can be cut up and added to soups.
Other Uses: Repellent.
- The
growing plant is an insect repellent,
Farm Notes:
- The
seeds are harvested as they ripen and are dried for later use
- leaf growth
is poor at higher temperatures
- A
good companion for leeks, tomatoes, French beans and Brassicae
Cherries (DLG)
There are a large number of varieties of this fruit. The details below are for the main species
of sweet cherry.
Habitat: It requires moist soil. Succeeds in light shade but
fruits better in a sunny position. Thrives in a loamy soil, doing well on
limestone. Plants are hardy to about -20°c
Medicinal Uses: Antitussive; Astringent;
Diuretic; Tonic; Bitter; Febrifuge; Nervine; Salve.
- The
fruit stalks are astringent, diuretic and tonic.
- A
decoction is used in the treatment of cystitis, oedema, bronchial
complaints, looseness of the bowels and anaemia
- An
aromatic resin can be obtained by making small incisions in the trunk.
This is used as an inhalant in the treatment of persistent coughs.
- Although
no specific mention is seen for this species, all members of the genus
contain amygdalin and prunasin, substances which break down in water to
form hydrocyanic acid (cyanide or prussic acid). In small amounts this
exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion
and gives a sense of well-being.
- The
bark of the sour cherry is astringent, bitter and febrifuge.
- An
infusion of that bark is used in the treatment of fevers, coughs and
colds.
- The
root bark is used as a wash for old sores and ulcers.
- The
seed is nervine.
Outside Info: A deciduous tree growing to 18m
by 7m at a fast rate. The fruit is about 20mm in diameter and contains one
large seed
Edible Uses: Fruit; Gum; Seed; Oil; Tea.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. It can be sweet or bitter but it is not acid. The fruit
can be cooked in pies etc or used to make preserves.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. Do not eat the seed if it is too bitter as this means it
will be toxic.
- An
edible gum is obtained by wounding the bark.
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed of the sour cherry. When refined it
is used as a salad oil
- The
leaves of the sour cherry are used as a tea substitute
Other Uses: Adhesive; Dye; Tannin; Wood.
- A
green dye can be obtained from the leaves.
- A
dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
- The
bark usually only contains small amounts of tannin, but this sometimes
rises to 16%.
- Wood
- firm, compact, satiny grain. Used for turnery, furniture, instruments
- The
gum obtained from the stem is also used as an adhesive.
Farm Notes:
· Where space is at a premium, or at the limits of their climatic range, sweet cherries can be grown against a wall
· A bad companion for potatoes, making them more susceptible to potato blight, it also suppresses the growth of wheat.
- It
also grows badly with plum trees, its roots giving out an antagonistic
secretion.
Chickpea –2 (see beans)
Cinnamon (implied)
Menai includes this on her
list as Spice Root –Cinnamon is not a root but a bark. Also we know from Dragonsdawn that this is
one of the plants that was struggling to adapt to Pernese conditions. It is therefore not included here.
Cinquefoil (DLG)
Habitat: Prefers
light but can tolerate light shade.
Medicinal Uses:
Antispasmodic; Astringent; Febrifuge; Odontalgic.
- Both
the roots and the herb are antispasmodic, astringent and febrifuge.
- An
infusion of the dried herb is used in the treatment of diarrhoea etc, it
is also used as a gargle for sore throats and is used externally as an
astringent lotion.
- A
concentrated decoction of the root relieves toothache.
Outside Info:
Perennial growing to 1m by 1m. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or
moist soil
Edible Uses: Leaves.
- Young
leaves - raw. A useful addition to salads
Other Uses:
Cosmetic.
- The
plant is an ingredient in many anti-wrinkle cosmetic preparations for the
skin.
Farm Notes: An easy
grower.
Citron (DLG, Moreta)
Used by Moreta as a hopeful
preventative.
Habitat: The
citron tree is highly sensitive to frost; does not enter winter dormancy as
early as other Citrus species. Foliage and fruit easily damaged by very
intense heat and drought. Best citron locations are those where there are no
extremes of temperature.
Medicinal Uses: Preventive;
abortificant; anti-nausea; purgative; dysentery; sedative; antibiotic
- The
fruit is a good provider of vitamin C
- The
leaves will abort human and animal foetuses
- Citron
juice with wine is a purgative to rid the system of poison
- the
peel is a remedy for dysentery and is eaten to overcome halitosis
- The
distilled juice is given as a sedative
- A
decoction of the shoots of wild plants is administered to improve appetite,
relieve stomach-ache and expel intestinal worms
- A
leaf infusion is given as an antispasmodic
- The
essential oil of the peel is regarded as an antibiotic.
Outside Info: a
slow-growing shrub or small tree reaching 8 to 15 ft high with stiff branches
and stiff twigs and short or long spines in the leaf axils. flower buds are
large and white or purplish; the fragrant flowers about 1 1/2 in (4 cm) wide,
in short clusters
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Juice; Peel
- The
fruits are large 15 to 25 cm long and 5 cm in diameter. The pulp is
usually too bitter for most people.
- The
fruits are halved, depulped, immersed in seawater to ferment for about 40
days, the brine being changed every 2 weeks; rinsed, put in denser brine
in wooden barrels for storage and for export. After partial de-salting and
boiling to soften the peel, it is candied in a strong sucrose/glucose
solution. These are used in confections across the planet.
- The
raw peel can be eaten with Rivergrains (rice).
- The
juice sacs are small and slender and the scanty juice is acidic and
bitter.
Other Uses: Fragrance;
cleanser; essential oil; wood
- Citrons
produce an extremely strong and pleasant odour of violets that will fill a
cot for four weeks until it dries out – the fruit will not rot.
- The juice
is used to wash fine linen
- Wood:
Branches of the citron tree are used as walking-sticks
in India. The wood is white, rather hard and heavy, and of fine grain. It
is used for agricultural implements
- essential
oil can distilled from the peel, twigs or flowers for use in perfumery
Farm Notes: A
precocious bearer, citron has a potential to yield as many as 2000 fruits a
year
Citrus (DLG, Red Star Rising)
Citrus is mentioned several times,
especially red, green and yellow varieties – I have listed these throughout the
works.
Clovers - 2
There are several different
varieties of clover, the two main common ones are presented here.
Red Clover
Habitat: Cannot
grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds
but not maritime exposure. tolerating temperatures down to at least -23°c
Medicinal Uses:
Alterative; Antiscrophulatic; Antispasmodic; Aperient; Cancer; Detergent;
Diuretic; Expectorant; Miscellany; Sedative; Skin; Tonic.
- Red
clover is safe and effective herb with a long history of medicinal usage.
- It is
commonly used to treat skin conditions, normally in combination with other
purifying herbs.
- Flavonoids
in the flowers and leaves are oestrogenic and may be of benefit in the
treatment of menopausal complaints.
- The
flowering heads are alterative, antiscrofulous, antispasmodic, aperient,
detergent, diuretic, expectorant, sedative and tonic.
- It
has also shown anticancer activity.
- Poultices
of the herb have been used as local applications to cancerous growths.
- Internally,
the plant is used in the treatment of skin complaints (especially eczema
and psoriasis), cancers of the breast, ovaries and lymphatic system,
chronic degenerative diseases, gout, whooping cough and dry coughs.
- Diseased
clover (even if the clover shows no external symptoms of disease) is
toxic.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 0.6m by 0.6m at a medium rate
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Flowers; Leaves; Root; Seed; Tea.
- Leaves
and young flowering heads - raw or cooked.
- The
young leaves are harvested before the plant comes into flower, and are
used in salads, soups etc. On their own they can be used as a vegetable,
cooked like spinach.
- The
leaves are best cooked. They can be dried, powdered and sprinkled on foods
such as boiled rice.
- The
seed can be sprouted and used in salads. A crisp texture and more robust
flavour than alfalfa.. Ingesting the seed before sprouting will stop a
person’s digestion of protein.
- Root
– cooked
- A
delicate sweet herb tea is made from the fresh or dried flowers.
Other Uses: Dye;
Green manure; Soil reclamation.
- A
yellow dye is obtained from the flowers
- The
plant makes a good green manure, it is useful for over-wintering
- It is
also grown with grass mixtures for land reclamation
Farm Notes:
- it
has good nitrogen fixing properties.
- It
can be under-sown with cereals though it may be too vigorous
- It
grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that
stores better.
White
Clover:
Habitat: Cannot
grow in the shade. It requires moist soil. Medicinal Uses:
Antirheumatic; Antiscrophulatic; Depurative; Detergent; Ophthalmic; Tonic.
- The
plant is antirheumatic, antiscrophulatic, depurative, detergent and tonic.
- An
infusion is used in the treatment of coughs, colds, fevers and
leucorrhoea.
- A
tincture of the leaves is applied as an ointment to gout.
- An
infusion of the flowers is used as an eyewash.
Outside Info:
Perennial growing to 0.1m by 1m at a medium rate
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Flowers; Leaves; Root; Seed; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked as a potherb
- The
young leaves are harvested before the plant comes into flower, and are
used in salads, soups etc. On their own they can be used as a vegetable,
cooked like spinach.
- The
leaves are best cooked. They can be dried, powdered and sprinkled on foods
such as boiled rice.
- Flowers
and seed pods are dried, ground into powder and used as a flour or
sprinkled on cooked foods such as boiled rice[183]. Very wholesome and
nutritious[115]. The young flowers can also be used in salads
- Root
– cooked
- Dried
flowering heads are a tea substitute.
Other Uses:
Green manure.
- The
plant makes a good green manure, it is useful for over-wintering
Farm Notes:
- it
has good nitrogen fixing properties.
- It
can be under sown with cereals though it may be too vigorous
- It
grows well in an apple orchard, the trees will produce tastier fruit that
stores better.
Coconut (Softnut) (Dolphins
of Pern, poss Moreta)
Habitat: Tropical
Medicinal Uses:
Outside info:
Edible Uses:
Other Uses: Fibre
The nut produces a brown coarse
fibre that can be woven
Comfrey (DLG,
Moreta, Nerilka)
Habitat: Fort
Hold; It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist
soil. Likes damp grasslands, river banks and woodlands
Medicinal Uses: Anodyne;
Astringent; Demulcent; Emollient; Expectorant; Haemostatic; Homeopathy;
Refrigerant; Vulnerary.
- The
root and the leaves are used, the root being more active, and they can be
taken internally or used externally as a poultice.
- Comfrey
is especially useful in the external treatment of cuts, bruises, sprains,
sores, eczema, varicose veins, broken bones etc,
- Internally
it is used in the treatment of a wide range of pulmonary complaints,
internal bleeding etc.
- It
contains 'allantoin', that speeds up the healing process and is used in
healing creams by the Healer Hall.
- The
root and leaves are anodyne, astringent (mild), demulcent, emollient,
expectorant, haemostatic, refrigerant, vulnerary.
- Some
caution is advised, however, especially in the internal use of the herb.
External applications and internally taken teas or tinctures of the leaves
are considered to be completely safe, but internal applications of tablets
or capsules are felt to have too many drawbacks for safe usage as the
plant can be toxic.
- The
leaves are harvested in early summer before the plant flowers, the roots
are harvested in the autumn. Both are dried for later use.
- A
homeopathic remedy is made from the fresh root, harvested before the plant
flowers with a very limited range of application, but is of great benefit
in the treatment of broken bones and eye injuries.
- The
leaf and root can be infused and added to a bath or lotion to soften skin
Outside Info:. Oval, pointed
leaf is marbled with green and yellow. Flowers range from blue to pink to
white, and bloom in spring. The plants grow to 120cm.
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Tea; Root
- Young
leaves - cooked or raw. The leaf is hairy and full of minerals but it is
not pleasant eating for most tastes as a full leaf. It can be chopped up
finely and added to salads, in this way the hairiness is not so obvious.
- Young
shoots can be used as an asparagus substitute using blanched stalks.
- Older
leaves can be dried and used as a tea.
- The
peeled roots are cut up and added to soups.
- A tea
is made from the dried leaves and roots].
- The
roasted roots are used with dandelion and chicory roots for making Klah.
Other Uses: Biomass;
Compost; Gum.
- The
plant grows very quickly, producing a lot of bulk. It is tolerant of being
cut several times a year and can be used to provide 'instant compost' for
crops such as potatoes. Simply layer the wilted leaves at the bottom of
the potato trench or apply them as a mulch in no-dig gardens.
- A liquid
feed can be obtained by soaking the leaves in a small amount of water for
a week, excellent for potassium demanding crops such as tomatoes.
- The
leaves are also a very valuable addition to the compost heap.
- A gum
obtained from the roots is used in the treatment of wool before spinning.
Farm Notes:
- Grow
in restricted area as the root system is very deep and difficult to
eradicate, even small fragments of root left in the soil can produce new
plants
Conifers (DLG)
A conifer is a type of tree and not
really a distinct species. As the
location given is Tillek and the High Reaches, I have chosen a number of the
colder climate varieties as representatives for the whole family.
Habitat: Prefers
a good moist but not water-logged soil Very shade tolerant
Medicinal Uses:
Antihalitosis; Antiseptic; Emetic; Foot care; Laxative; Poultice; TB; Tonic.
- Antiseptic.
The gummy exudate that appears on the bark was soaked in water until soft
and then applied to wounds. An infusion of the resin is used as an emetic
to cleanse the insides.
- The
resin has also been chewed to treat bad breath.
- A
decoction of the bark is used as a tonic and in the treatment of colds and
flu.
- A
poultice of the leaves is used to treat chest colds and fevers. An
infusion is taken to treat the coughing up of blood, which can be the
first sign of TB, and as a laxative.
Outside Info: An
evergreen tree growing to 25m by 4m at a slow rate
Edible Uses: Gum;
Inner bark; Seed; Seedpod; Tea.
- The
shoot tips are used as a tea substitute.
- The
cones can be ground into a fine powder, then mixed with fat and used as a
confection. It is said to be a delicacy and an aid to the digestion.
- The
resin from the trunk is used as a chewing gum. It is said to treat bad
breath.
- Inner
bark. Inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used with
cereal flours when making bread etc. Seeds. The seeds are very small and
fiddly to use. Seeds of this genus are generally oily with a resinous
flavour and can be eaten raw or cooked.
Other Uses: Baby
care; Deodorant; Gum; Hair; Incense; Miscellany; Repellent; Wood.
- The
fragrant young leaves and twigs are used to repel moths or are burnt as an
incense.
- They
are also ground into a powder and used to make a baby powder and perfumes.
- A gum
is obtained from the bark. It is antiseptic and is chewed in order to
clean the teeth. It is also used to plug holes in canoes etc.
- An
infusion of the leaves is used as a hair tonic.
- The
leaves can also be placed in the shoes as a foot deodorant.
- Wood
- light, soft, not strong.
Farm Notes:
- The
crushed foliage has a balsam aroma
- Does
best on Northern slopes
Norway
spruce:
Habitat: It cannot
grow in the shade. It requires moist or wet soil. The plant can tolerate
maritime exposure
Medicinal Uses: Antibiotic;
Antiseptic; Balsamic; Expectorant; Poultice; Sedative.
- The
buds, leaves and resin are antibiotic, antiseptic, balsamic, expectorant,
sedative.
- A
pitch, or resin, obtained from the trunk is rubefacient and stimulant. It
is used externally in plasters etc for its healing and antiseptic
properties.
- A
poultice of the sap or gum is used in the treatment of boil and abscess
pain
Outside Info: An
evergreen tree growing to 30m by 10m at a fast rate
Edible Uses: Flowers;
Inner bark; Seed; Tea; Beer.
- Young
male catkins - raw or cooked. Used as a flavouring.
- Immature
female cones - cooked. The central portion, when roasted, is sweet and
syrupy.
- Inner
bark - dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickener in soups etc or
added to cereals when making bread. An emergency food, used when all else
fails.
- Seed
- raw. Rich in oil and with a pleasant slightly resinous flavour, but too
small and fiddly to be worthwhile unless you are desperate.
- A
refreshing tea, rich in vitamin C, can be made from the young shoot tips.
These tips are also used in making spruce beer
Other Uses: Adhesive;
Essential; Ground cover; Pitch; Shelterbelt; Tannin; Varnish; Wood.
- The
tree is a source of pitch (Burgundy pitch) and turpentine (Jura
turpentine. Burgundy pitch is used as a varnish and in medicinal plasters.
It is a strong adhesive. The turpentine is a waterproofer and wood
preservative. They are obtained by incisions in the trunk, the resin is
scraped out some months later.
- An
essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery.
- The
seed contains 30% of a fatty oil, this is used in the production of a
varnish.
- Both
the bark and bark extract have been widely used as a source of tannin, the
bark containing up to 13% tannin. Yields of tannin have been doubled by heating
or steaming the bark as soon as possible after the tree is felled. A
fairly wind resistant tree and fast growing, it can be planted in
shelterbelts to provide protection from the wind. Dwarf cultivars are
grown as a ground cover plant in a sunny position spaced about 1 metre
apart.
- Wood
- medium hard, fairly elastic, durable under water, light in weight and
colour. Used for general carpentry, joinery, musical instruments etc.
Farm Notes:
- Likes
abundant moisture at the roots
- The
bruised leaves emit a delicious musky smell
Silver fir
Habitat: Requires
a generous rainfall and a sheltered position. Intolerant of windy sites
Medicinal Use:
Antibiotic; Antirheumatic; Antiseptic; Astringent; Balsamic; Diuretic;
Expectorant; Vasoconstrictor; Vulnerary.
- The
buds are antibiotic, antiseptic and balsamic.
- The
bark is antiseptic and astringent. It can be harvested as required
throughout the year.
- The
leaves are expectorant and a bronchial sedative. They are best harvested
in the spring and can be dried for later use.
- The
resin is antiseptic, balsamic, diuretic, eupeptic, expectorant,
vasoconstrictor and vulnerary.
- Both
the leaves and the resin are common ingredients in remedies for colds and
coughs, either taken internally or used as an inhalant.
- The leaves
and/or the resin are used in folk medicine to treat bronchitis, cystitis,
leucorrhoea, ulcers and flatulent colic.
- The
resin is also used externally in bath extracts, rubbing oils etc for
treating rheumatic pains and neuralgia.
- Oil
of Turpentine, which is obtained from the trunk of the tree, is
occasionally used instead of the leaves or the resin. The oil is also
rubefacient and can be applied externally in the treatment of neuralgia.
Outside Info: An
evergreen tree growing to 45m by 15m at a fast rate. It requires moist soil
Edible Use: Inner
bark.
- Inner
bark - cooked. It is dried, ground into a powder and then used as a
thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making bread
Other Use: Essential;
Lacquer; Paint; Resin; Tannin; Wood.
- An oleo-resin
is obtained from blister-like swellings in the bark. It is harvested in
the summer and used fresh, dried or distilled for oil. The resin extracted
from it is used in perfumery, medicine and for caulking ships. It is
called 'Strasburg Turpentine'.
- Oil
of turpentine is an important solvent in the paint industry. The residue,
known as 'rosin oil', is used in making varnishes, lacquers and carbon
black (for pigments and ink). Resin is tapped from trees about 60 - 80
years old in the spring and used for the distillation of oil.
- An
essential oil obtained from the leaves is used as a disinfectant and also
in medicine and perfumery. It is a common ingredient in many bath
products, giving them their familiar pine scent.
- The
bark is a source of tannin.
- Wood
- light, soft, durable, elastic. The timber of this tree is especially
sought after for its lightness, it is used for construction, furniture,
boxes, pulp etc.
Maritime
pine:
Habitat: Coastal
sands and dunes, it is also found on mountains inland.
Medicinal Use: antiseptic,
diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge.
- The
turpentine obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic,
diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge. It is a valuable remedy used
internally in the treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used
both internally and as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic
affections.
- It is
also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in
treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such
as coughs, colds, influenza and TB.
- Externally
it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints,
wounds, sores, burns, boils etc and is used in the form of liniment
plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers.
Outside Info: An evergreen
tree growing to 20m by 7m at a fast rate. It requires dry or moist soil and can
tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure
Edible Uses: Condiment.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. Rich in oil, it has a resinous flavour. The seed is about
1cm long.
- A
vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are
released from the pulpwood.
Other Uses
Dye; Herbicide; Oil; Resin;
Shelterbelt; Soil stabilization; Wood.
- Planted
as a shelterbelt along exposed coasts and also to stabilize sandy soils.
- A tan
or green dye is obtained from the needles.
- The
needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain
washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of
some plants, including wheat.
- This
species is the major source of resin obtained by tapping the trunk, or by
destructive distillation of the wood. In general, trees from warmer areas
of distribution give the higher yields.
- Rosin
is the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists
on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc.
- Pitch
can also be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a
wood preservative etc.
- Wood
- rough carpentry, boxes, pit props etc. A source of pulp wood.
Coriander (DLG)
Habitat: When
growing for the seed or essential oil a sunny position is preferred, otherwise
partial shade.
Medicinal Uses: Antihalitosis;
Aromatherapy; Aromatic; Carminative; Expectorant; Narcotic; Stimulant;
Stomachic.
- Coriander
is valued especially for its effect on the digestive system, treating
flatulence, diarrhoea and colic.
- It
settles spasms in the gut and counters the effects of nervous tension.
- The
seed is aromatic, carminative, expectorant, narcotic, stimulant and
stomachic. It is most often used with active purgatives in order to
disguise their flavour and combat their tendency to cause gripe.
- The
raw seed is chewed to stimulate the flow of gastric juices and to cure
foul breath and will sweeten the breath after garlic is eaten.
- Some
caution is advised, however, because if used too freely the seeds become
narcotic.
- Externally
the seeds have been used as a lotion or have been bruised and used as a
poultice to treat rheumatic pains.
The essential oil is used in aromatherapy as an 'Appetite stimulant'
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 0.45m by 0.25m, flowers in summer
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Seed.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. They are used as a flavouring in salads, soups etc and
the fresh leaves are probably the most widely used flavouring herb on
Pern.
- The
leaves have an aromatic flavour
- The
leaves should not be eaten in large quantities
- Seed
- cooked. It is used as a flavouring in many dishes including cakes, bread
and curries, it is also widely used to flavour certain alcoholic liquors.
- The
fresh seed has a disagreeable and nauseous smell, but when dried it
becomes fragrant, the longer it is kept the more fragrant it becomes.
- The
root is powdered and used as a condiment.
- An
essential oil from the seed is used as a food flavouring
- The
root is added to curries and the stem to beans and soups
Other Uses:
Essential; Fuel; Fungicide; Insecticide; Oil; Repellent.
- An
essential oil from the seed is used as a food flavouring, in perfumery,
soap making etc. It is also fungicidal and bactericidal.
- The
growing plant repels mites and insects. A spray made by boiling of one
part coriander leaves and one part anise (see Ezob) seeds in two parts of
water is very effective against red spider mites and woolly aphids.
- An
oil from the seed is used for making soap. The seed contains about 20%
fixed oil.,
- The
dried stems are used as a fuel.
Farm Notes: Plants
yield about 1¾ tonnes per acre of seed.
Corn (DLG,
Dolphins of Pern)
Habitat: Requires
a warm position a well drained soil and ample moisture in the growing season
Medicinal Uses: Cancer;
Cholagogue; Demulcent; Diuretic; Hypoglycaemic; Hypotensive; Lithontripic;
Stimulant; Vasodilator; Warts.
- A
decoction of the leaves and roots is used in the treatment of strangury,
dysuria and gravel.
- The
corn silks are cholagogue, demulcent, diuretic, lithontripic, mildly
stimulant and vasodilator.
- They
also act to reduce blood sugar levels and so are used in the treatment of
diabetes mellitus as well as cystitis, gonorrhoea, gout etc. The silks are
harvested before pollination occurs and are best used when fresh because
they tend to lose their diuretic effect when stored and also become
purgative.
- A
decoction of the cob is used in the treatment of nose bleeds and
menorrhagia.
- The
seed is diuretic and a mild stimulant. It is a good emollient poultice for
ulcers, swellings and rheumatic pains, and is widely used in the treatment
of cancer, tumours and warts..
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 2m at a fast rate
Edible Uses: Klah;
Oil; Pollen; Seed; Stem.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. The seed can be eaten raw or cooked before it is fully
ripe and there are varieties especially developed for this purpose (the
sweet corns) that have very sweet seeds and are delicious.
- The
mature seed can be dried and used whole or ground into a flour. It has a
very mild flavour and is used especially as a thickening agent in foods.
- The
starch is often extracted from the grain and used in making confectionery,
noodles etc.
- The
seed can also be sprouted and used in making uncooked breads and cereals.
- The
fresh succulent 'silks' (the flowering parts of the cob) can also be
eaten.
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed, it is an all-purpose culinary oil
that is frequently used as a food in salads and for cooking purposes.
- The
pollen is used as an ingredient of soups. Rich in protein, it is harvested
by tapping the flowering heads over a flat surface such as a bowl.
Harvesting the pollen will actually help to improve fertilisation of the
seeds.
- The
roasted seed is a Klah substitute.
- The
pith of the stem is chewed like sugar cane and is sometimes made into a
syrup.
Other uses: Adhesive;
Fuel; Oil; Packing; Paper.
- A
glue is made from the starch in the seed.
- This
starch is also used in cosmetics and the manufacture of glucose.
- A
semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It has many industrial uses, in
the manufacture of paints, varnishes, soaps etc.
- The
corn spathes are used in the production of paper, straw hats and small
articles such as little baskets.
- A
fibre obtained from the stems and seed husks is used for making paper.
They are harvested in late summer after the seed is harvested, they are
cut into usable pieces and soaked in clear water for 24 hours. They are
then cooked for 2 hours in soda ash and then beaten in a ball mill for 1½
hours in a ball mill. The fibres make a light greenish cream paper. Be
careful not to overcook the fibre otherwise it will produce a sticky pulp
that is very hard to form into paper.
- The
dried cobs are used as a fuel.
- The
pith of the stems is used as a packing material.
Farm Notes:
Corn grows well with early
potatoes, legumes, dill, cucurbits
Cotton (DLG, Red
Star Rising)
Habitat:
sand+clay soil, Succeeds in sun or shade
in most well-drained moist soils Fort Hold, Boll, Southern
Medicinal Uses: Cardiotonic;
Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emetic; Expectorant; Tonic; VD; Vermifuge; Warts.
- It is
an unpleasantly bitter stimulant irritant herb that acts on the heart,
respiratory and urinary systems, and also on the uterus. It can be
employed to treat a wide variety of complaints including rheumatism,
coughs, pox, whooping cough, asthma, internal parasites, diarrhoea and
also to increase milk flow in lactating mothers.
- The
plant should be used with great caution, and only under the supervision of
a qualified practitioner if taken internally.
- The
root is cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and expectorant and is
harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.
- The
fresh root is the most active part medicinally. It is used in the
treatment of syphilis and as a tonic.
- A
weak tea made from the dried root is used for cardiac diseases.
- A tea
made from the root is used as a vermifuge. The milky sap is a folk remedy
for venereal warts.
Outside Info:
Perennial growing to 0.6m by 1m
Edible Uses: Gum;
Seed.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. It can be ground into a powder and used as a meal.
- A
latex obtained from the plant is used as a chewing gum. After the latex is
squeezed from the plant it s allowed to stand overnight to harden into a
white gum.
Other Uses:
Fibre; Latex.
- A
very good quality fibre obtained from the bark is used for making clothes,
twine, bags, linen, paper etc. It is about 12 - 18mm long. Very strong, it
does not shrink and it retains its strength in water. The fibre is
produced late in the season, it can be harvested after the leaves fall in
autumn but is probably at its best as the seed pods are forming.
- When
making paper, the stems can be retted by leaving them in the ground until
they are dry in the winter or they can be harvested in late summer, the
leaves removed and the stems steamed to remove the fibre. The stems are
then cooked for two hours with lye and pounded with mallets.
- The
plant yields a latex which is a possible source of rubber. The latex is
also used as a chewing gum.
Farm Notes:
Plants can be invasive.
Cottonwood
tree (DLG)
Habitat: It
cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil Dislikes shade, it is intolerant
of root or branch competition
Medicinal Uses:
Analgesic; Antiinflammatory; Antiscorbutic; Febrifuge; Odontalgic.
- A tea
made from the inner bark is used in the treatment of scurvy.
- The
bark contains salicin, that decomposes into salicylic acid (aspirin) in
the body. The bark is therefore anodyne, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge.
It is used especially in treating rheumatism and fevers, and also to
relieve the pain of menstrual cramps.
- The
woolly fruit is moistened and applied to the gums in order to treat
infections.
- A tea
made from the fruits is used in the treatment of toothache.
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 30m at a fast rate
Edible Uses: Gum;
Inner bark; Sweetener.
- Inner
bark - inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used as a
thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread.
- A
'honeydew', produced on the undersides of leaves by aphis, can be
collected and used as a sweetener.
- The
buds have been used as a chewing gum.
Other uses:
Basketry; Rooting hormone; Soil stabilization; Wood.
- An
extract of the shoots can be used as a rooting hormone for all types of
cuttings. It is extracted by soaking the chopped up shoots in cold water
for a day.
- The
young shoots are used in making baskets.
- The
highly developed root system helps to reduce erosion when trees are
planted on banks and slopes.
- Wood
- weak, soft, rather woolly in texture, without smell or taste, of low
flammability, not durable, very resistant to abrasion.
Farm Notes:
Cottonwood is a very weak-wooded tree, and branches may come down in heavy
storms
Variety – Eastern Cottonwood
Habitat: It
cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil Dislikes shade, it is
intolerant of root or branch competition. It cannot grow in the shade. It
requires moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime
exposure. It dislikes shade and is
intolerant of root or branch competition. Tolerates both hot and cool summers.
Fairly wind-tolerant.
Medicinal
Uses: Anodyne; Anthelmintic; Antiinflammatory; Antiscorbutic;
Blood purifier; Febrifuge; Poultice; Tonic.
· The bark
contains salicin, a glycoside that decomposes into salicylic acid (aspirin) in
the body.
· The bark
is therefore anodyne, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge. It is used especially in
treating rheumatism and fevers, and also to relieve the pain of menstrual
cramps.
· An
infusion of the bark is used in the treatment of whooping cough and
tuberculosis.
· A
decoction of the bark is used to rid the body of intestinal worms. The bark is
eaten as a treatment for colds.
· A tea made
from the inner bark is used in the treatment of scurvy.
· A poultice
of the leaves is used as a treatment for rheumatism, bruises, sores and boils.
Outside
Info: A deciduous tree growing to 30m at a fast rate
Edible
Uses: Inner bark; Leaves; Seed.
· Inner
bark. A mucilaginous texture, it is usually harvested in the spring. There are
no more details but inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then
used as a thickener in soups etc or added to cereals when making bread.
· Seeds. No
more details are given but they are very small and would be exceedingly fiddly
to collect and use.
· Sap - used
for food.
· Buds. No
more details are given.
·
The leaves are rich in protein and have a greater amino-acid content
than wheat, corn, rice and barley. A concentrate made from them is as
nourishing as meat, but can be produced faster and more cheaply. Some people
believe that this will become a major food source for humans.
Other uses:
Biomass; Dye; Pioneer; Rooting hormone; Shelterbelt; Soil stabilization; Wood.
· An extract
of the shoots can be used as a rooting hormone for all types of cuttings. It is
extracted by soaking the chopped up shoots in cold water for a day.
· Various
dyes can be obtained from the leaf buds in the spring - green, white, yellow,
purple and red have been mentioned.
· Trees are
planted for dune fixing in erosion control programmes. They are also good
pioneer species, growing quickly to provide a good habitat for other woodland
trees and eventually being out-competed by those trees.
· A fairly
wind resistant tree, it can be grown as part of a shelterbelt planting though
it is easily storm-damaged.
· The wood
is used as a bio-mass for producing methanol, which can be used to power
internal combustion engines.
· Wood -
weak, soft, rather woolly in texture, without smell or taste, of low
flammability, not durable, very resistant to abrasion but warps and shrinks
badly. It weighs 24lb per cubic foot. The wood takes paint well, is easy to
glue and nail.
Farm
Notes:
Creeper
vine (White
Dragon)
Habitat: Unknown, but prefers similar conditions to
wheat and barley.
Medicinal Use: Unknown
Outside Info: Clinging vine, similar to bindweed
Edible Uses: Unknown.
Likely to be toxic.
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes: Grows from borders of grain field to strangle
crops.
Cress – See Land Cress and Water
Cress entries. (Nerilka, Dragonsong)
Menolly’s greens are mentioned as
being cress. As there is both a Land
and Water Cress, I have mentioned both.
Land
cress:
Habitat: It
requires moist soil.
Medicinal Uses:
Antiasthmatic; Antiscorbutic; Aperient; Diuretic; Galactogogue; Poultice;
Stimulant.
- The
leaves are antiscorbutic, diuretic and stimulant.
- The
plant is administered in cases of asthma, cough with expectoration and
bleeding piles.
- The
root is used in the treatment of secondary syphilis and tenesmus.
- The
seeds are galactogogue. They have been boiled with milk and used to
procure an abortion, they have been applied as a poultice to pains and
hurts and have also been used as an aperient.
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 0.45m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Oil.
- Young
leaves - raw or cooked. A hot cress-like flavour, it makes an excellent
addition (in small quantities) to the salad bowl.
- Root
is used as a condiment. A hot pungent flavour, but the root is rather
small and woody.
- The
fresh or dried seedpods can be used as a pungent seasoning.
- The
seed can be sprouted in relatively low light until the shoots are a few
centimetres long and then be used in salads. They take about 7 days to be
ready and have a pleasantly hot flavour.
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed
Other Uses: Oil.
The seed yields up to 58% of an
edible oil that can also be used for lighting
Farm Notes:
An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils
Cucumber (DLG, Dragonsdawn)
Habitat: Requires
a rich, well-drained moisture retentive soil and a warm very sunny position
Medicinal Uses:
Aperient; Diuretic; Skin; Tonic; Vermifuge.
- The
leaf juice is emetic, it is used to treat dyspepsia in children.
- The
fruit is depurative, diuretic, emollient, purgative and resolvent. The
fresh fruit is used internally in the treatment of blemished skin, heat
rash etc, whilst it is used externally as a poultice for burns, sores etc
and also as a cosmetic for softening the skin.
- The
seed is cooling, diuretic, tonic and vermifuge. 25 - 50 grams of the
thoroughly ground seeds (including the seed coat) is a standard dose as a
vermifuge and usually needs to be followed by a purgative to expel the
worms from the body.
- A
decoction of the root is diuretic.
Outside Info: Annual
Climber growing to 2m
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Leaves; Oil; Seed.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. The cucumber is a common ingredient of salads, being
valued mainly for its crisp texture and juiciness. However, it is very
watery, with little flavour and is not very nutritious. Some people find
the fruit to be indigestible. The fruit varies widely in size between
cultivars but can be up to 1 metre long. It can be available from mid
summer until early autumn from outdoor grown plants.
- Seed
- raw. Rich in oil with a nutty flavour but very fiddly to use because the
seed is small and covered with a fibrous coat.
- Young
leaves and stems - cooked as a potherb.
- Oil
from seed. (resembles olive oil
Other Uses: Cosmetic;
Repellent.
- Cucumber
skins have been shown to repel cockroaches in laboratory experiments.
- The
fruit is applied to the skin as a cleansing cosmetic to soften and whiten
it. The juice is used in many beauty products.
- The
roots of cucumber plants secrete a substance that inhibits the growth of
most weeds
Farm Notes:
- Cucumbers
make good companion plants for sweet corn and beans, but they dislike
growing with potatoes and aromatic herbs.
Deal is not a tree! Instead it refers to the type of woods available
from 3 types of conifer. "White" deal from the Norway Spruce (Abies
excela); "Red" deal from Scots
Pine (Pinus sylvestris) and
"Yellow" deal from Yellow Pine (Pinus mities).
Dragon's
tongue (DLG)
The Dragons Tongue plant is an
indigenous Pernese plant that is reputed to have identical medicinal properties
as Aloe Vera (qv). See that entry.
Edible Uses: Unknown but likely toxic
Other Uses: Unknown
Ezob (Anise
Hyssop) (DLG, Moreta)
Habitat: It cannot
grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c
Medicinal Uses: Cardiac;
Diaphoretic; Pectoral; Poultice.
- The
leaves are cardiac and diaphoretic.
- An
infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of colds, fevers, weak
heart etc. When left to go cold, the infusion is used to treat pains in
the chest (such as when the lungs are sore from too much coughing).
- A
poultice of leaves and stems can be used to treat burns.
Outside Info: Perennial growing to 0.9m by 0.4m. A grey-green triangular-stemmed plant which proliferates in the warm and jungle climates of Pern. The three sided, spotted leaves are a dead giveaway to the Ezob, which flowers dark purple during season
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Tea.
- Leaves
and flowers - raw or cooked. They are used as a flavouring in raw or
cooked dishes. They make a delicious addition to the salad bowl and can
also be used to flavour cooked foods, especially acid fruits. The only
drawback to the leaves is that they tend to have a drying effect in the
mouth and so cannot be eaten in quantity.
- A
pleasant tasting tea is made from the leaves
Other Uses: None
known
Farm Notes:
Featherfern
(DLG,
Moreta, Renegades)
Habitat: A
low-lying leafy plant that grows in damp areas from mid-spring to early fall. The
plant tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure
Medicinal Uses: Febrifuge
· Used to relieve fever, used in tonic. Also used on runners
Outside Info: The broad
green leaves are soft to the touch, hence the name feather fern. The leaves, also
not coincidentally resemble giant feathers of a Wherry or similar
flying(non-draconic) animal.
Edible Uses: Unknown
but likely to be toxic
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes:
Feverfew (Moreta)
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses:
Antiecchymotic; Antiinflammatory; Antispasmodic; Aperient; Bitter; Carminative;
Emmenagogue; Sedative; Stimulant; Stings; Stomachic; Vasodilator; Vermifuge.
· Feverfew is used as a herb for treating arthritis and rheumatism.
· The leaves and flowering heads are anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, aperient, bitter, carminative, emmenagogue, sedative, stimulant, stings, stomachic, vasodilator and vermifuge.
· The plant is gathered as it comes into flower and can be dried for later use.
· Use with caution, the fresh leaves can cause dermatitis and mouth ulcers if consumed. This remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women.
· A tea made from the whole plant is used in the treatment of arthritis, colds, fevers etc. It is said to be sedative and to regulate menses. An infusion is used to bathe swollen feet.
· Applied externally as a tincture, the plant is used in the treatment of bruises etc. Chewing 1 - 4 leaves per day has proven to be effective against migraines
Outside Info: Perennial growing to 0.6m by 0.3m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Tea.
- The
dried flowers are used as a flavouring in cooking certain pastries.
- The
plant is used in cooking to impart a deliciously aromatic bitter taste to
certain foods.
- A tea
is made from the dried flowers.
Other Uses:
Essential; Repellent.
· The dried flower buds are a source of an insecticide. Steep 1 cupful of the dried flowers in one litre of hot soapy water for an hour. Strain, then allow to cool slightly before use.
· An essential oil from the plant is used in perfumery.
Farm Notes:
The leaves have a refreshing
aromatic aroma.
Fellis
Tree (DLG,
Skies of Pern, Dragonsong, Moreta, Nerilka, Masterharper, Renegades,
Dragonquest)
Habitat & Location: Southern
Weyr area, Nerat, Telgar Hold, Fort Hold, Paradise River
Medicinal Use: Anodyne;
Sedative; Narcotic
- Fruit:
Fellis juice is made from the fruit, which has though skins.
- Large
enough amounts can be lethal.
- The
leaves and stems are boiled to produce the naturally narcotic Fellis
juice, which varies in concentration according to how long it is boiled
- The
juices of the Fellis have great medicinal value but should be used with
caution as the juice is highly addictive.
- Poisonous
to Dragon kind
- It
should not be given in pregnancy, in combination with other painkillers,
or to a patient with a head wound.
- 1
drop will lessen pain without causing drowsiness.
- 2
drops will relieve pain and cause an intoxicated feeling.
- 5 drops
will bring on deep dreamless sleep for 12 hours.
- 10
drops will kill
Outside Info: small,
branchy, drooping tree. Flowers:
fragrant, pink(Dragonquest) yellow(Dragon Lovers Guide) clustered blooms with
pointed petals. Has clusters of berry-like fruit.
Edible Use: Unknown
but unlikely
Other Use: Dye
- Dye
(dyes wherhide a deep green)
Farm Notes:
This is a common herb all
throughout Pern and its growing season is from late spring to early fall
.
Ferns
Growth form: Fern
Habitat: Southern
Weyr
General habitat: tropical
regions
Uses:
improvised bedding
Fingeroots
(carrots) (DLG)
Known locations: Fort
Hold, Nabol
Habitat: requires
moist soil, the plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. Fingeroots
tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 31 to 410cm, an annual
temperature range of 3.6 to 28.5°C. are widely cultivated in most areas of the
world for their edible root, which can be available all year round from
successional sowings.
Medicinal Uses:
Anthelmintic; Carminative; Deobstruent; Diuretic; Galactogogue; Ophthalmic;
Stimulant.
- Cultivated
fingeroot roots are a rich source of beta-carotene, which is converted to
vitamin A by the liver. When used as a regular item in the diet the roots
improve eyesight and skin health, and also have anti-cancer effects.
- A
wonderful cleansing medicine, it supports the liver and stimulates urine
flow and the removal of waste by the kidneys.
- The
root is diuretic and ophthalmic. The juice of organic fingeroots is a
delicious drink and a valuable detoxifier.
- The
raw root, grated or mashed, is a safe treatment for threadworms,
especially in children.
- The
seed is carminative, galactogogue, lithontripic and stimulant. They are useful
in the treatment of kidney diseases, dropsy and to settle the digestive
system. They stimulate menstruation and have been used in folk medicine as
a treatment for hangovers.
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 1.2m by 0.3m
Edible Uses:
Klah; Colouring; Condiment; Leaves; Root.
- Root
- raw or cooked. The roots of well-grown plants are crisp, sweet and
juicy, they are very nice raw and are also cooked as a vegetable or added
to soups, stews etc. The grated root is a tasty addition to the salad
bowl.
- The
juice can be extracted from the root and used as a health-promoting drink.
The root is very rich in carotene, which is transformed by the body into
vitamin A when it is eaten. The root is sometimes ground into a powder and
used in making cakes, bread etc.
- The
roasted root is a Klah substitute.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A very strong flavour, they can be added in small
quantities to mixed salads. The leaves contain an oil that is rich in
vitamin E, they are sometimes used as a flavouring in soups.
- An
essential oil from the seed is used as a food flavouring.
Other Uses:
Alcohol; Dye; Essential.
- The
roots are fermented in order to produce alcohol.
- An
orange dye is obtained from the root.
- An
essential oil from the seed has a distinctive fragrance and is used in
perfumery
Farm Notes:
· Plants are extremely sensitive to soil conditions, good roots can only be produced in a soil that permits easy penetration of the root.
- They
grow badly with potatoes, kohl rabi, fennel and cabbages.
Flax (DLG)
Habitat: Prefers a
light well-drained moderately fertile humus-rich soil in a sunny sheltered
position.
Medicinal Uses: Analgesic;
Cancer; Cardiotonic; Demulcent; Emollient; Expectorant; Laxative; Nervine;
Pectoral; Resolvent; VD.
- Its
main effects are as a laxative and expectorant that soothes irritated
tissues, controls coughing and relieves pain. The seed, or the oil from
the seed are normally used.
- The
seed is analgesic, demulcent, emollient, laxative, pectoral and resolvent.
- The
crushed seed makes a very useful poultice in the treatment of ulceration,
abscesses and deep-seated inflammations.
- An
infusion of the seed contains a good deal of mucilage and is a valuable
domestic remedy for coughs, colds and inflammation of the urinary organs. If
the seed is bruised and then eaten straight away, it will swell
considerably in the digestive tract and stimulate peristalsis and so is
used in the treatment of chronic constipation.
- The
oil in the seed is used to treat mental deficiencies in adults. It also
has soothing and lubricating properties, and is used in medicines to
soothe tonsillitis, sore throats, coughs, colds, constipation, gravel and
stones. When mixed with an equal quantity of lime water it is used to
treat burns and scalds.
- The
bark and the leaves are used in the treatment of gonorrhoea.
- The
flowers are cardiotonic and nervine.
- The
plant has a long history of folk use in the treatment of cancer. It is
found to contain various anticancer agents.
Outside Info: It has
slender stems with linear green leaves, flat blue flowers, and oily brown seeds
Edible Uses: Klah;
Oil; Seed.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. The seed is used in breads and cereals, it can also be
sprouted and used in salads. The seed is hard to digest and provokes
flatulence.
- The roasted
seed is said to be a Klah substitute.
- A
herbal tea can be brewed from the seed.
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed, though it needs to be properly
refined before it can be eaten. Some caution is advised in the use of the
seeds for
Other Uses: Fibre;
Gum; Oil; Size.
- A
fibre is obtained from the stem. It is of very high quality and is used in
making cloth, sails, nets, paper, insulating material etc.
- When
used for paper making, the stems are harvested in late summer or autumn
when they are two thirds yellow and are then retted. The fibre is then
stripped from the stem, cooked for two hours or more with lye and then
beaten in a Hollander beater.
- The
seed contains a drying oil. It has a very wide range of applications
including as a wood preservative, an ingredient of oil-based paints,
furniture polishes, printer's inks, soap making etc.
- A
mucilage from the soaked or boiled seeds is used as a size for linen
warps.
Farm Notes:
- It is
a good companion plant for potatoes and carrots
- A
very greedy plant, depleting the soil and requiring a rich, well prepared
soil if it is to do well. Plants help to break up organic matter and
prepare the soil for following crops.
Flax (DLG)
A native species can also
be used as Flax fibres. This may also be the plant referred to in All the Weyrs
of Pern and Dolphins of Pern that they use for fibre.
Frond Tree
(Skies of Pern)
Habitat: Southern Continent, at least coastal. Quite wind resistant.
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Trees are very large and have large fronds.
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other uses: Shelterbelt
- Young
saplings are grown for shelterbelts against the strong winter winds in
Southern.
A number of Fungi types are
listed in sources, but without any sufficient information to provide a more
detailed breakdown. Most, however,
seem to be They are:
Fungi, cavern Indigenous (Dragons
dawn)
Fungi,
edible - Indigenous (DLG)
Fungi,
tree (Dragons dawn)
Garlic (DLG)
Habitat: prefers a
sunny position in a moist light well-drained soil Hardy to at least -10°c
Medicinal Uses: Anthelmintic;
Antiasthmatic; Anticholesterolemic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Cancer;
Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Stimulant; Stings;
Stomachic; Tonic; Vasodilator.
- Garlic
has a very long folk history of use in a wide range of ailments,
particularly ailments such as ringworm where its fungicidal, antiseptic,
tonic and parasiticidal properties have proved of benefit.
- The
plant produces inhibitory effects on gram-negative germs of the
typhoid-paratyphoid-enteritis group, indeed it possesses outstanding
germicidal properties and can keep amoebic dysentery at bay.
- It is
also said to have anticancer activity.
- It
has also been shown that garlic aids detoxification of chronic lead
poisoning.
- Daily
use of garlic in the diet is shown to have a very beneficial effect on the
body, especially the blood system and the heart
- Externally,
the expressed juice is an excellent antiseptic for treating wounds.
- The fresh
bulb is much more effective medicinally than stored bulbs, extended
storage greatly reduces the anti-bacterial action.
- The
bulb is said to be anthelmintic, antiasthmatic, anticholesterolemic,
antiseptic, antispasmodic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant,
febrifuge, stimulant, stings, stomachic, tonic, vasodilator
Outside Info: Bulb
growing to 0.6m by 0.15m
Edible Uses:
Flowers; Leaves; Root; Seed.
- Bulb
- raw or cooked. Widely used, as a flavouring in a wide range of foods,
both raw and cooked. Garlic is a wonderfully nutritious and health giving
addition to the diet, but it has a very strong flavour and so is mainly
used in very small quantities as a flavouring in salads and cooked foods.
Leaves - raw or cooked. Chopped and used in salads, they are rather milder
than the bulbs.
- The
flowering stems are used as a flavouring.
Other Uses: Adhesive;
Fungicide; Repellent.
- The
juice from the bulb is used as an insect repellent. It has a very strong
smell and some people would prefer to be bitten.
- The
juice can also be applied to any stings in order to ease the pain. 3 - 4
tablespoons of chopped garlic and 2 tablespoons of grated soap can be
infused in 1 litre of boiling water, allowed to cool and then used as an
insecticide.
- An
excellent glue can be made from the juice, when this is spread on glass it
enables a person to cut clean holes in the glass, The juice is also used
as a glue in mending glass and china.
- An
extract of the plant can be used as a fungicide. It is used in the
treatment of blight and mould or fungal diseases of potatoes.
- The
growing plant is said to repel insects, rabbits and moles.
Farm Notes:
- If a
few cloves of garlic are spread amongst stored fruit, they will act to
delay the fruit from rotting
- Grows
well with most plants, especially, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it
inhibits the growth of legumes.
- This
plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting
the other.
Ging (Moreta)
The Ging tree is mentioned
in Moreta and seems distinct from the Gingko.
Habitat: Tropical to Sub
Tropical, possibly prefers shade.
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent
- Leaf
sap will seal puncture wounds
Outside Info: Tree.
Thick and spongy fronds, rather shallow rooted. Moreta described the ging
forest in the fall as "a green face with a thousand black-rimmed eyes
Edible Uses: Nuts
- During
the autumn, the tree produces softnuts which can be eaten raw.
Other Uses: Bedding;
wrapping
- Fronds
can be used as improvised forest bedding
- The
leaves, when cut, will seal into a package
Farm Notes:
Needlethorn is commonly found in
the presence of Ging trees.
Ginkgo (DLG)
Habitat: Plains,
tolerates frosts
Medicinal Uses: Astringent;
Angina; TB; Digestive;
- Seed
is used as a digestion aid and for their ability to suppress the effects
- of consuming
wine and to recover from illnesses.
- It is
also used as a kidney tonic.
- It is
considered useful in cot medicine
as an astringent for the heart, lung, asthma, bronchitis, wheezing,
cough, for regulating urinary frequency (bladder/kidney), diarrhea,
gonorrhea, toothache, skin diseases, digestive aid, fever and other
ailments. The cooked seeds are said to stabilize the production of sperm,
- The
raw seeds may have anticancer and counter-vinous activity.
- The leaves
are used to treat respiratory problems like asthma, bronchitis, hearing
loss,
- couching,
tuberculosis, poor circulation, memory loss, gonorrhea, stomach pain,
- skin
diseases, angina pectoris,
dysentery, high blood pressure and
- anxiety.
- The
powdered leaf is inhaled for asthma, ear, nose and throat disorders
- like
bronchitis and chronic rhinitis.
- Locally
applied, the juice of the boiled leaves is used for chilblains. The leaf
is also used as a wound-plaster.
Outside Info: Notched,
fan-shaped leaves that turn yellow in fall.
The tree can grow to a very large size.
Edible Uses: Seed
- The
seeds are roasted and eaten, the taste is sweet like a large pine nut, a
cross between potatoes and sweet chestnuts when baked
- The seeds
are usually steamed until the hard shell cracks open, then the kernel can
be removed (or can be cracked open) and eaten like pistachio nuts, or used
in porridges, soups, vegetable dishes or mixed with rice, tofu, mushrooms
and stir-fried vegetables.
Other Uses: wood;
Paper; Oil
- Light,
fine grained, smooth, flexible and has a silky shine, but only produces
small lengths. Used for
insect-proof cabinets, bowls etc.
- The
female tree is used to make (sheet) paper
- Oil
from the seed is used as a lighting-fuel and a soap substitute is produced
by mixing the pulp of the seeds with oil or wine
Farm Notes:
Naturally resistant to diseases,
insects, air pollution, fire
Glovecap
(Skullcap) (DLG, Moreta)
I am unable to locate a plant by
the name of Glovecap. However, the
physical description comes close, as do the medicinal properties, to the plant
‘Skullcap’ (Scutellaria lateriflora).
Habitat: Succeeds
in a sunny position in any ordinary garden soil that does not dry out during
the growing season. Plants are hardy to at least -15°c
Medicinal Uses:
Anodyne; Antibacterial; Anticholesterolemic; Antipyretic; Antispasmodic;
Astringent; Cholagogue; Diuretic; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Haemostatic;
Laxative; Nervine; Sedative; Stomachic; TB; Tonic.
- It is
considered to be a fundamental herb (in China) and is used primarily in
treating conditions such as dysentery and diarrhoea.
- The
roots contain flavonoids that greatly enhance liver function and also have
anti-inflammatory and antiallergenic effects.
- The
root is anodyne, antibacterial, anticholesterolemic, antipyretic,
antispasmodic, astringent, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge,
haemostatic, laxative, nervine, mildly sedative, stomachic and tonic (for
TB).
- It
reputedly calms the foetus in pregnant women.
- The
root is used internally in the treatment of enteritis, dysentery,
diarrhoea, jaundice, chronic hepatitis, urinary tract infections,
hypertension, threatened miscarriage, nosebleed and haemorrhage from the
lungs or bowel.
- The
seed is used to cleanse the bowels of blood and pus.
Outside Info: A
flowering grey-green plant. The blue flower is contained within a system of
leaves, one of which rises up and over the flower similar to a cap. A second
serrated leaf almost touches the 'cap'. The visual effect is to call this plant
the Glovecap
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Tea.
- Young
leaves - cooked as a vegetable.
- The
whole plant is dried and used as a tea substitute
Other Uses: None
Known
Farm Notes:
Goru Pear (DLG,
P.E.R.N. Survey)
Habitat: Unknown
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info:
Edible Use: Fruit
- The
fruit is eaten raw or cooked
Other Use: Hedge
- The
Goru-pear tree on Pern have thorns to protect their fruit; any contact
with the tree will cause the thorns to "spray" out, making it
ideal (in grubbed areas) as the outer portion of a protective hedge.
Farm Notes: The thorn spraying ability of the tree is
deactivated by cold.
Grain (Dragonflight, Dragonquest, DLG, Dragonflight, White Dragon, Master
Harper, Renegades, Dolphins of Pern; The Second Weyr)
Grain is a general term relating
to a number of different cereal products, some of which I have listed elsewhere
in this herbal. The different type of
cereals are:
- Barley
- Buckwheat
- Corn
(Maize)
- Grain
Sorghum
- Oats
- Rice
- Rye
In The Grain
- Wheat
Grapes (DLG,
Dragonflight, Red Star Rising, Dragons Dawn, White Dragon, Master Harper)
The following description is a
general description of the grape vine.
Habitat: Grows
best in a calcareous soil, but dislikes excessively chalky soils
Known locations: Benden,
Fort(H), Tillek, Nabol, Lemos, Nerat
Medicinal Uses: Analgesic;
Antiinflammatory; Astringent; Bach; Demulcent; Diuretic; Hepatic; Laxative;
Lithontripic; Skin; Stomachic.
- Grapes
are a nourishing and slightly laxative fruit that can support the body
through illness, especially of the gastro-intestinal tract and liver.
- Analgesic.
- The
fresh fruit is antilithic, constructive, cooling, diuretic and
strengthening. A period of time on a diet based entirely on the fruit is
especially recommended in the treatment of torpid liver or sluggish
biliary function. The fruit is also helpful in the treatment of varicose
veins, haemorrhoids and capillary fragility.
- The
dried fruit is demulcent, cooling, mildly expectorant, laxative and
stomachic. It has a slight effect in easing coughs.
- The
leaves, especially red leaves, are anti-inflammatory and astringent. A
decoction is used in the treatment of threatened abortion, internal and
external bleeding, cholera, dropsy, diarrhoea and nausea. It is also used
as a wash for mouth ulcers and as douche for treating vaginal discharge.
Red grape leaves are also helpful in the treatment of varicose veins,
haemorrhoids and capillary fragility. The leaves are harvested in early
summer and used fresh or dried.
- The
seed is anti-inflammatory and astringent.
- The
sap of young branches is diuretic. It is used as a remedy for skin
diseases and is also an excellent lotion for the eyes.
- The
tendrils are astringent and a decoction is used in the treatment of
diarrhoea
Outside Info: A
deciduous climber growing to 15m at a fast rate
Edible Uses: Flowers;
Fruit; Leaves; Oil.
- Fruit
- raw or dried for winter use]. The dried fruits are the raisins, sultanas
and currants of commerce, different varieties producing the different
types of dried fruit.
- A
fully ripened fresh fruit is sweet, juicy and delicious.
- The
fruit juice can be concentrated and used as a sweetener.
- This
fruit is widely used in making wine.
- Leaves
- cooked. Young leaves are wrapped around other foods and then baked, they
impart a pleasant flavour.
- Young
tendrils - raw or cooked.
- The
flower clusters are used as a vegetable.
- An
edible oil similar to sunflower oil is obtained from the seed. It needs to
be refined before it can be eaten. A polyunsaturated oil, it is suitable
for mayonnaise and cooking, especially frying.
- Sap -
raw. Used as a drink, it has a sweet taste. The sap can be harvested in
spring and early summer, though it should not be taken in quantity or it
will weaken the plant.
- The
roasted seed is a Klah substitute.
- Cream
of tartar, also known as potassium bitartrate, a crystalline salt, is
extracted from the residue of pressed grapes, and from the sediment of
wine barrels. It is used in making baking powder.
Other Uses: Dye;
Miscellany.
- A
yellow dye is obtained from the fresh or dried leaves.
- An
oil from the seed is used for lighting and as an ingredient in soaps,
paints etc.
- Cream
of tartar, extracted from the residue of pressed grapes, is used in making
fluxes for soldering.
Farm Notes:
- Especially
when growing in hotter countries than Britain, the stems of very old vines
attain a good size and have been used to supply a very durable timber
- The
flowers are intensely fragrant.
- Grapes
grow well in the company of hyssop, chives, basil
Grasses (Dragonquest, Dragonsong, DLG, Dolphins of Pern,
Skies of Pern)
As on Terra, Grasses come in many
shapes and sizes. Generally, according
to DLG, Terran grass has not maintained itself against the native forms. Most native grasses have a triangular cross
section.
Known locations: various
forms exist over many parts of Pern
Uses: bedding
This is the native variety found
in Southern.
Medicinal Uses: Firehead
- Tufts
contain theraputic.
- The
heart (just above the root ball) can be dried and ground into a powder
that is good for fever
Outside Info: Large stems with tufts.
Edible Uses: Shoots
Other Uses: Raft,
Basketry
- branches
can be bundled and used as a temporary raft
- It is
also likely that it can be used to form baskets etc
Farm Notes:
The grass is harvested directly
from the wild and is not cultivated.
Sweet grass (Dragon
Drums)
From its use in conversation I
assume that Sweet grass is a general term for Terran Grass, which will have a
more beneficial use on livestock compared to their normal consumption of native
grasses. It also ties into the
description for aromatic grasses.
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses:
Anticoagulant; Antispasmodic; Stimulant.
- The
whole plant, and especially the flowering stems, is anticoagulant,
antispasmodic and stimulant. It is normally only applied externally, where
it is used in the treatment of rheumatic pain, chilblains, nervous
insomnia etc.
- It is
said that a tincture made from this grass with spirit of wine is an
effective and immediate cure for hay fever.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 0.45m by 0.3m
Edible Uses: Seed;
Tea.
- Seed.
The seed is very small and its use would be fiddly.
- A tea
is made from the fresh or dried leaves. A sweet pleasant fragrance
Other Uses: Basketry;
Pot-pourri; Strewing.
- The
aromatic leaves and dried flowers are used as a strewing herb, they are
also woven into baskets and used in pot-pourri.
- The
plant contains coumarin - this is used medicinally and also in rat poisons
where it prevents the blood from co-aggulating and thus means that the
slightest cut can kill the rat.
Farm Notes: Dislikes
shade
Dragonlovers lists a green citrus
fruit. This could be the apple (qv) or pear (qv) but in this instance I chose
the Lime, based on the locations mentioned (Southern, Cove Hold and Ista).
Habitat: Tropical
Medicinal Uses: Cold;
astringent; Tonic; vermifuge; antiseptic; antiscorbutic; diuretic; febrifuge
- A
full lime is squeezed into hot water to create a very strong and tart tea
that treats coughing associated with a cold
- Lime
juice dispels the irritation and swelling of insect bites.
- The
juice is taken as a tonic and to relieve stomach ailments.
- Mixed
with oil, it is given as a vermifuge.
- The
pickled fruit, with other substances, is poulticed on the head to allay
neuralgia and is eaten to relieve indigestion. The juice of the Mexican
lime is regarded as an antiseptic, tonic, an antiscorbutic, an astringent,
and as a diuretic in liver ailments, a digestive stimulant, a remedy for
intestinal hemorrhage and hemorrhoids, heart palpitations, headache,
convulsive cough, rheumatism, arthritis, falling hair, bad breath, and as
a disinfectant for all kinds of ulcers when applied in a poultice.
- The
leaves or an infusion of the crushed leaves may be applied to relieve
headache.
- The
leaf decoction is used as eye drops and to bathe a feverish patient; also
as a mouth wash and gargle in cases of sore throat and thrush.
- The
root bark serves as a febrifuge, as does the seed kernel, ground and mixed
with lime juice.
- The
young leaves are used for coughing. You have to boil the
leaves and drink the boiling water.
- Any cut not caused by a knife can
be treated with undiluted juice. This will hurt, but the wound will heal
more rapidly.
Outside Info: The white
flowers are followed by the fruits, which resemble lemons but are more round in
shape. range from 6 1/2 to 13 ft (2-4 m) high, with many slender, spreading
branches, and usually has numerous, very sharp, axillary spines to 3/8 in (1
cm) long. The evergreen, alternate leaves are pleasantly aromatic, densely set;
elliptic- or oblong-ovate, rounded at the base, 2 to 3 in (5-7.5 cm) long,
leathery; light purplish when young, dull dark-green above
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Juice
- Juice and fruit skin (pericarp). The fruits
are almost always picked when unripe (green), and are usually consumed
before they reach the ripe state (yellow).
- Fishermen
and others who spend days in sailboats, always have with them their
bottles of homemade "old sour"–lime juice and salt.
- The
lime is grown mainly to flavour prepared foods and beverages.
- Lime
juice is made into syrup and sauce and pies similar to lemon pie.
- Limes
are often made into jam, jelly and marmalade.
- The
chopped peel is made into a sweetmeat with milk and coconut.
Other Uses: Cleanser;
Juice; cosmetic; Fodder
- The powdered
dried peel and the sludge remaining after clarifying lime juice are
employed for cleaning metal
- The
juice is used in the process of dyeing leather.
- Bottled
Lime Moisture Lotion is a skin-conditioner.
- The
dehydrated peel is fed to cattle..
- Lime
twigs are popular chewsticks.
Farm Notes:
the fruits can be held fresh for 2
or 3 weeks if kept in water in a closed jar
Greens (DLG, Dragonsong)
Habitat: near
Half-Circle seahold, Nabol
Uses: used
like salad, served with dressing. The Greens used by Menolly are actually water
cresses (qv)
Gooseberry
(DLG)
Habitat: Plants
dislike very hot weather. Dormant
plants are hardy to about -20°c
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent; Laxative; Miscellany.
- The
fruit is laxative Stewed unripe gooseberries are used as a spring tonic to
cleanse the system.
- The
leaves have been used in the treatment of gravel. An infusion taken before
the monthly periods is said to be a useful tonic for growing girls.
- The
leaves contain tannin and have been used as an astringent to treat
dysentery and wounds.
Outside Info: A
deciduous shrub growing to 1.2m by 1m
Edible Uses:
Fruit; Leaves.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. The fruit is often picked when under-ripe and very firm,
it has a very tart flavour at this time and is mainly used in making pies,
jams etc. However, if the fruit is allowed to remain on the plant until it
is fully ripe and soft it becomes quite sweet and is delicious for eating
out of hand.
- Leaves-
raw. The young and tender leaves can be eaten in salads. Some caution is
advised as can be toxic.
Other Uses: Cosmetic.
- The
fruit pulp is used cosmetically in face-masks for its cleansing effect on
greasy skins
Farm Notes:
Plants should not be grown in the
vicinity of pine trees
Menolly constructs pipes out of
the reeds – but these could easily be a variety of the swamp grass already
mentioned.
Hardwoods (DLG,
Dragonquest)
The ‘Hardwoods’ in Lemos and Igen
refer not to a species but rather the type of tree. A Hardwood would, in this case, be an Oak (qv) or birch (qv) (or
an orchard tree – though not in this case).
Conifers are Softwoods and the Native trees are undefined, though I
think of them as Softwoods as they bear more resemblance to those.
Habitat: Benden
Hold The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent; Poultice.
- A tea
made from the bark is astringent. It was used in the treatment of hives
and fevers.
- A
poultice made from the bark is used to close cuts and wounds, treat
tumours, old sores etc.
Outside Info: A large
shrub that grows to 10m. Has male catkins in spring and clusters of nuts in
fall
Edible Uses: Oil;
Seed.
- Seed
- raw or cooked in soups, bread, biscuits, sweets etc.
- The nuts
have a thick shell with a small sweet kernel, they make an excellent
dessert. Nuts at the 'milk' or ‘cob’ stage (before they are fully ripe)
are softer and sweeter[183]. The seed is rich in oil. The seed ripens in
mid to late autumn and will probably need to be protected from squirrels.
When kept in a cool place, and not shelled, the seed should store for at
least 12 months.
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed,
Other Uses: Hedge.
- The
plant makes a good screening hedge
Farm Notes:
Hemp (Renegades)
Habitat: Nabol,
Southern
Medicinal Uses:
Cardiotonic; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emetic; Expectorant; Tonic; VD; Vermifuge;
Warts.
- It is
used to treat a wide variety of complaints including rheumatism, coughs,
pox, whooping cough, asthma, internal parasites, diarrhoea and also to
increase milk flow in lactating mothers.
- The
plant should be used with great caution, and only under the supervision of
a qualified practitioner if taken internally
- The
root is cardiotonic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic and expectorant. It is
harvested in the autumn and dried for later use.
- The
fresh root is the most active part medicinally. It is used in the
treatment of syphilis and as a tonic.
- A
weak tea made from the dried root is used for cardiac diseases.
- A tea
made from the root is used as a vermifuge. The milky sap is a cot remedy
for venereal warts
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 0.6m by 1m
Edible Uses: Gum;
Seed.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. It can be ground into a powder and used as a meal.
- A latex
obtained from the plant is used as a chewing gum. After the latex is
squeezed from the plant it s allowed to stand overnight to harden into a
white gum. The latex is sometimes mixed with clean clay.
Other Uses: Fibre;
Latex.
- A
very good quality fibre obtained from the bark is used for making clothes,
twine, bags, linen, paper etc. It is about 12 - 18mm long. Very strong,
used as a flax substitute, it does not shrink and it retains its strength
in water.
- The
plant yields a latex which is a possible source of rubber. The latex is
also used as a chewing gum.
Farm Notes:
Hissop, Hyssop (DLG,
Moreta, Nerilka)
Habitat: near Fort
Hold A very cold-hardy plant, when dormant it can tolerate temperatures down to
about -25°c
Medicinal Uses: Antiseptic;
Aromatherapy; Astringent; Carminative; Diaphoretic; Emmenagogue; Expectorant;
Pectoral; Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic; Vasodilator.
- Hyssop
has a long history of medicinal use and was so highly esteemed in the past
that it was considered to be a virtual cure-all.
- Used
s an expectorant and stomach tonic.
- It
has a positive effect when used to treat bronchitis and respiratory
infections, especially where there is excessive mucous production. Hyssop
can irritate the mucous membranes, so it is best given after an infection
has peaked, when the herb's tonic action encourages a general recovery.
- The
plant should not be used by pregnant women, however, since in large
quantities it can induce a miscarriage.
- The
leaves and flowering tops are antiseptic, antitussive, astringent,
carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, pectoral, sedative,
stimulant, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator. The plant can be harvested
when in full flower and dried for later use.
- A tea
made from the leaves is used in the treatment of flatulence,
stomach-aches, upper respiratory tract infections, coughs in children etc.
- A
poultice made from the fresh herb is used to heal wounds
Outside Info: An
evergreen shrub growing to 0.6m by 0.6m Semi-evergreen shrub with aromatic
leaves and spikes of blue two-tipped late summer flowers
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Flowers; Leaves.
- Leaves
and young shoot tips - raw or used as a flavouring in soups, salads etc. A
strongly aromatic flavour, somewhat like a cross between sage and mint, it
has fallen out of favour in recent years. It can be used fresh or dried.
- Flowers
- raw. Added to salads.
- An
essential oil from the plant is used as a food flavouring
Other Uses:
Essential; Fungicide; Ground cover; Hedge; Pot-pourri; Repellent; Strewing.
- Hyssop
can be grown as a dwarf hedge
- An
essential oil from the leaves is antiseptic and also used in perfumery and
as a food flavouring.
- It
has a particularly fine odour and is much valued by perfumers.
- The plant
is used as a strewing herb and is also used in pot-pourri.
- A tea
made from the leaves is useful for controlling bacterial plant diseases.
- Plants
can be grown for ground cover when spaced about 45cm apart each way.
Farm Notes:
The flowers have a rich aromatic
fragrance
Honeywood (DLG)
My only reference is that the
Masterharpers chair was made out of this at Covehold. Honeywood is a cultivar of the Saskatoon Tree.
Habitat: It is found in moist areas in the
understory, along streams, and in open woodlands
Medicinal Uses:
Appetizer; Birthing aid; Contraceptive; Diaphoretic; Febrifuge; Laxative;
Ophthalmic; Stomachic.
- Saskatoon
is used to treat a wide range of minor complaints. An infusion of the
inner bark is used as a treatment for snow-blindness.
- A
decoction of the fruit juice is mildly laxative. It is used in the
treatment of upset stomachs, to restore the appetite in children, it is
also applied externally as ear and eye drops.
- A
decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of colds. It has also been
used as a treatment for too frequent menstruation.
- A
decoction of the stems, is diaphoretic. It is used to induce sweating in
the treatment of fevers, flu etc and also in the treatment of chest pains
and lung infections.
- A
decoction of the plant, together with bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) is
used as a contraceptive. Other recipes involving this plant have also been
used as contraceptives including a decoction of the ashes of the plant
combined with the ashes of pine branches or buds.
- A strong
decoction of the bark was taken immediately after childbirth to hasten the
dropping of the placenta. It was said to help clean out and help heal the
woman's insides and also to stop her menstrual periods after the birth,
thus acting as a form of birth control
Outside Info: It has a narrow, almost vase-shaped
or fan-shaped crown of ascending to mostly arching branches and large dark
purple fruit with an excellent pleasant flavour.
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Tea.
- Edible
fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit ripens in mid summer, it is soft and
juicy with a few small seeds in the centre. A very nice sweet flavour that
is enjoyed by almost everyone who tries it, there is a hint of apple in
the taste.
- About
the size of a blackcurrant, the fruit is produced in small clusters and
the best wild forms can be 15mm in diameter
- The
fruit can also be dried and used as raisins or made into pemmican. The
fruit is rich in iron and copper.
- The
leaves are a tea substitute
Other uses: Shelterbelt;
Soil stabilization.
- Plants
have a spreading, suckering root system and are used in windbreaks for
erosion control.
- Young
branches can be twisted to make a rope.
- Wood
- hard, straight grained, tough. Used for tool handles etc. The wood can
be made even harder by heating it over a fire and it is easily moulded
whilst still hot. The young stems are used to make rims, handles and as a
stiffening in basket making
Farm Notes:
Hops (DLG)
Habitat: Hops
tolerate annual temperature in the range of 5.6 to 21.3°C
Medicinal Uses: Anodyne;
Antibacterial; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Diuretic; Febrifuge; Galactogogue;
Hypnotic; Nervine; Sedative; Stomachic; Tonic.
- Hops
are employed mainly for their soothing, sedative, tonic and calming effect
on the body and the mind. Their strongly bitter flavour largely accounts
for their ability to strengthen and stimulate the digestion, increasing
gastric and other secretions.
- The
female fruiting body is anodyne, antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic,
febrifuge, hypnotic, nervine, sedative, stomachic and tonic.
- Hops
are widely used as a cot remedy to treat a wide range of complaints,
including boils, bruises, calculus, cancer, cramps, cough, cystitis,
debility, delirium, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, fever, fits, hysteria,
inflammation, insomnia, jaundice, nerves, neuralgia, rheumatism, and
worms.
- The
hairs on the fruits contain a sedative and hypnotic drug. When given to
nursing mothers, it increases the flow of milk.
- The
decoction from the flower is said to remedy swellings and hardness of the
uterus.
- Hop flowers
are much used as an infusion or can also be used to stuff pillows where
the weight of the head will release the volatile oils.
- The
fruit is also applied externally as a poultice to ulcers, boils, painful
swellings etc, it is said to remedy painful tumours. The female flowering
heads are harvested in the autumn and can be used fresh or dried.
- Alcoholic
extracts of hops in various dosage forms have been used clinically in
treating numerous forms of leprosy, pulmonary tuberculosis, and acute
bacterial dysentery.
- The
female fruiting body contains humulone and lupulone, these are highly
bacteriostatic against gram-positive and acid-fast bacteria.
- A
cataplasm of the leaf is said to remedy cold tumours
Outside Info:
Perennial Climber growing to 6m at a medium rate
Edible Uses: Drink;
Leaves; Root; Rutin; Tea.
- Young
leaves and young shoots - cooked.
- The
flavour is unique and, to many tastes, delicious.
- Young
leaves can be eaten in salads. Use before the end of May
- The
fleshy rhizomes are sometimes eaten.
- A tea
is made from the leaves and cones. It has a gentle calming effect.
- The
dried flowering heads of female plants are used as a flavouring and
preservative in beer. They are also medicinal. The flowering heads are
sprinkled with bitter-tasting yellow translucent glands, which appear as a
granular substance. This substance prevents gram-negative bacteria from
growing in the beer or wort. Much of the hop's use as a flavouring and
medicinal plant depends on the abundance of this powdery substance.
- The
essential oil in the flowering heads is used as a flavouring in cereal
beverages and mineral waters.
- Extracts
from the plant, and the oil, are used as flavouring in non-alcoholic
beverages, frozen dairy desserts, candy, baked goods and puddings
Other Uses: Dye;
Essential; Fibre; Paper.
- A
fine brown dye is obtained from the leaves and flower heads.
- An
essential oil from the female fruiting heads is used in perfumery
- Extracts
of the plant are used in Europe in skin creams and lotions for their
alleged skin-softening properties.
- A
fibre is obtained from the stems which is similar to hemp but not as
strong and is used to make a coarse cloth.
- A
paper can be made from the fibre, the stems are harvested in the autumn,
the leaves removed and the stems steamed until the fibres can be removed.
The fibre is cooked for 2 hours with lye and then hand pounded with
mallets or ball milled for 2½ hours. The paper is brown in colour.
Farm Notes:
Ilex (Holly) (Moreta)
Habitat: Can
tolerate Maritime exposure. Succeeds in
most soils
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent; Bach; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emetic; Expectorant; Febrifuge;
Purgative.
- The
leaves are diaphoretic, expectorant, febrifuge and tonic. Used fresh at
almost any time of the year or harvested in late spring and dried for
later use, they are used in the treatment of intermittent fevers,
rheumatism, catarrh, pleurisy etc.
- The
juice of the fresh leaves is used in the treatment of jaundice.
- The
berries are violently emetic and purgative and are used in the treatment
of dropsy and as a powder they have been used as an astringent to check
bleeding.
- The
berries are toxic, especially to children, and should not be used
medicinally except under professional supervision.
- The
root is used as a diuretic.
Outside Info: An
evergreen shrub growing to 9m by 5m with green, spikey glossy leaves, with red
berries in season.
Edible Uses: Tea.
- The
leaves have been used as a tea substitute.
- The
roasted fruit is used as a Klah substitute.
- Some
caution is advised here, since the fruit can be purgative and emetic.
Other Uses:
Fuel; Ground cover; Hedge; Wood.
- An
excellent hedge plant, tolerating hard clipping and maritime exposure and
forming a dense stock-proof shelter.
- Wood -
strong, hard and dense, it polishes well, though it must be well dried and
seasoned or else it warps badly
Farm Notes:
Itch-leaf (DLG)
Known locations: Fort Hold
Itch-leaf is an ‘obnoxious weed’,
rooted out where it can be.
It has no known uses and no
description. It is likely to be a native plant.
Kale (1)
(collards)
Habitat: Succeeds
in maritime gardens tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c and also high
summer temperatures.
Medicinal Uses: None
Known
Outside Info: Biennial/Perennial
growing to 0.9m
Edible Uses: Flowers;
Leaves; Stem.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked.
- A
strong cabbage flavour, they are delicious if used when fairly young. The
leaves are available from autumn to late spring, and can be harvested all
through the winter in all but the very coldest of seasons.
- Young
flowering shoots - raw or cooked. Picked before the flowers open, they are
fairly tender and can be used as part of a mixed salad. When cooked, they
have a delicious flavour similar to sprouting broccoli.
Other Uses: None
Known
Farm Notes:
Kiwi (DLG)
Locations: Boll,
Igen
Habitat: Full sun
is best for fruit production. Usually Sub Tropical but can (dormant) tolerate
temperatures down to -15°c
Medicinal Uses: Diuretic;
Febrifuge; Sedative.
- The fruits,
stems and roots are diuretic, febrifuge and sedative. They are used in the
treatment of stones in the urinary tract, rheumatoid arthralgia, cancers
of the liver and oesophagus.
- A
decoction of the leaves is used to treat mange in dogs. The stem-juice is
used in the treatment of gravel.
Outside Info: This is
a climbing plant, supporting itself by twining around branches etc.
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Leaves.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. A delicious flavour. The fruit is up to 3cm across
- The
leaves are eaten cooked in times of need as a famine food
Other Uses:
Insecticide; Paper; Pencil.
- Paper
is made from the bark.
- If
the bark is removed in one piece from near the root and placed in hot
ashes, it becomes very hard and can be used as a tube for a pencil.
- The plant
has insecticidal properties.
Klahbark Tree (DLG,
Dragonsong, the P.E.R.N. Survey, Runner of Pern)
Known Locations: Across Pern, near Half-Circle seahold,
Benden Hold, Southern
Medicinal uses: Unknown but may be a stimulant
Outside Info: A tree. Unknown
Edible Uses: Drink;
Condiment
- Inner
Bark is brewed to produce a like-like substance, tastes like a cross
between Klah and chocolate, with a spicy aftertaste.
- The
bark is also used as a spice in cooking.
Other Uses: Wood
- Although
no reference to it is made, it is likely that the Klahbark tree can be
used for wood.
Farm Notes: There is an implied preference for young
trees to make Klah.
Kohlrabi (1)
Habitat: Can tolerate
drought and tolerates maritime exposure. Very winter hardy and withstands
severe frosts
Medicinal Uses:
Digestive; Tonic.
- The
leaf is digestive and tonic.
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 0.45m at a fast rate.
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Stem.
- Leaves
- cooked. Used as a vegetable, though the quality is not as good as
cabbage. The young leaves can also be added to salads, though some people
find them difficult to digest.
- Stem
- raw or cooked. The plant produces a swollen stem just above ground
level, and this is often used as a root vegetable. It has a mild cabbage
flavour, when finely grated it makes a good addition to mixed salads and,
when cooked, is an excellent vegetable. It is best eaten whilst fairly
small and tender
Other Uses: None Known
Farm Notes:
- Available
all year from successive sowings
- Grows
well with onions, beet and aromatic herbs
- Grows
badly with strawberries, runner beans
Land Cresses – 1
Habitat
Medicinal Uses: None Known
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 0.3m by 0.25m
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Oil; Seed.
- Young
leaves - raw, cooked or used as a seasoning. A hot, spicy watercress
flavour, they are delicious in salads. Leaves can be obtained throughout
the year if autumn-sown plants are given a light protection in winter.
- An edible
oil is obtained from the seed.
- The
seed can be sprouted and added to salads etc
Other Uses:
Farm Notes:
Land cress is often cultivated as
a salad plant
Lavender (DLG, Dragonsdawn)
Habitat: Nabol - The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Prefers a sunny position hardy to between -10 and -15°c
Medicinal Uses: Antihalitosis;
Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Aromatherapy; Aromatic; Carminative; Cholagogue;
Diuretic; Nervine; Sedative; Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic.
·
Lavender is a commonly used herb, though
it is better known for its sweet-scented aroma than for its medicinal
qualities. However, it is an important relaxing herb, having a soothing and
relaxing affect upon the nervous system.
·
The flowering spikes can be dried and
used internally in a tincture, though the extracted essential oil is more
commonly used. The essential oil is much more gentle in its action than most
other essential oils and can be safely applied direct to the skin as an
antiseptic to help heal wounds, burns etc.
·
An essential oil obtained from the
flowers is antihalitosis, powerfully antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic,
carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, nervine, sedative, stimulant, stomachic and
tonic.
·
It is not often used internally, though
it is a useful carminative and nervine.
·
It is mainly used externally where it is
an excellent restorative and tonic - when rubbed into the temples, for example,
it can cure a nervous headache, and it is a delightful addition to the
bath-water.
·
Its powerful antiseptic properties are
able to kill many of the common bacteria such as typhoid, diphtheria,
streptococcus and Pneumococcus, as well as being a powerful antidote to some
snake venoms is used as an antiseptic wash for wounds, ulcers, sores etc and as
a relaxing oil for massage
·
It is very useful in the treatment of
burns, sunburn, scalds,
·
bites, vaginal discharge, anal fissure
etc, where it also soothes the affected part of the body and can prevent the
formation of permanent scar tissue.
·
The oil, applied under the eyes and nose
can help mitigate the worst effects of hayfever sufferers.
· Lavender
can promote bleeding in women and should be carefully applied.
Outside Info: An evergreen shrub growing to 1.2m by 1m
Edible Uses: Condiment; Tea.
·
Leaves, petals and flowering tips - raw.
Used as a condiment in salads, soups,
·
stews etc. They provide a very aromatic
flavour and are too strong to be used in any quantity.
·
The fresh or dried flowers are used as a
tea. The fresh flowers are also crystallized or added to jams, ice-creams,
vinegars etc as a flavouring.
· An
essential oil from the flowers is used as a food flavouring
Other Uses: Essential;
Hedge; Incense; Pot-pourri; Repellent.
·
The essential oil that is obtained from
the flowers is exquisitely scented and has a very wide range of applications,
both in the home and commercially. It is commonly used in soap making, in making
high quality perfumes and is used as a detergent and cleaning agent, a food
flavouring etc and as an insect repellent. When growing the plant for its
essential oil content, it is best to harvest the
·
flowering stems as soon as the flowers
have faded.
·
The aromatic leaves and flowers are used
in pot-pourri and as an insect repellent in the linen cupboard etc.
·
They have been used in the past as a
strewing herb in order to impart a sweet smell to rooms and to deter insects.
The leaves are also added to bath water for their fragrance and therapeutic
properties. The flowering stems, once the flowers have been removed for use in
pot-pourri etc, can be tied in small bundles and burnt as incense sticks.
·
Lavender can be grown as a low hedge,
responding well to trimming.
Farm Notes
Lavender
makes a good companion for most plants, growing especially well with cabbages.
Legumes (DLG,
Dragonflight, The Second Weyr)
Legumes are a family of
plants. Several other plants on this
list are members of this family. The Legume family is so large that I have only
included those plants either inferred (such as Lentils) or generally found of
real use to the farmer, such as clovers, nuts, beans and peas.
Lemongrass (DLG)
Habitat:
Medicinal uses: Oil;
antibacterial; expectorant
·
Lemongrass is drunk before bed to induce
sleep.
- The infusion is also used to
loosen and lessen mucous, to treat fevers, cramps, and stress.
- The essential oil has antibacterial
properties.
- Leaf
tea treats diarrhea, stomach-ache, headache, fevers, flu, and is
antiseptic
Outside Info: The plant
grows in dense clumps up to 2 meters in diameter and has leaves up to 1 meter
long. The stem and leaf have a distinct lemon flavour
Edible Uses: Condiment
- The
herb is used to flavour other dishes
Other Uses: Oil
- The
oil is used in cosmetics and flavourings
- The
volatile oils may also have some pesticide
Farm Notes:
Lentils (DLG)
Habitat: It cannot
grow in the shade widely cultivated in warm temperate and tropical zones
Medicinal Uses:
Laxative; Poultice.
- The
seeds are mucilaginous and laxative.
- They
are considered to be useful in the treatment of constipation and other
intestinal affections.
- Made
into a paste, they are a useful cleansing application in foul and indolent
ulcers.
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 0.45m
Edible Uses: Seed;
Seedpod.
- Seed
- cooked or sprouted and eaten raw. A very nutritious food, the seeds can
be cooked on their own or added to soups, stews etc.
- The
seed can be soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then allowed to sprout
for about 5 days. They have a crunchy, fresh flavour. Lentils are more
digestible than many legumes.
- The dried
seed can also be ground into a powder and used with cereal flours in
making bread etc, this greatly enhances the value of the protein in the
bread. The seed stores better if it is left in its husk.
- Young
seedpods - used fresh or cooked like green beans
Other Uses: None
known
Farm Notes:
Litmus (Dragonquest)
Habitat: A rock
loving lichen
Medicinal Uses: Antiseptic
Demulcent and emollient
- It is
said to be a decided antiseptic, and to cause death in toxic doses by
paralysing the heart-muscle.
- A
decoction is useful in coughs and catarrhs as a Demulcent and emollient
Outside Info: a small,
dry lichen, with a rounded, glaucous, nearly erect thallus, forked and
subdivided into numerous branchy, roundish, grey, yellowish, or brownish
threads;
Edible Uses:
Other Uses: Litmus;
pigment
- Litmus
was harvested by the smith craft hall during the 9th pass for
its ability to hold a message written on it by Craftmaster Fandarels
distance writing machine. It is made "by macerating powdered lichen
for several weeks, with occasional agitation, in a mixture of urine, lime,
and potashes, in a wooden trough under shelter. A kind of fermentation
takes place, and the lichen becomes first reddish, and subsequently blue.
When the pulp has acquired a proper blue colour, it is placed in brass or
steel molds, and the cakes thus obtained are subsequently dried. An
addition of aqueous ammonia answers the same purpose as that of urine in
the above mixture
- Blue and Red
Orchil or Archil are used for dyeing, colouring and staining.
The red is prepared by steeping the lichen in earthen jars and heating
them by steam. The blue is similarly treated in a covered wooden vessel.
They are used as a thickish liquid for testing purposes.
- Cudbear,
prepared in a similar way, is also used as a dye. It is dried and
pulverized, and becomes a purplish-red in colour.
Farm Notes:
Lovage (DLG)
Habitat: prefers
a rich moist but well-drained soil in a sunny position, though it tolerates
some shade
Medicinal Uses: Antispasmodic;
Aromatic; Carminative; Diaphoretic; Digestive; Diuretic;
Emmenagogue; Expectorant; Skin;
Stimulant; Stomachic.
- Lovage
is a warming and tonic herb for the digestive and respiratory systems. It
is used primarily in the treatment of indigestion, poor appetite, wind,
colic and bronchitis.
- The
roots, leaves and fruits are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative,
diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, mildly expectorant and stimulant. They
are used internally in the treatment of disordered stomachs, especially cases
of colic and flatulence in children, kidney stones, cystitis, painful
menstruation and slow labour.
- Externally,
the root is used in the treatment of sore throats and aphthous ulcers.
- The
roots of plants 3 years old can be harvested in early spring or in the
autumn and are used fresh or dried.
- The
leaves are harvested before the plant comes into flower and either
distilled for their oil or dried for later use.
- The
leaves, either eaten in salads or dried and infused as a tea, have been
used as an emmenagogue.
- The
essential oil from the seeds is used to remove freckles and spots from the
face
Outside Info:
Perennial growing to 1.8m by 1m with greenish yellow flowers bloom mid to late
summer.
Edible Uses: Condiment;
Flowers; Leaves; Root; Seed; Stem; Tea.
- Leaves
and stems - raw or cooked. Used as a savoury flavouring in salads, soups,
stews etc, imparting a yeasty/celery flavour.
- The
leaves can be used fresh or dried and are available from late winter until
late autumn.
- The
young stem can be blanched and used like celery in salads or as a savoury
flavouring in cooked foods.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. A strong yeasty flavour, it is used as a flavouring in
cakes, soups, salads etc. It can be used whole or ground into a powder.
- Root
- cooked. A strong savoury taste, it can be used as a flavouring or cooked
as a vegetable. It is best grated when 2 - 3 years old. Flowers are
edible.
- A tea
is made from the dried leaves. A strong savoury flavour, it tastes more
like a broth. A tea can also be made from the grated roots.
- An
essential oil from the root is used commercially as a food flavouring.
Other Uses: None known
Farm Notes:
- To
ensure a good supply of the leaves in the summer, it is best to cut the
plants down to the ground when flowering in the summer.
- Lovage
is a good companion plant, improving the health and flavour of other
plants growing nearby
Lur-weed (Master Harper)
Habitat: Northern
Pern; Tillek
Medicinal Use: Toxic
- Lur-weed
will send runner beasts (and therefore most likely other beasts) into
convulsions and is therefore toxic.
Outside Info: weed
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes: Rooted out where-ever found
Mandamo trees (DLG, Dragon Drums, Renegades)
Habitat: Tropical
(Southern Hold)
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Large
trunk
Edible Uses: Unknown
but unlikely
Other Uses: Wood
- A
segment of the hollow trunk is used as a message drum.
Mango (DLG)
Habitat: Boll
Medicinal Uses: Astringents,
- Astringents
and remedies for bronchitis, internal hemorrhage, and toothache are made
from twigs and leaves.
- Leaf
ash is used for burns.
Outside Info: Fast
growing tree, grows up to 30m. 1-2 crops a year of large, musk-scented fruit.
Edible Uses: Fruit
- Fruit
can be eaten raw, candied, or pickled. Unripe fruit
Other Uses: Paint?
- A
secret recipe for artist's paint used the urine of cows fed on mango
leaves
Farm Notes:
Marjoram (Dragons Dawn)
Habitat: Prefers a
warm climate
Medicinal Uses: Antiseptic;
Antispasmodic; Aromatherapy; Carminative; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Emmenagogue;
Expectorant; Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic.
- Sweet
marjoram is mainly used as a culinary herb, but is also medicinally
valuable due to its stimulant and antispasmodic properties.
- It is
a good general tonic, treating various disorders of the digestive and
respiratory systems.
- Because
it can promote menstruation, it should not be used medicinally by pregnant
women though small quantities used for culinary purposes are safe.
- The
herb is antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic,
diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and mildly tonic.
- It is
taken internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints, tension
headaches, insomnia, anxiety, minor digestive upsets and painful
menstruation.
- Externally,
it is used to treat muscular pain, bronchial complaints, arthritis,
sprains and stiff joints.
- The
plant is harvested as flowering begins and can be used fresh or dried.
- Marjoram
is often used medicinally in the form of the essential oil, as an external
application for sprains, bruises etc.
Outside Info:
Perennial growing to 0.6m by 0.6m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. Sweet marjoram is widely used as a flavouring for salad
dressings, vegetables, legumes and oils It is best when used fresh and
only added towards the end of cooking.
- The
aromatic seeds are used as a flavouring in sweets, drinks etc.
- A
herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves. The flavour resembles a
blend of thyme, rosemary and sage.
Other Uses:
Disinfectant; Dye; Essential.
- The
leaves and flowers essential oil by steam distillation. Called 'Oil of
Sweet Marjoram', it is used as a food flavouring and in perfumery, soaps,
hair products etc
- The
plant is often used to disinfect baskets
Farm Notes:
A good companion plant, improving
the flavour of nearby plants
See also the section on Black marsh
berries and blackberries.
General habitat: low marsh
valleys near Half Circle Seahold
Outside Info: yellow
flowers
Edible uses: Fruit
The fruit can be eaten raw or
possibly cooked
Other uses: Firewood
The desiccated bushes burn well
Habitat: Does well
in marshy soils
Medicinal Uses:
Alterative; Antiinflammatory; Antiseptic; Aromatic; Astringent; Diaphoretic;
Diuretic; Homeopathy; Stomachic; Tonic.
- The
leaves and flowering stems are alterative, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic,
aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, stomachic and tonic.
- The
plant is harvested in July when it is in flower and can be dried for later
use.
- The
flower head contains salicylic acid, from which the drug aspirin can be
synthesised. Unlike the extracted aspirin, which can cause gastric
ulceration at high doses, the combination of constituents in meadowsweet
act to protect the inner lining of the stomach and intestines whilst still
providing the anti-inflammatory benefits of aspirin.
- The
herb is a valuable medicine in the treatment of diarrhoea, indeed it is
considered almost specific in the treatment of children's diarrhoea.
- It is
also considered to be a useful stomachic, being used to treat
hyperacidity, heartburn, gastritis and peptic ulcers, for which it is one
of the most effective plant remedies.
- It is
also frequently used in the treatment of afflictions of the blood.
- Meadowsweet
is also effective against the organisms causing diphtheria, dysentery and
pneumonia.
- This
remedy should not be given to people who are hypersensitive to red willow
salic.
- A
strong decoction of the boiled root is effective, externally, in the
treatment of sores and ulcers.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 1.2m by 0.4m. Has clusters of almond-scented cream blossoms.
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Flowers; Leaves; Root; Tea.
- Root
- cooked.
- Young
leaves - cooked as a flavouring in soups.
- Young
leaves, flowers and roots are brewed into a tea.
- The
dried leaves are used as a flavouring, especially as a sweetener in herb
teas.
- The
flowers are used as a flavouring in various alcoholic beverages and in
stewed fruits. Adding them to wine or beer is said to make a very heady
brew.
·
They are also
made into a syrup which can be used in cooling drinks and fruit salads.
Other Uses: Dye;
Essential; Pot-pourri; Strewing.
· A black dye is obtained
from the roots. It is brown.
· A yellow dye is obtained
from the plant tops.
· A blue dye is obtained from
the leaves.
· An essential oil obtained
from the flower buds is used in perfumery.
· The whole plant, but
especially the leaves, is used as a strewing herb, imparting an almond-like
fragrance. Strongly aromatic, its delightful perfume completely fills a room.
· Both flowers and leaves are
used in pot-pourri, retaining their scent for several months, the scent of the
dried flowers becoming more and more pleasant with age.
Farm Notes:
Melons (DLG, Dragon Drums, Moreta)
Habitat: Igen,
Ista, wild melons near Boll Requires a rich, well-drained moisture retentive
soil and a warm, very sunny position. It cannot grow in the shade
Medicinal Uses:
Antitussive; Digestive; Diuretic; Emetic; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Stomachic;
Vermifuge.
- The
fruits can be used as a cooling light cleanser or moisturiser for the
skin.
- They
are used as a first aid treatment for burns and abrasions.
- The
flowers are expectorant and emetic.
- The
fruit is stomachic.
- The
seed is antitussive, digestive, febrifuge and vermifuge. When used as a vermifuge,
the whole seed complete with the seed coat is ground into a fine flour,
then made into an emulsion with water and eaten. It is then necessary to
take a purge in order to expel the tapeworms or other parasites from the
body.
- The
root is diuretic and emetic
Outside Info: Annual
Climber growing to 1.5m
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Oil; Seed.
- Fruit
- raw. Very watery but with a delicate flavour, it is very refreshing.
- The
flesh of the fruit can be dried, ground into a powder and used with cereals
when making bread, biscuits etc
- Seed
- raw. Rich in oil with a nutty flavour but very fiddly to use because the
seed is small and covered with a fibrous coat
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed.
Other Uses: None
known
Farm Notes:
Grows well with corn and
sunflowers but dislikes potatoes
Includes: Honeydew Melon
All the mints flourish on
Pern. The more well known ones are
shown below:
Spearmint/Gardenmint:
Habitat: A sunny
position is best for production of essential oils, but it also succeeds in
partial shade
Medicinal Uses:
Antiemetic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Cancer; Carminative; Diuretic; Poultice;
Restorative; Stimulant; Stomachic.
- A tea
made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of
fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments.
- The
herb is antiemetic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, restorative,
stimulant and stomachic. The leaves should be harvested when the plant is
just coming into flower, and can be dried for later use.
- The
stems are macerated and used as a poultice on bruises.
- The
essential oil in the leaves is antiseptic, though it is toxic in large
doses.
- Both
the essential oil and the stems are used in folk remedies for cancer. A poultice
prepared from the leaves is said to remedy tumours.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 0.6m by 1m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A strong spearmint flavour, they are used as a flavouring
in salads or cooked foods.
- The
leaves are often used in 'mint sauce', which is used as a flavouring in
meals.
- A
herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves. It has a very pleasant
and refreshing taste of spearmint, leaving the mouth and digestive system
feeling clean.
- An
essential oil from the leaves and flowers is used as a flavouring in
sweets, ice cream, drinks etc. A spearmint flavour
Other Uses:
Essential; Repellent; Strewing.
- An
essential oil is obtained from the whole plant, the yield is about 4K of
oil from 1 tonne of leaves. The oil is used commercially as a food
flavouring and oral hygiene preparation.
- The
plant repels insects and is used as an strewing herb.
Farm Notes:
A good companion plant for growing
near cabbages and tomatoes, helping to keep them free of insect pests.
Peppermint:
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses: Anodyne;
Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Aromatherapy; Carminative; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic;
Refrigerant; Stomachic; Tonic; Vasodilator.
- A tea
made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of
fevers, headaches, digestive disorders (especially flatulence) and various
minor ailments.
- The
herb is abortifacient, anodyne, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative,
cholagogue, diaphoretic, refrigerant, stomachic, tonic and vasodilator.
- An
infusion is used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, digestive
problems, spastic colon etc].
- Externally
a lotion is applied to the skin to relieve pain and reduce sensitivity.
- The
leaves and stems can be used fresh or dried, they are harvested for drying
in August as the flowers start to open.
- The
essential oil in the leaves is antiseptic and strongly antibacterial,
though it is toxic in large doses. When diluted it can be used as an
inhalant and chest rub for respiratory infections.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 0.45m by 1m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A mild peppermint flavour, they are used as a flavouring
in salads or cooked foods.
- An
essential oil from the leaves and flowers is used as a flavouring in
sweets, chewing gum, ice cream etc.
- A
herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves.
Other Uses:
Essential; Repellent; Strewing.
- An
essential oil obtained from the whole plant is used in perfumery. It is also
an ingredient of oral hygiene preparations, toiletries etc.
· Peppermint leaves are used
as an ingredient of pot-pourri. They are used as a strewing herb
Farm Notes:
- Most
mints have fairly aggressive spreading roots and, unless you have the space
to let them roam, they need to be restrained by some means such as
planting them in containers that are buried in the soil.
- A
good companion for growing near cabbages and tomatoes.
Water mint:
Habitat: It
requires moist or wet soil and can grow in water. Plants can grow in water up
to 15cm deep
Medicinal Uses: Anodyne;
Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Astringent; Carminative; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic;
Emetic; Refrigerant; Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic; Vasodilator.
- The
leaves are anodyne, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent, carminative,
cholagogue, diaphoretic, emetic, refrigerant, stimulant, stomachic, tonic
and vasodilator.
- A tea
made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of
fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments.
- It is
also used as a mouth-wash and a gargle for treating sore throats, ulcers,
bad breath etc.
- The
leaves are harvested as the plant comes into flower and can be dried for
later use.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 1m by 1m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A strong distinctive peppermint-like fragrance.
- Used
as a flavouring in salads or cooked foods. The leaves are too pungent for
most people to use as a flavouring.
- A
herb tea is made from the leaves
Other Uses:
Repellent; Strewing.
- The
plant repels flies, mice and rats. It has a pleasant, fresh scent and is
used as a strewing herb and is strewn in granaries to keep mice and rats
off the grain.
- The plant,
harvested before flowering, yields an essential oil.
- The
fresh or dried plant is very good when used in herbal baths and can also
be used in herb pillows.
Farm Notes:
A good companion for Brassicae.
Habitat: Warm, Southern, Nerat
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: A vine
with an orange-red fruit
Edible Uses: Fruit?
- The
fruit is delicious raw and can presumably also be used for juice.
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes:
The southern variety is juicier
than the Neratian version (Dragonflight)
Moss (Dragonquest,
Moreta, All the Weyrs of Pern, Dragonflight, Runner of Pern, Master Harper,
Skies of Pern, Renegades)
Habitat: Unknown, but moss like plants prefer moist
ground.
Medicinal Uses: Antiseptic, Febrifuge?
- Tea –
a tea can be brewed from the moss helping against pain.
- Moss
– the moss is used to dress wounds preventing infections.
Outside Info: Unknown
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Path
- A variety
of moss called ‘Trace’ is used by the Runner’s of Pern to establish the
regular ‘run’s
Mustard (see black mustard)
Mugwort (DLG)
Habitat: It
requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Medicinal Uses:
Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Appetizer; Carminative; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic;
Digestive; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Expectorant; Foot care; Haemostatic; Nervine;
Purgative; Stimulant; Tonic; Women's complaints.
- Mugwort
is used in matters connected to the digestive system, menstrual complaints
and the treatment of worms.
- It is
slightly toxic, however, and should never be used by pregnant women.
- Large,
prolonged dosage can damage the nervous system.
- All
parts of the plant are anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic,
carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant,
nervine, purgative, stimulant, slightly tonic and used in the treatment of
women's complaints.
- The
leaves are also said to be appetizer, diuretic, haemostatic and stomachic.
- They
can be used internally or externally.
- An
infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of
nervous and spasmodic affections, sterility, functional bleeding of the
uterus, dysmenorrhoea, asthma and diseases of the brain.
- The
leaves have an antibacterial action. The leaves are harvested in August
and can be dried for later use.
- The
stem is also said to be antirheumatic, antispasmodic, and stomachic.
- The
roots are tonic and antispasmodic. They are said to be one of the best
stomachics.
- The
leaves, placed inside the shoes, are said to be soothing for sore feet.
- The
compressed dried leaves and stems are used in moxibustion.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 1.2m by 0.7m
Edible Uses:
Colouring; Condiment; Leaves.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. Aromatic and somewhat bitter. Their addition to the diet
aids the digestion and so they are often used in small quantities as a
flavouring, especially with fatty foods.
- They
are also used to give colour and flavour to glutinous-rice dumplings
(Mochi).
- The young
shoots are used in spring or as a potherb.
The dried leaves and flowering tops are steeped into tea. They are used as
a flavouring in beer.
Other Uses:
Insecticide; Repellent; Tinder.
- The
fresh or the dried plant repels insects, it can be used as a spray but
caution is advised since it can also inhibit plant growth.
- A
weak tea made from the infused plant is a good all-purpose insecticide.
- An
essential oil from the plant kills insect larvae.
- The
down on the leaves makes a good tinder for starting fires
Farm Notes:
It inhibits the growth of nearby plants by means of
root secretions.
Mushroom (DLG)
Mushrooms are mentioned but not
the variety. As there is such a wide
variety with different properties, I have not included any specifics here.
Habitat: Various
Medicinal
Uses: Cleansing, Anti-tumour
- Mushrooms
are generally thought to be cleansing to the body but are not recommended
in copious amounts. They are
better cooked to remove any toxins.
- Some
varieties are used as an anti-tumour agent
Outside Info:
Edible Uses: Fruit
- The
mushrooms can be eaten raw or cooked.
Some varieties can be dried whilst others need to be cooked within
a day or so. They are popular
fried but can make a nice broth by boiling them in milk.
Other Uses: Dye
- Mushrooms
produce a wide variety of shade and colour.
Farm Notes:
Needlethorn (Moreta,
DLG, Renegades)
Habitat: Ista,
Paradise River
Medicinal Uses: Toxic
·
The spines are
seasonally poisonous and will drain animals and plants that come into contact
during the spring and summer.
·
The skin of the plant has fine hairs
that can cause irritation on contact with skin.
Outside Info: A bush
with 3 stalks, each having 3 leaves.
Edible Uses: Succulent
leaf
- The
flesh is supposedly edible and tasty though no other information is
available. Only available in
autumn.
Other Uses: Medicinal
Instrument; barrier hedge
- The
‘thorn’ can, during autumn, be removed safely from the plant as it regrows
them. The hollow ‘thorn’ can be
used as a syringe needle.
- Other
plants stay clear of the immediate vicinity of Needlethorn, as do animals,
so making it a valuable barrier plant.
Farm Notes:
Ging plants grow especially well in the presence of Needlethorn and can be found nearby.
Nettle (Moreta)
Habitat: Ruatha The
plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. Prefers a soil rich in phosphates and nitrogen.
Plants must be grown in a deep rich soil if good quality fibre is required
Medicinal Uses:
Antiasthmatic; Antidandruff; Astringent; Diuretic; Galactogogue; Haemostatic;
Hypoglycaemic; Stings; Tonic.
- A tea
made from the leaves has traditionally been used as a cleansing tonic and
blood purifier so the plant is often used in the treatment of hay fever,
arthritis, anaemia etc.
- The
whole plant is antiasthmatic, antidandruff, astringent, depurative,
diuretic, galactogogue, haemostatic, hypoglycaemic and a stimulating tonic
- An
infusion of the plant is very valuable in stemming internal bleeding, it
is also used to treat anaemia, excessive menstruation, haemorrhoids,
arthritis, rheumatism and skin complaints, especially eczema.
- Externally,
the plant is used to treat skin complaints, arthritic pain, gout,
sciatica, neuralgia, haemorrhoids, hair problems etc.
- The
fresh leaves of nettles are rubbed or beaten onto the skin in the
treatment of rheumatism etc. This practice, called urtification, causes
intense irritation to the skin as it is stung by the nettles. It is
believed that this treatment works in two ways. Firstly, it acts as a
counter-irritant, bringing more blood to the area to help remove the
toxins that cause rheumatism. Secondly, the formic acid from the nettles
is believed to have a beneficial effect upon the rheumatic joints.
- For
medicinal purposes, the plant is best harvested in May or June as it is
coming into flower and dried for later use.
- This
species merits study for possible uses against kidney and urinary system
ailments.
- The
juice of the nettle can be used as an antidote to stings from the leaves
and an infusion of the fresh leaves is healing and soothing as a lotion
for burns.
- The
root is shown to have a beneficial effect upon enlarged prostate glands.
- A
homeopathic remedy is made from the leaves. It is used in the treatment of
rheumatic gout, nettle rash and chickenpox, externally is applied to
bruises.
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 1.2m by 1m
Edible Uses: Curdling agent; Drink; Leaves.
- Young
leaves - cooked as a potherb and added to soups etc. They can also be
dried for winter use.
- Nettles
are a very valuable addition to the diet, they are a very nutritious food
that is easily digested and is high in minerals (especially iron) and
vitamins (especially A and C].
- Only
use young leaves and wear stout gloves when harvesting them to prevent
being stung.
- Cooking
the leaves, or thoroughly drying them, neutralizes the sting, rendering
the leaf safe to eat.
- The
young shoots, harvested in the spring when 15 - 20cm long complete with
the underground stem are very nice. Old leaves can be laxative.
- A tea
is made from the dried leaves, it is warming on a winters day. A bland
flavour, it can be added as a tonic to other teas.
- The
juice of the leaves, or a decoction of the herb, can be used as a rennet
substitute in curdling plant milks.
- Nettle
beer is brewed from the young shoots
Other Uses: Biomass;
Compost; Dye; Fibre; Hair; Liquid feed; Oil; Repellent; Waterproofing.
- A
strong flax-like fibre is obtained from the stems. Used for making string
and cloth, it also makes a good quality paper It is harvested as the plant
begins to die down in early autumn and is retted before the fibres are
extracted. The fibre is produced in less abundance than from flax and is
also more difficult to extract.
- The
plant matter left over after the fibres have been extracted are a good
source of biomass and have been used in the manufacture of sugar, starch,
protein and ethyl alcohol
- An
oil obtained from the seeds is used as an illuminant.
- An
essential ingredient of herbal
compost activator.
- The
leaves are an excellent addition to the compost heap and they can be
soaked for 7 - 21 days in water to make a very nutritious liquid feed for
plants. This liquid feed is both insect repellent and a good foliar feed.
- The
growing plant increases the essential oil content of other nearby plants,
thus making them more resistant to insect pests.
- Although
many different species of insects feed on nettles, flies are repelled by
the plant so a bunch of freshly cut stems is used as a repellent in food
cupboards.
- The
juice of the plant, or a decoction formed by boiling the herb in a strong
solution of salt, will curdle milks and thus acts as a rennet substitute[
This same juice, if rubbed into small seams of leaky wooden tubs, will
coagulate and make the tub watertight again[
- A
hair wash is made from the infused leaves and this is used as a tonic and
antidandruff treatment.
- A beautiful
and permanent green dye is obtained from a decoction of the leaves and
stems.
- A
yellow dye is obtained from the root when boiled with alum.
Farm Notes:
It is a good companion plant to
grow in the orchard and amongst soft fruit. So long as it is not allowed to
totally over-run the plants, it seems to improve the health of soft fruit that
grows nearby and also to protect the fruit from birds, but it makes harvesting
very difficult.
Numbweed (Renegades, DLG, Dragonquest,
Dragon Drums, Dragonsong, Moreta, Skies of Pern, master Harper, Dolphins of
Pern, Runner of Pern)
Habitat: thrives
best in tropical Jungle areas
Medicinal Uses: Analgesic;
Sedative; Antiseptic
· The leaves are boiled for 3
days, strained and the result descanted off for a salve, which numbs the area
applied to.
· The salve can be used on
wounds directly without infection and seems to help cleanse the wound as well
(gangrene is almost unknown). It seems
to also have mild sedative qualities due to its numbing qualities.
Outside Info: Twiggy,
sage like bush. The plant has a grey-green colour. They sprout tufts of
blossoms.
Edible Uses: None Known
Other Uses: None
Known
Farm Notes:
Not apparently cultivated
Nutmeg (Dragonlovers
Guide)
The Nutmeg is itself, although
brought to Pern, had trouble adapting itself to Pernese soil and probably did
not survive the First Pass.
Nutmegoid (DLG)
The origins of this plant are
clearly stated as being from First-Centauri.
Although not clear, it seems that this resembles the Nutmeg, but without
the same level of dangerous toxins present in the Nutmeg (Terran) tree.
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses: It
has stimulating aromatic, carminative, and psychomimetic properties
Most applications are made by way
of the Nutmeg oil.
Outside Info: The trees may reach about 65 feet (20
metres) tall.
Edible Uses: condiment;
Fruit
· The fruit can be eaten locally
- Nutmeg
has a characteristic, pleasant fragrance and slightly warm taste; it is used
to flavour many kinds of baked goods,.
- When
fully mature the fruit splits in two, exposing a crimson-coloured aril,
the mace, surrounding a single shiny, brown seed, the nutmeg
Oak (DLG, Dragons Dawn)
Habitat: The plant
can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure
Medicinal Uses:
Antiseptic; Astringent; Bach; Decongestant; Haemostatic; Tonic.
- It is
anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, decongestant, haemostatic and
tonic.
- The bark
is the part of the plant that is most commonly used, though other parts
such as the galls, seeds and seed cups are also sometimes used.
- A
decoction of the bark is useful in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea,
dysentery, intermittent fevers, haemorrhages etc.
- Externally,
it is used to bathe wounds, skin eruptions, sweaty feet, piles etc.
- It is
also used as a vaginal douche for genital inflammations and discharge, and
also as a wash for throat and mouth infections. The bark is harvested from
branches 5 - 12 years old, and is dried for later use.
- Any
galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the
treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhoea, dysentery etc.
- A
homeopathic remedy is made from the bark. It is used in the treatment of
disorders of the spleen and gall
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 30m by 30m
Edible Uses: Klah;
Gum; Seed.
- Seed
- cooked. Nourishing but indigestible but is sometimes fed to porcine's.
- Chopped
and roasted, the seed is used as an almond substitute.
- It
can be dried, ground into a powder and used as a thickening in stews etc
or mixed with cereals for making bread. The seed contains bitter tannins,
which are leached out by thoroughly washing the seed in running water
though many minerals will also be lost. Either the whole seed can be used
or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several
days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap
them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is
quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannin is leached. The
traditional method of preparing the seed was to bury it in boggy ground
over winter. The germinating seed was dug up in the spring when it would
have lost most of its astringency.
- The
roasted seed is a Klah substitute
- An
edible gum is obtained from the bark. It can be used instead of butter in
cooking.
Other Uses: Basketry;
Charcoal; Compost; Fuel; Ink; Repellent; Tannin; Wood.
- A mulch
of the leaves repels grubs etc, though fresh leaves should not be used as
these can inhibit plant growth.
- The
bark is an ingredient of a Farmcraft herbal compost activator. This is a
dried and powdered mixture of several herbs that can be added to a compost
heap in order to speed up bacterial activity and thus shorten the time
needed to make the compost. The bark is very rich in calcium.
- Oak
galls are excrescences that are sometimes produced in great numbers on the
tree and are caused by the activity of the larvae of different insects.
The insects live inside these galls, obtaining their nutrient therein.
When the insect pupates and leaves, the gall can be used as a rich source
of tannin, which can also be used as a dyestuff.
- A
black dye and excellent long-lasting ink is made from the oak galls, mixed
with salts of iron. The colour is not very durable.
- When
mixed with alum, the dye is brown and with salts of tin it is yellow.
- Trees
can be coppiced to provide material for basket making, fuel, construction
etc.
- The
wood is a source of tar, quaiacol, acetic acid, creosote and tannin.
- A
purplish dye is obtained from an infusion of the bark with a small
quantity of copperas. It is not bright, but is said to be durable.
- Wood
- hard, tough, durable even under water - highly valued for furniture,
construction etc. It is also a good fuel and charcoal.
Farm Notes:
Older trees have a thick corky
bark and this can protect them from forest fires, young trees will often
regenerate from the base if cut down or killed back by a fire.
Oats (Red Star Rising)
Habitat: Bitra,
Oats are an easily grown crop that succeeds in any moderately fertile soil in
full sun. Tolerates more temperate
conditions than wheat.
Medicinal Uses:
Anticholesterolemic; Antispasmodic; Cancer; Cardiac; Diuretic; Emollient;
Nervine; Nutritive; Poultice; Stimulant.
- Oats
are a nutritious food that gently restores vigour after debilitating
illnesses, helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood and also increases
stamina.
- The
seed is a mealy nutritive herb that is antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic,
emollient, nervine and stimulant.
- The
seed is used as a folk remedy for tumours.
- A
gruel made from the ground seed is used as a mild nutritious aliment in
inflammatory cases, fevers and after parturition. It should be avoided in
cases of dyspepsia accompanied with acidity of the stomach.
- A
tincture of the ground seed in alcohol is useful as a nervine and uterine
tonic.
- A
decoction strained into a bath will help to soothe itchiness and eczema.
- A
poultice made from the ground seeds is used in the treatment of eczema and
dry skin.
- When
consumed regularly, oat germ reduces blood cholesterol levels.
- Oat
straw and the grain are prescribed to treat general debility and a wide
range of nervous conditions. They are mildly antidepressant, gently
raising energy levels and supporting an over-stressed nervous system. They
are of particular value in helping a person to cope with the exhaustion
that results from multiple sclerosis, chronic neurological pain and
insomnia. Oats are thought to stimulate sufficient nervous energy to help
relieve insomnia.
- A
tincture of the plant is used as a nerve stimulant and to treat opium
addiction.
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 0.9m by 0.1m
Edible Uses: Klah;
Oil; Seed.
- Seed
- cooked. The seed ripens in the latter half of summer and, when harvested
and dried, can store for several years. It has a floury texture and a
mild, somewhat creamy flavour.
- It
can be used as a staple food crop in either savoury or sweet dishes. Used
as a cereal, it is probably best known as the breakfast cereal porridge
but it can also be used in many other ways.
- The
seed can be sprouted and used in salads.
- The
grain can also be ground into a flour and used in making biscuits, sourdough
etc. It is fairly low in gluten, and so is not really suitable for making
bread.
- The
seed is an especially good food for convalescents and people with stomach
problems
- Oat
flour inhibits rancidity and increases the length of shelf-stability of fatty
foods such as vegetable oils.
- Oats
are also one of the cereals used as a basic ingredient for making whisky.
- The
roasted seed is a Klah substitute
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed, it is used in the manufacture of
breakfast cereals.
Other Uses: Biomass;
Cosmetic; Fibre; Mulch; Paper; Repellent; Thatching.
- The
straw has a wide range of uses such as for biomass, fibre, mulch,
papermaking, building board and internal thatching. It has also been used
as a stuffing material for mattresses and these are said to be of great
benefit for sufferers from rheumatism.
- Oats
hulls are also as a filter in breweries.
- A
handful of the grains, thrown into the bath water, will help to keep the
skin soft because of their emollient action.
- An
extract of oat straw prevents feeding by beetles
Farm Notes:
Oats are harvested when grain is
in the hard dough stage and straw is slightly green. If too ripe, shattering
causes seed loss.
Oilbrush (Renegades of Pern)
Habitat: Igen
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Unknown
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: fuel
- Used
for cooking fires. In Igen, pockets of bread were cooked on metal sheets
over an oilbrush fire.
Farm Notes:
Onion (DLG,
Nerilka)
Habitat: Prefers a
sunny sheltered position in a rich light well-drained soil
Medicinal Uses:
Anthelmintic; Antiinflammatory; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Carminative;
Diuretic; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Homeopathy; Hypoglycaemic; Hypotensive;
Lithontripic; Skin; Stings; Stomachic; Tonic.
- The
onion has a wide range of beneficial actions on the body and when eaten
(especially raw) on a regular basis will promote the general health of the
body.
The bulb is anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic,
carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, hypoglycaemic, hypotensive,
lithontripic, stomachic and tonic. When used regularly in the diet it
offsets tendencies towards angina, arteriosclerosis and heart attack. It
is also useful in preventing oral infection and tooth decay.
- Baked
onions can be used as a poultice to remove pus from sores.
- Fresh
onion juice is a very useful first aid treatment for bee and wasp stings,
bites, grazes or fungal skin complaints.
- When warmed
the juice can be dropped into the ear to treat earache. It also aids the
formation of scar tissue on wounds, thus speeding up the healing process,
and is used as a cosmetic to remove freckles.
- Bulbs
of red cultivars are harvested when mature in the summer and used to make
a homeopathic remedy. This is used particularly in the treatment of people
whose symptoms include running eyes and nose.
Outside Info:
Edible Uses: Flowers;
Leaves; Root; Seed.
- Bulb
- raw or cooked. Eaten raw, it can be sliced up and used in salads,
sandwich fillings etc, it can be baked or boiled as a vegetable in its own
right and is also commonly used as a flavouring in soups, stews and many
other cooked dishes.
· Leaves - raw or cooked.
There are some cultivars, the spring onions, that have been selected for their
leaves and are used in salads whilst still young and actively growing - the
bulb is much smaller than in other cultivars and is usually eaten with the
leaves. By successional sowing, they can be available at any time of the year.
- Flowers
- raw. Used as a garnish on salads. The flowers are somewhat dry and are
less pleasant than many other species.
- The
seeds are sprouted and eaten. They have a delicious onion flavour.
Other Uses: Cosmetic;
Dye; Hair; Polish; Repellent; Rust.
- The
juice of the plant is used as a repellent and can also be rubbed onto the
skin to repel insects.
- The
plant juice can be used as a rust preventative on metals and as a polish
for copper and glass.
- A
yellow-brown dye is obtained from the skins of the bulbs.
- Red
onionskins with Mordant of copper and acetic acid create a rich brown dye.
- Onion
juice rubbed into the skin is said to promote the growth of hair and to be
a remedy for baldness. It is also used as a cosmetic to get rid of freckles.
- The
growing plant is said to repel insects. A spray made by pouring enough
boiling water to cover 1kg of chopped unpeeled onions is said to increase
the resistance of other plants to diseases and parasites.
Farm Notes:
There are many varieties of onion
including Spring Onion, Shallot, a chive-like plant, potato onion etc
Onions grow well with most plants,
especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but they inhibit the growth of
legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively
affecting the other.
Orange (DLG,
Dragon Drums)
The orange is mentioned
several times (and is not the same as Citron (qv).
Habitat: Southern
Hold/Weyr, Cove Hold, Ista, It cannot grow in the shade. Fruit is insipid if it
is developed when the mean temperature is below 18°c
Medicinal Uses:
Appetizer; Blood purifier; Carminative; Miscellany; Skin; Tonic.
- The
fruit is appetizer and blood purifier. It is used to allay thirst in
people with fevers and also treats catarrh.
- The fruit
juice is useful in the treatment of bilious affections and bilious
diarrhoea.
- The
fruit rind is carminative and tonic. The fresh rind is rubbed on the face
as a cure for acne.
- The
dried peel is used in the treatment of anorexia, colds, coughs etc.
- Orange
flower water is an excellent skin tonic. Orange flower treats dry skin and broken
capillaries, and stimulates cell replacement.
Outside Info: An
evergreen tree growing to 9m the trees are thorny.
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Flowers; Fruit; Tea.
- Fruit
- raw. Sweet and delicious. The juice is often extracted from the fruit
and sold as a refreshing and healthy drink or used in jellies, etc.
- The
rind of the fruit is often used as a flavouring in cakes etc or made into
marmalade.
- Flowers
- cooked as a vegetable or made into a tea.
Other Uses:
Essential; Oil.
- A
semi-drying oil obtained from the seed is used in soap making.
- An
essential oil from the peel is used as a food flavouring and also in
perfumery and medicines
Farm Notes:
Parsley (DLG)
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses:
Antidandruff; Antispasmodic; Aperient; Birthing aid; Cancer; Carminative;
Digestive; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Expectorant; Galactofuge; Kidney; Odontalgic;
Ophthalmic; Poultice; Skin; Stings; Stomachic; Tonic.
- The
fresh leaves are highly nutritious and can be considered a natural vitamin
and mineral supplement in their own right.
- The
plants prime use is as a diuretic where it is effective in ridding the
body of stones and in treating jaundice, dropsy, cystitis etc.
- It is
also a good detoxifier, helping the body to get rid of toxins via the
urine and therefore helping in the treatment of a wide range of diseases
such as rheumatism.
- The
seed is a safe herb at normal doses, but in excess it can have toxic
effects. Parsley should not be used by pregnant women because it is used
to stimulate menstrual flow and can therefore provoke a miscarriage.
- All
parts of the plant can be used medicinally, the root is the part most
often used though the seeds have a stronger action. Parsley is antidandruff,
antispasmodic, aperient, carminative, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue,
expectorant, galactofuge, kidney, stomachic and tonic.
- An
infusion of the roots and seeds is taken after childbirth to promote lactation
and help contract the uterus. Parsley is also a mild laxative and is
useful for treating anaemia and convalescents.
- Caution
is advised on the internal use of this herb, especially in the form of the
essential oil. Excessive doses can cause liver and kidney damage, nerve
inflammation and gastro-intestinal haemorrhage. It should not be
prescribed for pregnant women or people with kidney diseases.
- A
poultice of the leaves is applied externally to soothe bites and stings,
it is also said to be of value in treating tumours of a cancerous nature.
- It is
used to treat eye infections, whilst a wad of cotton soaked in the juice
will relieve toothache or earache. It is also said to prevent hair loss
and to make freckles disappear.
- If
the leaves are kept close to the breasts of a nursing mother for a few
days, the milk flow will cease
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 0.6m by 0.3m
Edible Uses:
Colouring; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. Parsley is frequently used as a garnish or as a
flavouring in salads and many cooked dishes, but has too strong a flavour
to be eaten in quantity for most palates. The leaves should be harvested
regularly in order to encourage fresh growth and get maximum yields.
- The stems
can be dried and ground and used as a food colouring.
- A tea
is made from the fresh or dried leaves, it is rich in vitamin C.
- An
essential oil is obtained mainly from the leaves but can be toxic
Other Uses:
Essential; Hair; Repellent.
- A
good companion plant, repelling insects from nearby plants. The juice is
an effective mosquito repellent when it is rubbed into the skin and is
also used to relieve the pain of stings and bites.
- An
essential oil obtained from the plant is used in perfumeries for men.
- An
infusion of the leaves is an excellent rinse for dark hair and also helps
in the treatment of dandruff
Farm Notes:
A good companion plant, especially for growing near tomatoes, carrots, and asparagus,
Parsnips (DLG)
Habitat: Fort Hold
Medicinal Uses:
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 1m by 0.25m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Root; Seed.
- Root
- raw or cooked. When well grown, the cooked root has a very tender
texture, though it is rather chewy raw. It is best harvested after there
have been some autumn frosts because it will have developed a sweeter
flavour.
- The
root is delicious baked, it can also be used in soups etc and can be added
to cakes, pies and puddings.
- Leaves
and young shoots - cooked with other greens as a vegetable or added to soups
etc
The seed is used as a condiment
Other Uses: Poultice;
Women's complaints.
- A tea
made from the roots is used in the treatment of women's complaints. A
poultice of the roots is applied to inflammations and sores.
- The
root is used in the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo. But can cause
photosensitivity.
Farm Notes:
Pawberry (Red Star Rising)
Habitat: Bitra
Hold
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Unknown
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Dye
Leaves boil to make the finest red
for paints
Farm Notes:
Peach (DLG)
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses: Alterative; Anthelmintic; Antiasthmatic;
Antihalitosis; Antitussive; Astringent; Demulcent; Diuretic; Emollient;
Expectorant; Febrifuge; Haemolytic; Laxative; Sedative.
Antihalitosis.
· The leaves
are astringent, demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, laxative,
parasiticide and mildly sedative.
· They are
used internally in the treatment of gastritis, whooping cough, coughs and
bronchitis. They also help to relieve vomiting and morning sickness during
pregnancy, though the dose must be carefully monitored because of their
diuretic action.
· The dried
and powdered leaves have sometimes been used to help heal sores and wounds. The
leaves are harvested in June and July then dried for later use.
· The
flowers are diuretic, sedative and vermifuge.
· They are
used internally in the treatment of constipation and oedema.
· A gum from
the stems is alterative, astringent, demulcent and sedative.
· The seed
is antiasthmatic, antitussive, emollient, haemolytic, laxative and sedative.
· It is used
internally in the treatment of constipation in the elderly, coughs, asthma and
menstrual disorders.
· The bark
is demulcent, diuretic, expectorant and sedative. It is used internally in the
treatment of gastritis, whooping cough, coughs and bronchitis. The root bark is
used in the treatment of dropsy and jaundice. The bark is harvested from young
trees in the spring and is dried for later use.
Outside Info: A deciduous tree growing to 6m by 6m. The size of
fruit varies widely
Edible Uses: Flowers; Fruit; Gum; Oil; Seed; Tea.
· Fruit -
raw, cooked or dried for later use. The fruit is often used in ice creams,
pies, jams etc. When fully ripe, the fruit of the best forms are very juicy
with a rich delicious flavour.
· The fruit
is a good source of vitamin A.
· Flowers -
raw or cooked. Added to salads or used as a garnish. They can also be brewed
into a tea. The distilled flowers yield a white liquid, which can be used to
impart a flavour resembling the seed.
· Seed - raw
or cooked. Do not eat if it is too bitter as it will be toxic.
· A drying
oil is obtained from the seed.
· A gum is
obtained from the stem. It can be used for chewing
Other Uses: Adhesive; Cleanser; Dye; Oil.
· A green
dye can be obtained from the leaves.
· Yellow dye
can be obtained according to another report.
· A dark grey
to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
· A
semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It is used as a substitute for
almond oil in skin creams.
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
obtained from the stem is used as an adhesive.
Farm Notes:
· Garlic is
a good companion for this plant, helping to prevent disease, especially peach
leaf curl.
· Tansy
grown below peach trees helps to keep them healthier. Peach leaf curl can also
be prevented by protecting the plants from winter and early spring rains.
Plants grown or over wintered indoors do not suffer from leaf curl
Habitat: Fort Hold
Plants prefer hot dry conditions
Medicinal Uses: Aperient;
Demulcent; Emollient; Pectoral.
- The
oil from the seed is aperient, demulcent, emollient and pectoral.
- The
seed is used mainly as a nutritive food.
- The seeds
have been used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac and
decoagulant..
- The
nuts are considered demulcent, pectoral, and peptic; the oil aperient and
emollient, taken internally in milk for treating gonorrhoea, externally
for treating rheumatism.
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 0.3m
Edible Uses: Klah;
Leaves; Oil; Seed; Seedpod.
- Seed
- raw, cooked or ground into a powder. Peanuts are a staple food in many
tropical zones and are widely exported to temperate area of the world. The
seeds have a delicious nutty flavour and can be eaten on their own either
raw or roasted. The seeds are commonly ground up and used as peanut butter
in sandwiches etc.
- They
can also be cooked in a variety of dishes and are also ground into a
powder when they can be used with cereals to greatly improve the protein
content of breads, cakes etc. The seed is very rich in protein and oil, it
is also a good source of minerals and vitamins.
- A
non-drying edible oil is obtained from the seed. This is one of the most
commonly used edible oils is the world. It is often used in cooking,
making margarines, salad oils etc.
- The
roasted seed makes an excellent Klah substitute.
- Young
pods may be consumed as a vegetable.
- Young
leaves and tips are suitable as a cooked green vegetable.
Other Uses: Biomass;
Oil.
- The
seeds yield a non-drying oil that has a wide range of uses including the
manufacture of pharmaceuticals, soaps, cold creams, pomades and
lubricants, paints, emulsions for insect control, and fuel for diesel
engines.
- Peanut
hulls are used for furfural, fuel, as a filler for fertilizers or for
sweeping compounds
Farm Notes:
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
Pears (DLG)
Habitat: High
Reaches Hold, Nerat. Very hardy, tolerating temperatures down to below -15°c
Medicinal Uses: None
known
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 5m
Edible Uses: Fruit.
Fruit - raw or cooked. The flavour
ranges from rather harsh and astringent (cultivars used for making alcoholic
drinks) through to soft, sweet and very juicy. The best dessert fruits have an
exquisite sweet flavour, usually with a very soft flesh, whilst cooking
varieties have harder less sweet flesh.
Other Uses: Dye;
Wood.
A yellow-tan dye is obtained from
the leaves.
Wood - heavy, tough, durable, fine
grained, hard. Used by cabinet and instrument makers
Farm Notes:
Trees grow less well in sweetgrass
Peas are part of the legume family
and are an important if overlooked crop. A number of common varieties are
included below:
Garden pea:
Habitat: It cannot
grow in the shade
Medicinal Uses:
Contraceptive; Skin.
- The
seed is contraceptive, fungistatic and spermacidal. The dried and powdered
seed is used as a poultice on the skin where it has an appreciable affect
on many types of skin complaint including acne.
- The
oil from the seed, given once a month to women, has shown promise of
preventing pregnancy by interfering with the working of progesterone.
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 2m
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Seed.
- Immature
seedpods - raw or cooked. The young seedpods have a sweet flavour, but there
is only a thin layer of flesh with a fibrous layer beneath it.
- Immature
seeds - raw or cooked. Sweet and delicious, they can be added to salads,
or lightly cooked.
- The
mature seeds are rich in protein and can be cooked as a vegetable or added
to soups etc. They can also be sprouted and added to salads, soups etc.
The mature seed can also be dried and ground into a powder, then used to
enrich the protein content of flour when making bread etc.
- The
roasted seed is a Klah substitute.
- Leaves
and young shoots - cooked and used as a potherb. The young shoots taste
like fresh peas, they are exceptionally tender and can be used in salads
Other Uses: None known
Farm Notes:
- Peas
are good growing companions for radishes, carrots, cucumbers, sweet corn,
beans and turnips
- They
are inhibited by alliums, gladiolus, fennel and strawberries growing
nearby
Field Pea:
Habitat: see above
Medicinal Uses: As Garden
Pea
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 2m
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Seed.
Seed - cooked or sprouted and eaten
raw. A good source of protein. The seeds of this sub-species tend to be of
poorer quality than the species, being less rich in sugars. They are grown
mainly for use when mature and dried.
Young leaves - cooked
Other Uses: Green
manure.
Sometimes grown as a spring-sown
green manure, plants produce a good bulk and fix a large quantity of nitrogen
Farm Notes:
This species has a symbiotic relationship with
certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix
atmospheric nitrogen
Sweet (Sugar snap) Pea
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses: contraceptive,
fungistatic and spermacidal
· The seed is contraceptive,
fungistatic and spermacidal. The dried and powdered seed is used as a poultice
on the skin where it has an appreciable affect on many types of skin complaint
including acne.
- The
oil from the seed, given once a month to women, has shown promise of
preventing pregnancy
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 2m
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Seed.
- Immature
seedpods - raw or cooked. Best harvested when the seeds are
under-developed, the young swollen and succulent seedpods have a delicious
sweet flavour that is just like a juicier form of garden peas.
- Immature
seeds - raw or cooked. Sweet and delicious, they can be added to salads,
or lightly cooked.
- The mature
seeds are rich in protein and can be cooked as a vegetable or added to
soups etc. They can also be sprouted and added to salads, soups etc. The
mature seed can also be dried and ground into a powder, then used to
enrich the protein content of flour when making bread etc.
- The
roasted seed is a Klah substitute
- Leaves
and young shoots - cooked and used as a potherb. The young shoots taste
like fresh peas, they are exceptionally tender and can be used in salads
Other Uses: Green
manure.
- Sometimes
grown as a spring sown green manure, plants produce a good bulk and fix a
large quantity of nitrogen
Farm Notes:
This species has a symbiotic
relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the
roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen
Pecan (Menai)
Habitat: Nerat; Rich moist soils of bottomlands, especially
along the sides of streams. trees grow best in areas where summer temperatures
average 24 - 30°c and the humidity is high
Medicinal Uses: Astringent; Parasiticide; TB.
· The bark
and leaves are astringent.
· A
decoction of the bark has been used to treat TB.
· The
pulverized leaves have been rubbed on the skin to treat ringworm
Outside Info: A deciduous tree growing to 50m . The seed is up to
4cm long and is produced in clusters of 3 -11
Edible Uses: Milk; Oil; Seed; Tea.
· Seed - raw
or cooked. Sweet and delicious, they make an excellent dessert and are also
often added to ice cream, used in cakes, bread etc
· A milk can
be made from the seed and is used to thicken soups, season corn cakes, hominy
etc .
· The seed
ripens in late autumn and, when stored in its shell in a cool place, will keep
for at least 6 months.
· An edible
oil is obtained from the seed.
· The leaves
are said to be used as a tea
Other uses: Fuel; Wood.
· Wood -
coarse-grained, hard, heavy, brittle, not strong. It weighs 45 lb. per cubic
foot. It is not as valuable a timber as other members of this genus and is used
mainly for fuel and occasionally to make wagons and agricultural implements
Farm Notes:
Peppers (DLG)
The Dragonlovers guide
specifically mentions peppers ranging from mild to Dragonfire. A number of different types are presented
here:
Habitat: It cannot
grow in the shade. Tropical
Medicinal Uses: Antihaemorrhoidal;
Antirheumatic; Digestive; Irritant; Rubefacient; Sialagogue.
- The
fruit of the hot, pungent cultivars is antihaemorrhoidal when taken in
small amounts, antirheumatic, antiseptic, diaphoretic, digestive,
irritant, rubefacient, sialagogue and tonic.
- It is
taken internally in the treatment of the cold stage of fevers, debility in
convalescence or old age, varicose veins, asthma and digestive problems.
- Externally
it is used in the treatment of sprains, unbroken chilblains, neuralgia,
pleurisy etc.
- It is
an effective sea-sickness preventative
Outside Info: An
evergreen perennial growing to 1m by 1m.
The fruits range widely in size and shape, from a few centimetres long
to more than 30cm
Edible Uses:
Colouring; Condiment; Flowers; Fruit; Leaves.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. Some varieties are very hot (the chilli and cayenne
peppers) and are normally used as a pungent flavouring whilst milder varieties
(the sweet peppers) have a very pleasant flavour with a slight sweetness
and are often eaten raw in salads etc.
- The
dried fruits of chilli and cayenne peppers is ground into a powder and
used as a pungent flavouring called paprika.
- The
powder from the dried ground fruit of some cultivars is added to food as a
colouring. .
Young leaves are said to be edible but some caution is advised. They are
steamed as a potherb or added to soups and stews.
- Seed
- dried, ground into a powder and used as a pepper.
- Flowers
- raw or cooked
Other Uses: None
known
Farm Notes:
- There
are five basic forms of fruits, each form having various varieties. These
forms are:-
Cerasiforme. These have small cherry-shaped pungent fruits.
Conioides. These fruits are cone-shaped and up to 5cm long. Many of them
are grown as ornamentals, but some are also cultivated for food..
Fasciculatum. Also cone-shaped, but with pungent red fruits up to 7.5cm
long.
Grossum. These are the sweet peppers with large bell-shaped fruits and thick
flesh.
Longum. These are the cultivated hot cayenne and chilli peppers with long
thin fruits up to 30cm long.
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses:
Anaesthetic; Antihaemorrhoidal; Antirheumatic; Antiseptic; Carminative; Diaphoretic;
Digestive; Irritant; Rubefacient; Sialagogue; Stimulant; Stomachic.
- The
dried fruit is a powerful local stimulant with no narcotic effect, it is
most useful in a tonic of the intestines and stomach. It has proved
efficacious in dilating blood vessels and thus relieving chronic
congestion of people addicted to drink.
- It is
sometimes used as a tonic and is said to be unequalled in warding off
disease (probably due to the high vitamin C content). Some caution should
be employed, however, since large doses are extremely irritating to the
gastro-intestinal system.
- Used
externally, the fruit is a strong rubefacient stimulating the circulation,
aiding the removal of waste products and increasing the flow of nutrients
to the tissues. It is applied as a cataplasm or liniment.
- It
has also been powdered and placed inside socks as a traditional remedy for
those prone to cold feet.
- A
weak infusion can be used as a gargle to treat throat complaints.
- The
fruit is also antihaemorrhoidal, antirheumatic, antiseptic, carminative,
diaphoretic, digestive, sialagogue and stomachic. These pungent fruited
peppers are important in the tropics as gastrointestinal detoxifiers and
food preservatives.
- Applied
to the skin it desensitizes nerve endings and so is used as a local
anaesthetic
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 1m by 0.6m. The fruit is up to 7.5cm long and 1cm wide
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Fruit; Leaves.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. Very hot and normally used as a flavouring. The fruit can
be dried and ground into a powder for use as a flavouring.
- Seed
- dried, ground and used as a pepper.
- Leaves
- cooked as a potherb.
Other Uses:
Repellent.
The growing plant repels insects
Farm Notes:
Habitat: It likes
a temperature around 77°F (25°C)
Medicinal Uses: Dysentery;
Antiashmatic; Colic and Dyspepsia; Artritic; Haemorroids; Night blindness and
eye itching; Toothache
- The
skin of the ripe banana is removed, a cut made in the banana and the
powder of 5 peppercorns placed in it. The banana is cooked by placing on
live coals, which is then used for an Asthmatic attack.
- Peppercorns
are chewed and the juice swallowed. For cough; take with sweetener
(molasses).
- A
decoction of the root will treat Colic and Dyspepsia as well as toothache.
- The
powder of the pepper is recommended for arthritis. Powder mixed with ghee can be applied
locally to relieve pain caused by Haemorroids and boils. Mixed with curd it used for
- Night
blindness and eye itching.
- Apply
with salt and onion juice to temples for Headaches
- It is
found effective in distension, indigestion and dysentery
Outside Info: The Black
Pepper is a tropical vine. The flowers are green. The fruit are also green,
black when ripe in December
Edible Uses: condiment
The dried berry (peppercorn) is
used in soups or stews, or can be ground to a powder for flavouring other
dishes.
Other Uses: unknown
Farm Notes:
Peppermint – See mint
Pine – see
conifer (DLG, White Dragon)
Known locations: Nabol,
Lemos
Habitat: Tropical,
Southern(?)
Medicinal Uses: bellyache.
Outside Info: Unknown
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Pineapple (DLG)
Habitat: Igen
Medicinal Uses: Abortifacient,
cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, digestive, discutient, diuretic, ecbolic, emmenagogue,
estrogenic, hydragogue, intoxicant, laxative, parasiticide, purgative,
refrigerant, styptic, and vermifuge
- The
fruit, peel, or juice is used in cot remedies for corns, tumors, and
warts.
- Abortifacient,
cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, digestive, discutient, diuretic,
ecbolic, emmenagogue, estrogenic, hydragogue, intoxicant, laxative,
parasiticide, purgative, refrigerant, styptic, and vermifuge, pineapple is
a cot remedy for bladder ailments, hypochondria, scarlet fever, scurvy,
sores, and sprains.
- An
antiedemic substance is found in the rhizome.
- Bromelain
gives: burn debridement, antiinflammatory action, smooth muscle
relaxation, stimulation of muscle contractions, ulcer prevention, appetite
inhibition, enhanced fat excretion, sinusitis relief and is given as an
antiinflammatory agent following dental, gynecological, and general
surgery, and to treat abscesses, contusions, hematomas, sprains, and
ulcerations.
- Pineapple
juice from unripe fruits acts as a violent purgative, and is also anthelmintic
and ecbolic.
- Ripe
fruit juice is diuretic, but in large doses may cause uterine
contractions.
- Sweetened
leaf decoction drunk for venereal diseases. Juice of the leaves consumed
for hiccoughs, vermifuge, and as purgative. Juice of ripe fruit regarded
also as antiscorbutic, cholagogic, diaphoretic, refrigerant, and useful in
jaundice.
- Young
vegetative buds are used for respiratory ailments among children
Outside Info:
Perennial, herbaceous, sometimes spinescent succulent, up to 1 m tall; leaves long,
sword-like, arranged in a tight spiral around a short stem, edges very sharply
dentate to nearly entire, often variegated, or red or brown streaked; flowers
purplish-blue
Edible Uses: Fruit;
Bran; Acid
- The
fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Pineapple
bran, the residue after juicing, is high in vitamin A, and is used in
livestock feed.
- From
the juice may be extracted citric acid, or on fermentation, alcohol
Other Uses: biomass
- The
left over pulp can yield alcohol.
Farm Notes:
Plum (Dragonsong)
Habitat: fruits
best in a sunny, sheltered position, doesn’t like Maritime positions.
Medicinal Uses:
Febrifuge; Laxative; Stomachic.
- The
dried fruit, known as prunes, is a safe and effective laxative and is also
stomachic.
- The bark
is sometimes used as a febrifuge.
- Hydrocyanic
acid (cyanide or prussic acid). In small amounts this exceedingly
poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a
sense of well being.
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 12m by 10m. The tree has white 5 petaled spring
flowers
Edible Uses: Flowers;
Fruit; Gum; Oil; Seed; Tea.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. The fruit varies considerably from cultivar to cultivar,
but it is generally somewhat mealy, soft and juicy with a delicious flavour
ranging from very sweet to acid. The more acid fruits are usually only
used for cooking purposes.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. If the seed is bitter, it is toxic.
- An
edible gum is obtained from points of damage on the trunk.
- The
seed contains an edible semi-drying oil with an agreeable almond smell and
flavour.
- The
flowers are eaten. They are used as a garnish for salads and ice cream or
brewed into a tea.
Other Uses: Adhesive;
Dye; Oil; Wood.
- 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 bark.
- A gum
obtained from points of damage along the stem can be used as an adhesive.
- The
ground up seeds are used cosmetically in the production of face-masks for
dry skin.
- A
semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed
- Wood
- hard, compact. Used for musical instruments
Farm Notes:
Variant: Damson Plum
A
deciduous tree growing to 6m by 5m
Medicinal
Uses: Febrifuge; Purgative; Styptic.
· The bark
of the root and branches is febrifuge and considerably styptic.
· An
infusion of the flowers is used as a mild purgative for children.
Edible
Uses: Fruit; Seed.
· Fruit -
raw or cooked. More acid than a plum but it is very acceptable raw when fully ripe,
especially after being touched by frost. Favoured for jam making
· Seed - raw or cooked. As Plum
Purple
Grass (Dragonsong)
Habitat: Unknown
Half-Circle Sea Hold
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: A grass with, presumably, purple leaves or
similar.
Edible uses: Seed
· The seed can be used as a flavouring
Other uses: Unknown
Quince (DD –
Derivative)
Quince is an orchard fruit
and we are told that most orchard fruits survived. It may not have gone north, but could be amongst those trees
found at Southern.
Habitat: Plants
require warm summers in order to fully ripen their fruit. Plants also tolerate
quite deep shade, though they will often not fruit at all in such a position.
Medicinal Uses: Antiinflammatory; Antivinous; Astringent; Cardiac;
Carminative; Demulcent; Digestive; Diuretic; Emollient; Expectorant;
Hypotensive; Laxative; Pectoral; Refrigerant; Restorative; Stimulant; Tonic.
- The
stem bark is astringent, it is used in the treatment of ulcers.
- The seed
is a mild but reliable laxative, astringent and anti-inflammatory.
- When
soaked in water, the seed swells up to form a mucilaginous mass. This has
a soothing and demulcent action when taken internally and is used in the
treatment of respiratory diseases, especially in children.
- This
mucilage is also applied externally to minor burns etc.
- The
fruit is antivinous, astringent, cardiac, carminative, digestive,
diuretic, emollient, expectorant, pectoral, peptic, refrigerant,
restorative, stimulant and tonic.
- The
unripe fruit is very astringent, syrup made from it is used in the
treatment of diarrhoea and is particularly safe for children.
- The
fruit, and its juice, can be used as a mouthwash or gargle to treat mouth
ulcers, gum problems and sore throats.
- The
leaves contain tannin and pectin. Tannin can be used as an astringent
whilst pectin has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system and helps
to reduce blood pressure.
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 7.5m by 7m
Edible Uses: Drink;
Flowers; Fruit; Pectin.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. When grown in warm temperate or tropical climates, the
fruit can become soft and juicy and is suitable for eating raw. In cooler
climates it remains hard and astringent and needs to be cooked before
being eaten.
- It is
used in jellies, preserves etc. The cooked fruit adds a delicious flavour
to cooked apples. Strongly aromatic with a firm but rather gritty flesh.
The fruit is rich in pectin.
- A
drink can be made by adding the dried crushed seed to water, simmering for
5 minutes and sweetening to taste. Flowers. No further details known.
Other Uses: Gum;
Pectin; Rootstock; Size.
- A
mucilage obtained from the seed coat is used as a gum arabic substitute to
add gloss to material. The seed contains 20% mucilage and 15% fatty oils.
- The
fruit is rich in pectin
- The
leaves contain 11% tannin.
Farm Notes:
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses: Diuretic;
Emollient.
- The
root is emollient and diuretic. The juice of the roots is used in the treatment
of chronic coughs and bronchial catarrh.
- The
seed, powdered, with salt is said to be a folk remedy for cancer.
- Rape
oil is used in massage and oil baths, it is believed to strengthen the
skin and keep it cool and healthy. With camphor it is applied as a remedy
for rheumatism and stiff joints
Outside Info:
Annual/Biennial growing to 1.2m.
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Oil.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. Added to salads or used as a potherb.
- Immature
flowering stems - cooked in much the same way as broccoli.
- Edible
oil is obtained from the seed, it is used mainly for cooking purposes, but
also for salads. Some caution is advised, due to toxicity.
- The
sprouted seed is often used as the mustard part of mustard and cress.
Eaten in salads.
The seed is used as a mustard flavouring
Other Uses: Oil.
The seed contains up an edible
semi-drying oil, used as a luminant, lubricant, in soap making etc
Farm Notes:
The growth of this plant is
inhibited by field mustard
Raspberry (Dragons
Dawn)
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses:
Antiinflammatory; Astringent; Birthing aid; Cardiac; Decongestant; Oxytoxic.
Antiemetic.
- The
leaves and roots are anti-inflammatory, astringent, decongestant,
ophthalmic, oxytocic and stimulant. A tea made from them is used in the
treatment of diarrhoea, as a tonic for the uterus to strengthen pregnant
women, and as an aid in childbirth. The tea has also been shown as
effective in relieving painful menstrual cramps. The active ingredients
both stimulate and relax the uterus. They can be used during the last
three months of pregnancy and during childbirth, but should not be used
earlier.
- Externally,
the leaves and roots are used as a gargle to treat tonsillitis and mouth
inflammations, as a poultice and wash to treat sores, conjunctivitis,
minor wounds, burns and varicose ulcers. The leaves are harvested in the
summer and dried for later use.
- The
fruit is antiscorbutic and diuretic. Fresh raspberry juice, mixed with a
little honey, makes an excellent refrigerant beverage to be taken in the
heat of a fever. Made into a syrup, it is said to have a beneficial effect
on the heart
Outside Info: Shrub
grows to 1.5m. It has small pink or white flowers
Edible Uses: Fruit; Root; Stem; Tea.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. Delicious when eaten out of hand, the fruit is also used
in pies, preserves etc.
- Root
- cooked. The root, which should be neither too young nor too old,
requires a lot of boiling.
- Young
shoots - peeled and eaten raw or cooked like asparagus. They are harvested
as they emerge through the ground in the spring and whilst they are still
tender.
- A
herb tea is made from the dried leaves.
Other Uses: Cosmetic;
Dye; Paper.
- A red
to purple to dull blue dye is obtained from the fruit.
A fibre obtained from the stems is used in making paper. The stems are
harvested in the summer after the fruit is eaten, the leaves are removed
and the stems are steamed until the fibres can be stripped. The fibres are
cooked for 2 hours with lye and then hand beaten with mallets or ball milled
for 3 hours. The paper is light brown in colour.
- A
decongestant face-mask made from the fruit is used cosmetically to soothe
reddened skin
Farm Notes:
It is best
not to grow raspberries near blackberries or potatoes
Redfruit (DLG,
Dragon Drums, Dragon Dawn, White Dragon, Skies of Pern, All the Weyrs of Pern,
Master Harper, Renegades, The Second Weyr)
Habitat: Tropical. Southern,
Nerat, High Reaches Hold, Nabol, Igen
Medicinal Uses: Unknown; Tonic
- The
juice possibly contains a good source of vitamins as it is used for juice.
Outside Info: Unknown
Edible Uses: Fruit
- According
to Anne in the Kitchen Table forum, that redfruits are like a juicy plumb.
There is probably a similar taste/appearance to Terran apples, since Sorka
thought of apples when she ate one.
- The
fruit can be pulped for its juice, and to distil into cider and brandy.
Other uses: Wood
The tree can be used for its
timber
Farm Notes:
Redroots (DLG,
Moreta)
Habitats: northern farms
(under protection of Benden), Ista, wild on the rocky-forested slopes of
Igen/Lemos.
Medicinal Uses: Carminative;
Emmenagogue; Haemostatic; Stomachic; Tonic.
- The
root of red-rooted forms contains betanin - an anthocyanin similar to
those found in red wine - which is partly responsible for red beet's
immune-enhancing effect.
- The
root is carminative, haemostatic, stomachic and a tonic for women. The
root can be used as part of the diet, or the juice can be extracted and
used as a health-promoting drink. At least one litre of the juice from
red-rooted forms must be taken each day in order to stimulate the immune
system.
- The
juice is prescribed by herbalists as part of a cancer-treatment regime.
- A
decoction prepared from the seed is used as a remedy for tumours of the
intestines. The seed, boiled in water, is said to cure genital tumours.
- The
juice or other parts of the plant is said to help in the treatment of
tumours, leukaemia and other forms of cancer such as cancer of the breast,
oesophagus, glands, head, intestines, leg, lip, lung, prostate, rectum,
spleen, stomach, and uterus.
- The
juice is applied to ulcers.
- A
decoction is used as a purgative by those who suffer from haemorrhoids.
- Leaves
and roots used as an emmenagogue.
- Plant
effective in the treatment of feline ascariasis.
- In
the old days, beet juice was recommended as a remedy for anaemia and
yellow jaundice, and, put into the nostrils to purge the head, clear
ringing ears, and alleviate toothache.
- Beet
juice in vinegar was said to rid the scalp of dandruff as scurf, and was
recommended to prevent falling hair
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 0.9m
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Root.
- Root
- raw or cooked. Well-grown roots are sweet and tender, especially when
young, and can be grated and used in salads.
- Beetroots
are traditionally boiled until tender then pickled in vinegar and used in
salads. The roots can also be cooked and used as a vegetable, they are
sweet and delicious when baked. Immature roots can be harvested in the
summer and early autumn for immediate use, these are usually much more
tender than the older roots.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked like spinach. A reasonable spinach substitute, though
harvesting leaves from growing plants can reduce yields of the roots.
Other Uses:
Farm Notes:
- The
root is tasteless when grown on very wet soils and dry when grown on clay
soils
· A good
companion for dwarf beans, onions and kohl rabi.
- Its
growth is inhibited by runner beans, charlock and field mustard.
Red willow salic (See Willow Tree)
Red Willow Salic is the name of an
‘aspirin’ like remedy that comes from the willow tree.
Redwort (DLG,
Moreta, Nerilka)
Habitat:
Medicinal Uses:
Antiseptic, barrier
- The
oil is used as an antiseptic wash for healers and also as a anti-bacterial
cleansing agent.
- The
oil acts as a skin barrier preventing or slowing down absorption of other
drugs etc trough the skin (such as Numbweed)
Outside Info: grows in
clumps close to the ground. Has a thick stem, with reddish veins and produces
flat-topped purple or rose flowers.
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other uses: Dye?
- Redwort
leaves a red stain on hands (and has a nasty stench). This indicates that it might be
suitable for a red dye.
Reeds (Moreta,
DS, etc)
Reeds are referred to throughout
many of the books. However, they seem
to be the product of grass stalks.
Locations: Southern,
Cove Hold. Near Half-Circle seahold
Edible Uses: We know some reeds are edible, but then so
are some of the grasses (qv)
Other Uses: Basketry, splints, paper, instruments
Reeds are used extensively throughout Pern – Moreta
uses long ones to help repair dragon wings.
Menolly turns local ones into pipes for playing. Reeds are also made
into baskets. Used to make writing material. It's a 'local product' obtained by
Petrion somewhere between Harper Hall and Pierie Hold. The writing material has
a tendency to absorb ink, so it is a bit 'blotchy'.
Rind fruit
– see melon (Dragondrums)
The book quite clearly indicates
that this is a melon, though of what variety is another matter.
Rivergrains (rice) (Dragons
Dawn, Renegades, DLG, Dragonflight, Dragon Quest, Dragon Drums)
Also known as watergrains to
Piemur. These are cultivated and are
also found wild.
Habitat: Annual
growing to 3.5m by 0.2m, it can grow in water. Easily grown in water up to 60cm
deep, it tolerates water up to 1 metre deep though it prefers growing in water
10 - 20cm deep. Fort Hold, Igen plains swampland, Southern, wild rice in
Paradise river
Medicinal Uses: Diuretic; Febrifuge; Tonic.
· The shoots, roots and the
seed are diuretic and febrifuge.
· The leaves are tonic
Outside Info:
Edible Uses: Seed; Stem.
- Seed
- cooked. It can be used as a cereal.
- The
seed can also be ground into a meal and used in making bread, thickening
soups etc.
- The
base of the culms is used as a vegetable
- During
the spring and summer, the central portion of the lower sterns and root
shoots are edible. Remove the tough covering before eating. During the
late summer and fail, collect the straw-covered husks. Dry and parch the
husks, break them, and remove the rice. Boil or roast the rice and then
beat it into flour
Other Uses: Weaving
- The
leaves are woven into cooling hats and into mats.
Farm Notes: Labour
intensive if cultivated
Rock weeds
(White Dragon)
Habitat: Ruatha
(Plateau Hold)
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info:
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes:
Rowan (DLG)
Habitat: 'higher
reaches' (dragon lovers guide)-hills/higher ground over the flat plains. The
plant can tolerate maritime exposure
Medicinal Uses: Antiscorbutic; Aperient; Astringent;
Diuretic; Laxative.
- The
bark is astringent, it is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and as a
vaginal injection for leucorrhoea etc.
- The
fruit is antiscorbutic and astringent. It is normally used as a jam or an
infusion to treat diarrhoea and haemorrhoids.
- An
infusion can also be used as a gargle for sore throats and as a wash to
treat haemorrhoids and excessive vaginal discharge.
- The
seeds can be toxic so always remove before medicinal or edible use.
- Both
the flowers and the fruit are aperient, mildly diuretic, laxative and
emmenagogue.
- An
infusion is used in the treatment of painful menstruation, constipation
and kidney disorders
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 15m by 7m. It
has clusters of cream coloured spring flowers, and dense clusters of red
berries about 7.5mm in diameter
Edible Uses: Fruit; Leaves; Tea.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. The fruit is very acid and large quantities of the raw
fruit can cause stomach upsets.
- It
can be used to make delicious, if slightly acidulous, jams and preserves;
the fruit can also be dried and used as a flour mixed with cereals.
- The
leaves and flowers are used as a tea substitute.
- Young
leaves are said to be a famine food but they contain a cyanogenic
glycoside so you should be very hungry before even thinking of eating them
- A
Klah substitute can be made from the roasted seed.
Other Uses: Cosmetic; Dye; Oil; Shelterbelt; Tannin;
Wood.
- An
oil is obtained from the seed.
- A cosmetic
face-mask is made from the fruits and is used to combat wrinkled skin.
- A
black dye is obtained from the young branches. All parts of the plant
contain tannin and can be used as a black dye. Trees are very wind
resistant and can be used in shelterbelt plantings.
- Wood
- hard, fine grained, compact and elastic. It is highly recommended by
wood turners and is also used to make hoops for barrels, cogs and
furniture
Farm Notes:
Some
cultivated varieties give a larger, and pleasanter fruit.
Rosemary (DLG)
Habitat: The plant
can tolerate maritime exposure and can be grown as a hedge. Prefers a hot sunny
position Hardy to between -10 and -15°c
Medicinal Uses:
Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Aromatherapy; Aromatic; Astringent; Cardiac;
Carminative; Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Emmenagogue; Nervine; Ophthalmic;
Stimulant; Stomachic; Tonic.
- Rosemary
is commonly grown in the herb garden as a domestic remedy, used especially
as a tonic and pick-me-up when feeling depressed, mentally tired, nervous
etc.
- The
plant is rich in volatile oils, flavanoids and phenolic acids, which are
strongly antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.
- Rosmarinic
acid has potential in the treatment of toxic shock syndrome, reputedly
more effective than rutin in reducing capillary fragility.
- Rosmarol,
an extract from the leaves, is a high antioxidant.
- The
whole plant is antiseptic, antispasmodic, aromatic, astringent, cardiac,
carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, nervine, stimulant,
stomachic and tonic
- An infusion
of the flowering stems made in a closed container to prevent the steam
from escaping is effective in treating headaches, colic, colds and nervous
diseases.
- A
distilled water from the flowers is used as an eyewash.
- The
leaves can be harvested in the spring or summer and used fresh, they can
also be dried for later use.
- This
remedy should not be prescribed for pregnant women since in excess it can
cause an abortion.
- An
essential oil distilled from the stems and leaves is often used
medicinally, that distilled from the flowering tops is superior but not
often available. The oil is applied externally as a rubefacient, added to
liniments, rubbed into the temples to treat headaches and used internally
as a stomachic and nervine.
Outside Info: Dense, evergreen aromatic shrub with blue spring
flowers. Grows to 2m.
Edible uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Young
shoots, leaves and flowers - raw or cooked. The leaves have a very strong
flavour that is bitter and somewhat resinous, the flowers are milder.
- They
are used in small quantities as a flavouring in soups and stews, with
vegetables such as peas and spinach, and with sweet dishes such as
biscuits cakes, jams and jellies.
- They
can be used fresh or dried. The leaves have a tough texture and so should
either be used very finely chopped, or in sprigs that can be removed after
cooking.
- A
fragrant tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves.
Other Uses: Dye;
Essential; Ground cover; Hair; Hedge; Incense; Repellent.
- The
growing plant repels insects from neighbouring plants.
- Branches
or sachets of the leaves are often placed in clothes cupboards to keep
insects away.
- An
infusion of the dried plant (both leaves and flowers) is used in shampoos.
When combined with borax and used cold, it is one of the best hair washes
known and is effective against dandruff.
- An
essential oil is obtained from the leaves and flowering stems. One kilo of
oil is obtained from 200 kilos of flowering stems. The oil is used in
perfumery, soaps, medicinally etc. It is often added to hair lotions and
is said to prevent premature baldness.
- The
leaves are burnt as an incense, fumigant and disinfectant.
- It's
antiseptic, antioxidant leaves help preserve food
Farm Notes:
A good companion for most plants,
including cabbages, beans, carrots and sage
Grows badly with potatoes.
Rue (DLG)
Habitat: Hardy to
about -10°c
Medical Uses:
Abortifacient; Anthelmintic; Antidote; Antiinflammatory; Antispasmodic;
Carminative; Emetic; Emmenagogue; Expectorant; Haemostatic; Homeopathy;
Ophthalmic; Rubefacient; Stimulant; Stomachic.
- Rue
has a long history of use as a domestic remedy, being especially valued
for its strengthening action on the eyes.
- Some
caution is advised in its use internally, however, since in large doses it
is toxic and it can also cause miscarriages.
- The
whole herb is abortifacient, anthelmintic, antidote, antispasmodic,
carminative, emetic, emmenagogue, expectorant, haemostatic, ophthalmic,
rubefacient, strongly stimulant, mildly stomachic and uterotonic.
- The
tops of fresh shoots are the most active medicinally, they should be
gathered before the plant flowers and can be used fresh or dried.
- An
infusion is used in the treatment of hysterical affections, coughs,
flatulence etc.
- The
juice of the plant is used in treating earaches and chewing a leaf or two
is said to quickly bring relief from giddiness, nervous headaches,
palpitations etc.
- An
alkaloid found in the plant is abortifacient, anti-inflammatory and
antispasmodic.
- A homeopathic
remedy is obtained from the fresh herb, harvested in early summer shortly
before flowering begins. This is used in the treatment of a variety of
complaints including eye strain, headache and sprains.
Outside Info: An
evergreen shrub growing to 0.5m by 0.5m. The bruised leaves have a pleasant
orange-like fragrance
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Rutin; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or used as a seasoning.
- It is
occasionally eaten in salads, but is strongly aromatic and slightly toxic,
so should only be used in small quantities.
- The
taste is strong and bitter.
- The
leaves contain rutin, which has a beneficial effect upon the circulatory
system..
The leaves can be brewed into a tea.
Other Uses: Dye;
Essential; Ground cover; Repellent; Strewing.
- The
growing or the dried plant can be used to repel insects, it is most useful
when the plant is grown near raspberries.
- The
dried herb can also be put in the linen cupboard to repel moths. The
growing plant is also said to repel cats.
- A red
dye is obtained from the plant.
- It is
used as a flea repellent
- An
essential oil is obtained from the leaves and young shoots, used in
perfumery and as a food flavouring.
- It is
used as a strewing herb.
- Plants
can be grown for ground cover when planted about 45cm apart each way.
Farm Notes:
Rue is a poor companion plant for
many other species, growing badly with sage, cabbage and sweet basil
Rushes (Dragonsinger, White Dragon)
Presumably a general name for the
stems of a variety of grass or grasses.
Known locations: Fort
Hold, Ruatha, but probably in most areas of Pern (?)
Uses: Bedding.
The Sabsab Bush is another native
plant of Pern.
Habitat: Bitra
Hold
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Unknown
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Roots
A yellow pigment for paints can be
obtained from the root
Habitat: It
requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought
Medicinal Uses:
Antihydrotic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Aromatherapy; Astringent; Carminative;
Cholagogue; Galactofuge; Stimulant; Tonic; Vasodilator.
- Sage
is an important domestic herbal remedy for disorders of the digestive
system.
- Its
antiseptic qualities make it an effective gargle for the mouth where it
can heal sore throats, ulcers etc.
- The
leaves applied to an aching tooth will often relieve the pain.
- The
whole herb is antihydrotic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, astringent,
carminative, cholagogue, galactofuge, stimulant, tonic and vasodilator.
- Sage
is also used internally in the treatment of excessive lactation, night
sweats, excessive salivation, profuse perspiration (as in TB), anxiety,
depression, female sterility and menopausal problems.
- Many
herbalists believe that the purple-leafed forms of this species are more
potent medicinally.
- This
remedy should not be prescribed to pregnant women or to people who have
epileptic fits. The plant is toxic in Externally, it is used to treat
insect bites, skin, throat, mouth and gum infections and vaginal
discharge.
- The
leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower and are dried
for later use.
- The
essential oil from the plant is used in small doses to remove heavy
collections of mucous from the respiratory organs and mixed in
embrocations for treating rheumatis. In larger doses, however, it can
cause epileptic fits and
giddiness.
Outside Info: evergreen
shrub growing to 0.6m by 0.6m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
and flowers - raw or cooked. A very common herb, the strongly aromatic
leaves are used as a flavouring in cooked foods.
- They
are an aid to digestion and so are often used with heavy, oily foods. They
impart a sausage-like flavour to savoury dishes.
- The
young leaves and flowers can be eaten raw, boiled, pickled or used in
sandwiches].
- The flowers
can also be sprinkled on salads to add colour and fragrance.
- A
herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves, it is said to improve the
digestion.
- An
essential oil obtained from the plant is used commercially to flavour ice
cream, sweets, baked goods etc
Other Uses: Compost;
Essential; Ground cover; Repellent; Strewing; Teeth.
- The
leaves make excellent tooth cleaners, simply rub the top side of the leaf
over the teeth and gums. The purple-leafed form of sage has tougher leaves
and is better for cleaning the teeth. The leaves have antiseptic
properties and can heal diseased gums.
- An
essential oil from the leaves is used in perfumery, hair shampoos (it is
good for dark hair) and as a food flavouring. The plant (the flowers?) is
an ingredient of herbal compost
activators
- The
growing or dried plant is said to repel insects, it is especially useful
when grown amongst cabbages and carrots.
- It is
used as a strewing herb and is burnt in rooms to fumigate them.
- A
good dense ground cover plant for sunny positions, though it needs weeding
for the first year or two.
Farm Notes:
- A
good companion for many plants, including rosemary, cabbages and carrots,
- dislikes
growing with basil, rue or the cucumber and squash family
Habitat: Hardy to
about -20°c
Medicinal Uses:
Alterative; Antipruritic; Antiscrophulatic; Cholagogue; Cytotoxic; Depurative;
Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Expectorant; Purgative; Skin; Sternutatory; Tonic.
- Its
main medicinal use is as an expectorant. Its strongly irritant action
within the gut is thought to stimulate the cough reflex and increase the
production of a more fluid mucus within the respiratory passages.
- The
whole plant, but especially the root, is alterative, antiscrophulatic,
cholagogue, depurative, diaphoretic, mildly diuretic, expectorant,
purgative, sternutatory and tonic.
- A
decoction of the whole plant can be applied externally to treat itchy
skin.
- The
plant has proved of use in the treatment of jaundice and other visceral
obstructions, but is rarely used internally due to its irritant effect on
the digestive system.
- When
taken in excess, it destroys red blood cells and causes paralysis of the
vasomotor centre.
- The
root is harvested in the spring and can be dried for later use
Outside Info: Perennial growing to 1m by 1m, with leafy, smooth stems that are sparingly branched. The stems are reddish and are swollen at the nodes. The flowers are white or pink, about 1 inch wide and are in terminal clusters. These flowers have 5 scalloped petals, ten tamens and have small appendages at their throats
Edible
Uses:
Other
Uses: Ground cover; Soap.
- A
soap can be obtained by boiling the whole plant (but especially the root) in
water. It is a gentle effective cleaner, used especially on delicate
fabrics The best soap is obtained by infusing the plant in warm water. The
roots can be dried and stored for later use.
- The
plant is a hair shampoo, though it can cause eye irritations.
- The
plant spreads vigorously and can be used as a ground cover when planted
about 1 metre apart each way.
Farm
Notes:
- Plants
can be very invasive when grown in good conditions
- Should
not be grown next to a pond with amphibians or fish in it since if the
plant trails into the water it can cause poisoning
Saw grass (DLG)
Habitat: Unknown
– certainly found near Fort Hold
Medicinal Use: Unknown
Outside Info:
Triangular grassoid
Edible Use: Unlikely
Other Use: Unknown
Farm Notes: obnoxious
weed
Scrub pine
(DLG)
Habitat: 'higher
reaches' (dragon lovers guide)-hills/higher ground. It cannot grow in the
shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Medicinal Uses: antiseptic,
diuretic, rubefacient and vermifuge
- The turpentine
obtained from the resin of all pine trees is antiseptic, diuretic,
rubefacient and vermifuge. It is a valuable remedy used internally in the
treatment of kidney and bladder complaints and is used both internally and
as a rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatic affections.
- It is
also very beneficial to the respiratory system and so is useful in
treating diseases of the mucous membranes and respiratory complaints such
as coughs, colds, influenza and TB.
- Externally
it is a very beneficial treatment for a variety of skin complaints,
wounds, sores, burns, boils etc and is used in the form of liniment
plasters, poultices, herbal steam baths and inhalers.
- An
infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of high fevers.
- An
infusion of the buds is used to remove worms from the body.
Outside Info: An
evergreen tree growing to 15m by 6m
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Seed; Tea.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. Rich in oil with a resinous flavour. The seed is very
small and fiddly to utilize, it is only about 4mm long.
- A
vanillin flavouring is obtained as a by-product of other resins that are
released from the pulpwood.
- A tea
is made from the leaves.
Other Uses: Dye;
Herbicide; Resin; Wood.
- A tan
or green dye is obtained from the needles.
- The
needles contain a substance called terpene, this is released when rain
washes over the needles and it has a negative effect on the germination of
some plants, including wheat.
- Oleo-resins
are present in the tissues of all species of pines. The resins are
obtained by tapping the trunk, or by destructive distillation of the wood.
Turpentine consists of an average of 20% of the oleo-resin and is
separated by distillation. Turpentine has a wide range of uses including
as a solvent for waxes etc, for making varnish, medicinal etc. Rosin is
the substance left after turpentine is removed. This is used by violinists
on their bows and also in making sealing wax, varnish etc. Pitch can also
be obtained from the resin and is used for waterproofing, as a wood
preservative etc. Wood - coarse-grained, light, soft, weak and brittle,
durable in contact with the soil. It is used in rough
Farm Notes:
Seabeachplum (Dragonsong)
Habitat: low marsh
valleys and beaches by Half-Circle Seahold.
Medicinal Uses: None
Outside Info: A
deciduous shrub growing to 2.5m with Pink blossoms. The plant can tolerate
maritime exposure.
Edible Uses Fruit;
Seed.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. Very variable in quality, the best forms are sub-acid to
sweet, the fruit can be eaten out of hand, used in pies, preserves etc or
be dried for later use. The fruit is about 15mm in diameter and contains
one large seed. Seed - raw or cooked. Do not eat the seed if it is too
bitter as it will be toxic.
Other Uses: Dye;
Soil stabilization.
- A
green dye can be obtained from the leaves.
- A
dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit.
- Plants
have extensive root systems and can be used for binding sand along the
coast.
Farm Notes:
The desiccated bush makes good
tinder
Once again, we have only a few
words about this plant and it could well be exactly the same as the Black
Marshberry or Blackberry.
Location: near
Half-Circle seahold
Other Uses: Oil
- Produces
an oily seed-pod in fall
Seagrass
(stalks) (Dragonsinger,
Dragonsong)
Although there is no real evidence
of it, the grass is likely to have similar characteristics of Marram Grass.
General habitat: ocean
beaches and dunes(?)It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil
and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Medicinal Uses: None
Known
Outside Info: Perennial
growing to 1.2m
Edible Uses: Root.
Root. No more details, but the
root is rather thin and fibrous.
Other Uses: Basketry;
Broom; Fibre; Paper; Soil stabilization; Thatching; Weaving.
- The
flowering stems and leaves are used for thatching, in basketry, making
brooms etc.
- The
rhizomes are used for making rope and mats.
- A
fibre obtained from the stems is used for making paper. The stems are
harvested in the summer, cut into usable pieces and soaked for 24 hours in
clear water before cooking for 2 hours with soda ash. Beat the fibres in a
ball mill for 1½ hours. The fibres make a tan-brown paper.
- This
plant has an extensive root system and grows naturally in sand dunes along
the coast where it is very important for its action of binding the dunes
and therefore allowing other plants to grow. It is much planted in sand
dunes and other similar habitats for erosion control.
Farm Notes: Misc.: aromatic – marram grass
There is very little information
on this plant.
Habitat: near
Half-Circle seahold
Uses: Used
braided by Menolly to join sections of her multiple pipes
Seaweeds (DLG,
Dragons Dawn, Dragonsong, The Ford of Red Hanrahan)
Habitat: Shore
side
Medicinal Uses: Anti-hypothyroid,
anti-rheumatic, alterative, diuretic; Iodine
- Useful
in the treatment of under active thyroid glands and goitre.
- It
has a reputation in helping the relief of rheumatism and rheumatoid
arthritis, both used internally and as an external application upon
inflamed joints.
- Good
for all glandular afflictions, goitre, and scrofula. Has an excellent
effect on the kidneys.
- Because
of its high iron content, seaweed is often given to anaemic people by
herbalists, as well as to menstruating and lactating women whose iron
requirements are high.
- is
shown to be capable of lowering blood pressure.
Outside Info: Different varieties
Edible Uses: Sweet;
Green
- Also
used to make balls of a sweet that can be chewed for hours, keeping mouth
fresh and moist
- Highly
nutritious and is a good source of minerals that are often short in the
diets of women, especially vegetarian and vegan women, such as iron,
calcium, iodine and magnesium, it can be used in salads or added to stews.
- Other
Uses: Wrap
- Can
be wrapped around meat to allow it to slow-cook
- Add
raw to fresh garden salads
Other Uses: Iodine
A source of iodine
Farm Notes
Shallow-water sea grass’s (Dragonsinger)
Habitat: near
Half-Circle seahold, maritime plants.
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: One type
prefers sandy bottoms, the other rock.
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes:
Shrub (Red Star Rising)
There is nothing to identify this
shrub.
Growth form: shrub
Location: Southern
Continent 2nd pass
Outside Info: gives
off rich pungent odour when bruised
Uses: Unknown
Sisal (DLG)
DLG records two sisal types on
Pern. A native variety and the Terran
import.
Habitat: Fort
Hold, Ista, and Boll
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Tall Triangular
grassoid
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Thread
- Beaten
and spun into thread.
Sisal -
Terran (DLG)
Habitat: It cannot
grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought, tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c
Medicinal Uses: Antiseptic; Diaphoretic; Diuretic;
Laxative; Miscellany; Odontalgic; VD.
- The
sap of is used as a binding agent for various powders used as poultices on
wounds.
- The
sap can also be taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery
etc.
- The
sap is antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic and laxative.
- An
infusion of the chopped leaf is purgative and the juice of the leaves is
applied to bruises].
- The
plant is used internally in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence,
constipation, jaundice and dysentery.
- The
sap has disinfectant properties and can be taken internally to check the
growth of putrefactive bacteria in the stomach and intestines.
- Water
in which fibre is soaked for a day can be used as a scalp disinfectant and
tonic in cases of falling hair.
- A gum
from the root and leaf is used in the treatment of toothache.
- The
root is diaphoretic and diuretic. It is used in the treatment of syphilis.
- All
parts of the plant can be harvested for use as required, they can also be
dried for later use. The dried leaves and roots store well.
Outside Info: An
evergreen perennial growing to 7.5m by 2.5m at a slow rate.
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Sap; Seed; Stem.
- The
heart of the plant is very rich in saccharine matter and can be eaten when
baked. Sweet and nutritious, but rather fibrous. It is partly below
ground.
- Seed
- ground into a flour and used as a thickener in soups or used with cereal
flours when making bread.
- Flower
stalk - roasted. Used like asparagus.
- Sap from
the cut flowering stems is used as a syrup or fermented into pulque or
mescal. The sap can also be tapped by boring a hole into the middle of the
plant at the base of the flowering stem
Other Uses: Fibre;
Insecticide; Miscellany; Needles; Paper; Pins; Soap; Soil reclamation;
Thatching.
- The
plant contains saponin's. An extract of the leaves or roots can be used as
a soap. Chop up the leaves or the roots into small pieces and then simmer
them in water to extract the saponin’s. Do not over boil or you will start
to break down the saponin’s.
- The
plant has insecticidal properties.
- A
very strong fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making rope, coarse
fabrics etc.
- A
paper can also be made from the leaves.
- The
thorns on the leaves are used as pins and needles.
- The
dried flowering stems are used as a razor strop
- The
plants are used in land-reclamation schemes in arid areas of the world.
Farm Notes:
Sky-broom (DLG, Runner of Pern, Master Harper, Red Star Rising,
Skies of Pern, Renegades)
Habitat: Lemos.
Skybroom trees begin at the northern Lemos end of the Keroon Plains.
Medicinal Use: Unknown
Outside Info: several
dragon lengths tall. " The tall trunks terminate in bushy crowns of
tuffted needles, much like the growth on Earth cedars. Root systems that
radiated in a great circle around the trunk to support the soaring limbs and
tufted heights. Twined trunks, short tufts of spiny leaves. The crowns have
coarse, short leaves. The tops are flat
Edible Use: Unknown
Other Use: Wood
The wood is dense and metal-hard,
covered with a rough mat-like material protection from thread fall. The wood is
difficult to work, but highly prized in the Woodcraft Hall.
Used for some harps, possibly
other instruments. Highest quality of material for a painter's 'canvas' in the
2nd Pass.
Farm Notes:
Softwoods (Dragonquest)
In the
traditional term, a softwood is usually one of the conifer’s.
Growth form: Tree
Habitat: Lemos
Uses: used to
make furniture
Soybeans –2 (DLG)
Known locations: Fort
Hold
Habitat: cannot
grow in the shade, grows best in a sunny position on fertile, well-drained
soils, A subtropical plant, but its cultivation extends from the tropics to as
far north as latitude 52°N
Medicinal Uses: Antidote;
Astringent; Diaphoretic; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Resolvent; Stomachic.
- The
fermented seed is weakly diaphoretic and stomachic. It is used in the
treatment of colds, fevers and headaches, insomnia, irritability and a
stuffy sensation in the chest.
- The
bruised leaves are applied to snakebite.
- The flowers
are used in the treatment of blindness and opacity of the cornea.
- The
ashes of the stems are applied to granular haemorrhoids or fungus growths
on the anus.
- The
immature seedpods are chewed to a pulp and applied to corneal and smallpox
ulcers.
- The
seed is antidote. It is considered to be specific for the healthy
functioning of bowels, heart, kidney, liver and stomach.
- The
seed sprouts are constructive, laxative and resolvent. They are used in
the treatment of oedema, dysuria, chest fullness, decreased perspiration,
the initial stages of flu and arthralgia.
- A
decoction of the bark or root is astringent.
- Soybean
diets are valued for treating acidosis.
- Since
soybean oil has a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acid, it is
recommended, like safflower, poppy seed, etc. to combat
hypercholesteremia.
Outside Info: Grows to
2m. White or voilet flowers, hairy seed pods
Edible Uses: Klah;
Leaves; Milk; Oil; Seed; Seedpod.
- Mature
seed - cooked. The seeds furnish one of the world's most important sources
of oil and protein, they can be eaten as they are in soups, stews etc,
though they are also very commonly used in the preparation of various meat
substitutes.
- The
dried seed can be ground into a flour and added to cereal flours or used
for making noodles etc.
- A
powder is made from the roasted and ground seed, it is called 'Kinako' and
has a nutty flavour and fragrance - it is used in many popular
confections.
- The sprouted
seed is eaten raw or added to cooked dishes.
- The
toasted seeds can be eaten as a peanut-like snack.
- The
seed is also made into numerous fermented foods such as miso and tempeh
and is also used to make soya milk, a valuable protein supplement in infant
feeding which also provides curds and cheese.
- The
immature seed is cooked and used like peas or eaten raw in salads.
- The
strongly roasted and ground seeds are used as a Klah substitute.
- The
young seedpods are cooked and used like French beans.
- An
edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It is cooked or can be
used as a dressing in salads etc and for manufacture of margarine and
shortening.
- Young
leaves - raw or cooked
Other Uses: Biomass;
Green manure; Oil; Paper.
- The
seed contains up to 20% of an edible semi-drying oil. The oil is used
industrially in the manufacture of paints, linoleum, oilcloth, printing
inks, soap, insecticides, and disinfectants.
- Both
the meal and the soy bean protein are used in the manufacture of synthetic
fibre, adhesives, textile sizing, waterproofing, fire-fighting foam and
many other uses.
- The
plant is sometimes grown as a green manure.
- The
straw can be used to make paper, stiffer than that made from wheat straw.
- The
plant is an excellent source of biomass. The oil from the seeds can be
used as a diesel fuel whilst the stems can be burnt as a fuel.
Farm Notes: There
are three basic types of soya bean, those with green seeds are considered to be
the most tender and best flavoured and are the type best suited for northern
climates. Black seeded forms are normally used dried and yellow seeded forms
are used for making soya milk, flour etc
Spearleek (Moreta)
Growth form: white
bulb
Habitat: Unknown
Medicinal Uses: febrifuge
The white bulb is a febrifuge
Outside Info:
Spearleek has spear-like upper growth, and one must be careful not to wound
oneself on the spears
Edible
Uses: Bulb
The bulb
is edible but how is unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Spiceroot (Moreta)
Originally believed to be
cinnamon. However as cinnamon is the
inner bark of a tree, and this is supposed to be a root, it is more reasonable
to assume that Spiceroot is Ginger, especially as it is a tuber type plant.
Growth form: Tuber(?)
–consists of the thick scaly rhizomes (underground stems) of the plant
Habitat: grows best in tropical and sub
tropical areas which have good rainfall with hot and humid conditions during
the summer season
Medicinal Uses: Antiemetic and Anti-Motion Sickness;
Anti-inflammatory (Rheumatism); Anti Ulcer; Antioxidant; digestive
- Used for prevention of coronary
artery disease, healing and prevention of both arthritic conditions and
stomach ulcers.
- Also effective against tumour
growth, rheumatism, migraine and is active as an antioxidant in the body
- Used for loss of
appetite, flatulence, borborygmus (rumbling or gurgling sound of gas in
the intestines), spasmodic gastric and intestinal contractions, and cool
extremities
- A good medicines
for nausea, motion sickness (such as seasickness) and dizziness, and is
also a traditional digestive aid.
- Also good against
body odour, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, cough, high cholesterol,
pain, sore throat, swelling, tendinitis, and toothache.
- Like garlic,
ginger also lowers blood.
Common
Cold:
Extract the juice of Spiceroot and mix with equal
quantity of sweetener (to taste) and bring to a boil over a low heat. Add a few
fresh basil leaves (the juice may be expressed) and a handful of black currants
(or raisins) and boil further. When the mixture turns slightly syrupy, remove
from flame and allow to cool before bottling.
A
teaspoonful for a dose as often as is needed for loosening of phlegm in
congestive colds and lung ailments. Also a useful prophylactic in preventing
colds during winter.
Or; Take
mature Spiceroot, cut into small strips and soak for a few days in Yellow fruit
juice. Take the Spiceroot out of the juice and spread out on a flat surface and
dry in the sun. When dry, sprinkle with some powdered black rock-salt and store
in an airtight bottle. A piece or two of this Spiceroot acts as a prophylactic
against common colds and digestive disorders.
Digestive
Disorders:
(a) Loss
of appetite - Cut fresh Spiceroot into small cubes or slices and boil in
sweetener and water over a low flame till the Spiceroot cubes are translucent
and "cooked." A few pieces of this 'Spiceroot relish' eaten before or
with meals promotes appetite and aids digestion.
(b)
Dyspepsia - A piece of Spiceroot eaten with a little rock-salt (the black pungent
variety) with or after meals aids digestion. Also removes bad breath
(halitosis) due to indigestion.
(c)
Constipation - Candied Spiceroot or dried and powdered Spiceroot in capsules
helps in elimination of the bowels by activating peristalsis.
(d) Nausea
- Spiceroot is a remedy par excellence for the relief of nausea and motion
sickness. Take powdered dry Spiceroot a few hours before travelling and a
little more every hour or two during the journey or as required.
(e)Gingivitis
& Weak Gums: Dried powdered Spiceroot mixed with a little rock-salt or
common table salt is an excellent dentifrice. Helps in strengthening the gums
and preventing bad breath.
(f)Heart
Disease: Regular use of Spiceroot as a food additive is known to lower serum
cholesterol. Considered a good preventive against arteriosclerosis and heart
disease.
(g)Hoarseness:
Hot Spiceroot tea is ideal for this condition as well s Indolence with the
addition of sweetener.
(h)Insomnia:
Add about a teaspoonful of dried powdered Spiceroot to a tumbler of warm milk
sweetened. Drink this in the evening before retiring for bed. When sleep
returns to normal discontinue the milk-milk treatment as it may become a habit
and one may not be able to sleep without it!
(i)Jaundice
& Congestive Liver: Add a teaspoonful of Spiceroot juice to 6 ozs. of fresh
sugar-cane juice and drink three times a day.
(j)Kidney
Troubles: Soak overnight 5 to 7 gms of Spiceroot (mashed) in a tumbler of
water. In the morning express the juice out of the Spiceroot, add a little rock-sugar
or honey and drink the Spiceroot water. Urination will be induced and
congestion in the kidneys will be relieved. Also useful in mild cases of
calculi of the kidneys.
(l)Muscular
Aches and Pains/Stiffness: Make up the following oil to use in massage:
Spiceroot
juice .... 1/fifth
Mustard
oil/mineral oil ... 3/fifth
Glycerine
(pure) .... 1/twentieth
Wherry
fat* (optional) .... 1/twentieth
Outside Info: A cane like, tuberous
perennial plant native to southern Asia, and grows to a height of about 3 feet
Edible
Uses: Root; buds; Fruit
possesses
an intriguing; sweet, spicy and pungent flavour rendering it suitable for use
in a range of dishes from stir-fried beef to ginger tea.
·
The root is eaten fresh in salads
·
The buds can be cooked in a similar way to onions after being lightly
boiled.
·
The fruits can be eaten as well
- Used
as a ‘spice’ in other foods.
- Candied Spiceroot is known but
rare
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes:
Starsuckle (Dragonsblood)
Habitat: The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and
heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils
and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in full shade
(deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil
and can tolerate drought.
Medicinal Use: Antispasmodic;
Astringent;
Cathartic;
Depurative;
Diaphoretic;
Diuretic;
Emetic;
Expectorant;
Febrifuge;
Laxative;
Mouthwash;
Skin; Vulnerary
- The
plant has expectorant and laxative properties
- A
syrup made from the flowers has been used in the treatment of respiratory
diseases
- A
decoction of the leaves is considered beneficial in treating diseases of
the liver and spleen
- It is
used as a mouthwash for ulcers and is considered to be a good ingredient
in gargles
- The
flowers are antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge
and sudorific
- The
fruit is emetic and cathartic
- The
herbage is used as a cutaneous and mucous tonic and as a vulnerary
- It is
also diaphoretic
- The
leaves are laxative and slightly astringent
- The
seed is diuretic
- The
bark is anticatarrhal, depurative, diuretic and sudorific
Outside Info:
- decidious
Climber growing to 4.5m at a medium rate.
As it was hybridized with a pernese plant, it is likely to have a
triangular cross-section to its leaves..
Edible Use: Nectar.
- Children
(of all ages) suck the base of the flowers to extract the nectar
Other Use:
- ground
cover
- perfume
- Baskety
– the stems can be used for this purpose
- Insecticide
– parts of the plant are an insecticide (against native strains).
Other Notes: A pernese hybrid of the honeysuckle
Spongewood trees (DLG, Dragonquest)
Another plant with little to
identify it from the books. The Terran
Spongewood is not generally of this size.
Habitat: Tropical
swamplands.
Locations: South
continent, Lemos
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: A tree that grows quickly!
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other uses: Timber; cork?
- Not
stated, though the name of the tree pre-disposes me to think of the wood
as not having a great use.
- If
this derives from the Terran species then it can be used as a cork
substitute.
Farm notes:
Considered a weed. Not cultivated.
Stickle bush (Runner of
Pern, Master Harper)
Habitat: Unknown
Location: by trace
to Fort Hold
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
– Toxic
During spring, the thorn needles
easily penetrate skin and will work inwards, causing toxic swelling if not drawn
out.
Outside Info: bush,
grows in patches. In early spring there
are no leaves to hide the hair like, nearly invisible thorns that cover twig
and branch.
Edible Uses: Berries;
Twigs
- Berries
are used for preserves
- The
berries are used in gravy
- Dried
leaves and twigs have bitter, acrid, drying taste
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes:
Stickle slivers can work their way
through flesh into the blood. If a sliver reaches your heart, you could die
from it. Most slivers can be pulled out by hand or tweezers, but some need
poulticing to draw out the
sliver.
Straw (Moreta, Nerilka)
Straw is, of course, the remnant
of the harvesting of Wheat.
Traditionally used for thatching, on Pern, such methods are rarely, if
ever used. Instead it retains its age old use for bedding and, at Igen, as
insulation for cold drinks inside boxes.
Streamer (White
Dragon)
Location:
Southern, Cove hold
Medical Uses: Unknown
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Uses: The
fronds are woven into matting
Sugar
Beets (DLG)
Known locations: Fort
Hold, several northern Holds
Habitat: It
cannot grow in the shade
Medicinal Uses:
Antitumor; Emmenagogue.
- Beet
has a long history of folk use, especially in the treatment of tumours.
- A decoction
prepared from the seed is used as a remedy for tumours of the intestines.
The seed, boiled in water, is said to cure genital tumours.
- The
juice or other parts of the plant is said to help in the treatment of
tumours, leukaemia and other forms of cancer such as cancer of the breast,
oesophagus, glands, head, intestines, leg, lip, lung, prostate, rectum,
spleen, stomach, and uterus.
- The
juice is applied to ulcers.
- A
decoction is used as a purgative by those who suffer from haemorrhoids.
- Leaves
and roots used as an emmenagogue.
- Plant
effective in the treatment of feline ascariasis.
- Beet
juice was recommended as a remedy for anaemia and yellow jaundice, and,
put into the nostrils to purge the head, clear ringing ears, and alleviate
toothache.
- Beet
juice in vinegar was said to rid the scalp of dandruff as scurf, and was
recommended to prevent falling hair.
- Juice
of the white beet was said to clear obstructions of the liver and spleen
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 1.5m by 0.2m
Edible Uses: Leaves;
Root; Sweetener.
- Root
- raw or cooked. The root contains 16 - 20% sugar and this is often
extracted and used as a sweetener. This plant is a major source of sugar
in many temperate areas.
- The
root can also be used as a vegetable. When cooked it is quite tender, but
with some fibrous strands. It has a very sweet flavour that some people
find too sweet. The raw root is rather tough, but makes a pleasant
addition to salads when grated finely.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A very acceptable spinach substitute. Some people dislike
the raw leaves since they can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Other Uses:
Biomass.
- Sugar
beet has excellent potential as a biomass crop, both as a source of sugar
and also using the plant residue for fuel.
Farm Notes:
Sungazers (DLG)
Form: small
plant, grows mostly underground
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info. This plant lives main underground, sending
up flowers similar to Earth's strawflower or windflower
Edible uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Swamp grass (Dragondrums)
The description makes it hard to
ascertain whether it is a native or Terran import, but its location probably
means it is native as there was little settlement near Southern originally.
Habitat: Marshes
near Southern Weyr
Medicinal uses: Unknown
Outside Info: broad, saw-edge blades
Edible uses: Unknown
Other Uses: Unknown
Swedes (DLG)
Known locations: Fort
Hold
Habitat: It
requires moist soil
Medicinal Uses:
Diuretic; Emollient.
- The
root is emollient and diuretic. The juice of the roots is used in the
treatment of chronic coughs and bronchial catarrh.
- The
seed, powdered, with salt is said to be a folk remedy for cancer.
- Rape
oil is used in massage and oil baths, it is believed to strengthen the
skin and keep it cool and healthy. With camphor it is applied as a remedy
for rheumatism and stiff joints.
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 0.75m
Edible Uses:
Leaves; Root.
- Leaves
- cooked as a potherb. A mild, cabbage-like flavour.
- Root
- raw or cooked. A richer flavour than turnips, it makes a good cooked
vegetable and, when finely grated, is acceptable in mixed salads. The root
can be 30cm or more in diameter, though it is usually eaten smaller since
it then is more tender.
Other Uses: Oil
- The
seed contains up to 45% of an edible semi-drying oil, it is used as a
luminant, lubricant, in soap making etc
Farm Notes: It is
available from early autumn, and can either be left in the ground over winter
to be harvested as required, or can be harvested and stored in a cool, frost-free
place where it will keep for 6 months.
Sweet
cane (Sugar
Cane) (DLG)
Known locations: Nerat,
Boll, Ista
Habitat: Tropical
Medicinal Uses: Antidote,
antiseptic, antivinous, bactericide, cardiotonic, demulcent, diuretic, intoxicant,
laxative, pectoral, piscicide, refrigerant, and stomachic.
- It is
a folk remedy for arthritis, bedsores, boils, cancer, colds, cough,
diarrhea, dysentery, eyes, fever, hiccups, inflammation, laryngitis,
opacity, penis, skin, sores, sore throat, spleen, tumors, and wounds.
- Powdered
sugar is used as a 'drawing' agent for granulations and "proud
flesh" and, in a 1:3 solution in water, for gonorrhea and vaginal
discharges.
- The
pulped sugar cane is used to dress wounds,
- The
cane provides splints for broken bones;.
- A
decoction of the root is used for whooping cough;
- The
cane juice is given for catarrh. It is used as a poultice for sprains
- The
plant as well as its juices are used for abdominal tumors.
Outside Info: Grows up
to 6m. Clump-forming rhizomes, perennial grass
Edible Uses: Sweetener;
alcohol; preservative; cane; Fruit
- Cane
sugar, cane syrup, molasses, wax, and rum are products of sugarcane.
Molasses is used as a sweetener, in industrial alcohol, for explosives,
synthetic rubber, and in combustion engines.
- Fresh
cane stems are often chewed, especially by poorer people.
- Sugar
is used as a preservative for fruits and meats;
- The
young unexpanded inflorescence of 'tebu telur' is eaten raw, steamed or
toasted, and prepared in various ways.
- Molasses,
along with cane juice and other by-products can be fermented to produce an
alcoholic distillate, otherwise known as rum
Other Uses: Paper;
Fuel; Reed; cattle feed; mulch; Vinegar; Yeast; Solvents; acids; Fodder
- A
useful by-product of sugar production is bagasse, the fibrous residue left
after the juices are extracted from the cane. It is the main source of
fuel in sugar factories and can also be used in making paper
- The
reeds are made into pens, mats, screens, and thatch
- A
mixture of bagasse and molasses (Molascuit) is used as cattle feed.
- The
ground and dried cane (after juice is expressed) makes an excellent mulch.
- Ethyl
alcohol (ethanol) is another alcohol produced from molasses, with many uses
such as vinegar, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, cleaning preparations and
solvents, and coatings.
- Other
products produced from molasses are butanol (a solvent), lactic acid (a
solvent), citric acid (mostly for foods and beverages), glycerol, & yeast.
- Wax
can be obtained from the filter mud – about 15% of the volume, which forms
a sludge during sugar processing.
About 0.1% is realised from the mud.
- Sugarcane
tops (SCT) are a major by-product and are widely used for feeding draught
animals or cattle as a supplemental fodder.
Farm Notes:
- 30
acres in cane will give at least 35 hogsheads of sugar and 30 puncheons
(about 200 gallons to the puncheon) of rum.
- Do
not feed Molasses to Runner beasts as can be lethal. Sugar and cane has a
similar effect but at higher dosages.
- Manuring
is indispensable as the crop is an exhausting one.
- Generally
grown for many years in the same ground, without rotation or rest.
Sweet grass (Dragon Drums)
As with many of the grasses
mentioned, there is no true way in which to distinguish what this is. However, Dragonlovers and Dragondrums gives
us clues. Dragonlovers tells us that
Terran grass is rare, and Sebell describes his cotters hunting up and down
slopes for the rare grasses. This
seems to indicate that Sweet grass is an import. Runners obviously do much better on the imported variety than on
the native grasses they were bio-engineered to cope with.
Known locations: northern
farms under Benden Weyr
Menai has indicated that Sweetroot
(and I do not know of where this came from in the books) is the same as the
Sweet Potato or Yam and that it is the same as Sweatroot. As the latter is febrifuge, and the Sweet
Potato is not, these two plants must therefore be different. For Yam, see the entry under White Root.
Sweatroot – (Sweet
Flag) (Moreta)
Although there is nothing specific
to indicate just what Sweatroot is, most of its characteristics are shared by
the herb ‘Sweet Flag’, the characteristics of which are shown below:
Habitat: Prefers
growing in shallow water or in a very moist loamy soil. Requires a sunny
position. Plants are hardy to about -25°c
Medicinal Use:
Abortifacient; Anodyne; Aphrodisiac; Aromatic; Carminative; Diaphoretic; Emmenagogue;
Febrifuge; Hallucinogenic; Homeopathy; Odontalgic; Sedative; Stimulant;
Stomachic; Tonic; Vermifuge.
- It is
widely employed as an aromatic stimulant and mild tonic and is highly
valued as a rejuvenator for the brain and nervous system and as a remedy
for digestive disorders.
- Care
should be taken in its use since some forms of the plant might be
carcinogenic.
The root is anodyne, aphrodisiac, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic,
emmenagogue, expectorant, febrifuge, hallucinogenic, hypotensive, sedative,
stimulant, stomachic, mildly tonic and vermifuge.
- It is
used internally in the treatment of digestive complaints, bronchitis,
sinusitis etc.
- It is
said to have wonderfully tonic powers of stimulating and normalizing the
appetite.
- In small
doses it reduces stomach acidity whilst larger doses increase stomach
secretions and it is, therefore, recommended in the treatment of anorexia
nervosa. However if the dose is too large it will cause nausea and
vomiting.
- Sweet
flag is also used externally to treat skin eruptions, rheumatic pains and
neuralgia.
- An
infusion of the root can bring about an abortion
- Chewing
the root alleviates toothache.
- It is
a folk remedy for arthritis, cancer, convulsions, diarrhoea, dyspepsia,
epilepsy etc.
- Caution
is advised on the use of this root, especially in the form of the
distilled essential oil, since large doses can cause mild hallucinations.
- A
homeopathic remedy is made from the roots. It is used in the treatment of
flatulence, dyspepsia, anorexia and disorders of the gall bladder.
Outside Info:
Perennial growing to 1m by 1m. It requires wet soil and can grow in water
Edible Use:
Condiment; Leaves; Root; Stem.
- The
rhizome is candied and made into a sweetmeat. It can be peeled and washed
to remove the bitterness and then eaten raw like a fruit.
- It
makes a palatable vegetable when roasted and can also be used as a
flavouring.
- Rich
in starch, the root contains about 1% of an essential oil that is used as
a food flavouring.
- The
dried and powdered rhizome has a spicy flavour and is used as a substitute
for ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg. The young and tender inflorescence is
often eaten by children for its sweetness.
- Young
leaves - cooked.
- The
inner portion of young stems is eaten raw. It makes a very palatable
salad.
Other Info: Basketry;
Incense; Insecticide; Repellent; Strewing; Thatching; Weaving.
- The
leaves are used in basket making or woven into mats. They have also been
used as a thatch for roofs.
- An
essential oil from the rhizome is used in perfumery and as a food
flavouring. The oil is contained mainly in the outer skin of the root and
has a fragrance reminiscent of patchouli oil.
- The
essential oil is also an insect repellent and insecticide and is effective
against houseflies.
- When
added to rice being stored in granaries it has significantly reduced loss
caused by insect damage because the oil in the root has sterilized the
male rice weevils.
- An
essential oil obtained from the leaves is used in perfumery and for making
aromatic vinegars.
- The
leaves and the root have a refreshing scent of cinnamon.
- All
parts of plant can be dried and used to repel insects or to scent linen
cupboards.
- They
can also be burnt as an incense, whilst the whole plant was formerly used as
a strewing herb. The growing plant is said to repel insects.
Farm Note: Roots 2
- 3 years old are used since older roots tend to become tough and hollow[4].
They are harvested in late autumn or early spring and are dried for later use.
Tansy (DLG, Moreta)
Habitat: can
tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
Medicinal Uses:
Anthelmintic; Antispasmodic; Bitter; Carminative; Emmenagogue; Poultice;
Stimulant; Tonic.
- Tansy
is a commonly grown domestic remedy, useful in treating a wide range of complaints,
- Its
main value is as a vermifuge to expel intestinal worms and, to a lesser
degree, to help stimulate menstrual bleeding.
- Tansy
should be used with caution, however, it is possibly unsafe for internal
use, especially if you are pregnant[
- The
essential oil in the leaves is toxic and as little as ½oz can kill an
adult
- The
leaves and flowering tops are anthelmintic, antispasmodic, bitter,
carminative, emmenagogue, stimulant and tonic.
- An
infusion of the leaves or whole plant is used to treat menstrual
irregularities and as an anthelmintic, especially for children.
- It is
also valuable in treating hysteria, kidney weaknesses, stomach problems,
fevers and also as an emmenagogue.
- In
larger doses the plant can procure an abortion, though these doses can be
poisonous.
- Externally,
tansy is used as a poultice on swellings and some eruptive skin diseases.
- It is
also used externally to kill lice, fleas and scabies, though even external
use of the plant carries the risk of toxicity.
- The
seeds are used as an anthelmintic.
Outside Info: Grows to
120cm, with clusters of flat, mustard yellow flower heads in summer.
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Flowers; Leaves; Tea.
- Young
leaflets - raw or cooked. They can be added in small quantities to salads.
- The plant
is also used as a flavouring, it is a substitute for nutmeg and cinnamon.
- This
plant is not recommended for internal use.
- The
flowers have a unique flavour and are eaten or used as a garnish].
- A
bitter, somewhat lemon-flavoured tea is made from the leaves and flowering
stems.
- Rub
leaves on meat to flavour
Other Uses: Compost;
Dye; Essential; Insecticide; Repellent; Strewing.
- A
green dye is obtained from the young shoots.
- The
leaves and flowers can also be used and a yellow can also be obtained.
- The
plant is used as a strewing herb in cellars, churches etc in order to
repel insects. Both the growing and the dried plant are said to repel
flies, ants and fleas, especially if they are mixed with elder leaves
- The
leaves and the flowering shoots contain 0.15% of an essential oil that
contains camphor, borneol and thujone. Both the leaves and the oil and
they have been used to kill fleas and lice. Thujone is an effective
insecticide, but it is highly toxic to mammals when taken in excess.
- The
plant is a good addition to the compost heap, being valued for its mineral
content.
Farm Notes: The
plant is harvested as it is coming into flower and is dried for later use.
Tarragon (DLG)
Growth form: herb
Habitat: Can
tolerate drought.
Medicinal Uses: Antiscorbutic;
Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Hypnotic; Stomachic.
- The
herb is antiscorbutic, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypnotic and stomachic.
- The
fresh herb is eaten to promote the appetite and is a digestive
Outside Info: Grows to
1m, greenish flowers. Flavours savoury foods.
Edible Uses:
Leaves; Seed.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. Bake the leaves
between hot stones and then eat them with salt water.
- The
leaves can also be eaten raw in salads.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. An oily texture. The seed is very small and fiddly to use
- Add
leaf to mayo for fish dishes, salad dressings, light soups. Goes well with
poultry.
Other Uses: Repellent.
- Both
the growing and the dried plant repels insects.
Farm Notes:
Teak-like hardwood tree, teakwood (DLG)
Growth form: stumpy tree,
with broad central trunk
Habitat: Nerat;
tropical areas
Medicinal Use: Bleeding;
Anodyne; Menstruation; dieuretic;
Astringent
- Boiled
leaves extract is used to treat bleeding of larynx, trachea, bronchi, or
lungs and sore throat.
- A wood
powder paste is used against bilious headaches and swellings and
internally against dermatitis or as a de-wormer.
- The
bark is an astringent
- Decoction of fresh and dried leaves for
menstrual disorders, for hemorrhages,
- Taken as gargle for sore throat.
- Flowers and seeds are dieuretic.
- Oil of the nut for making the hair grow and
soothes itches of the skin. Counters inflammation
Outside Info: may reach
130 to 150 ft in height with clear boles to 80 to 90 ft; trunk diameters
usually 3 to 5 ft; older trees fluted and buttressed.
Edible Uses: none
Known
Other
Uses: Wood; dye
- Principal
use is for wood. Especially in ships and structural woods.
- Leaves
and bark of roots produce natural dyes which when combine with aluminium,
fix the dyes to tissues, cells and textile.
Thymus (DKG,
Moreta, Nerilka)
Habitat: near
Fort Hold, tolerates strong winds but
not maritime exposure; Succeeds in dry soils, poor soils and tolerates drought
once it is established
Medicinal Uses:
Anthelmintic; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Aromatherapy; Carminative; Deodorant;
Diaphoretic; Disinfectant; Expectorant; Sedative; Tonic.
- It is
very rich in essential oils and these are the active ingredients
responsible for most of the medicinal properties.
- In
particular, thyme is valued for its antiseptic and antioxidant properties,
it is an excellent tonic and is used in treating respiratory diseases and
a variety of other ailments.
- The
flowering tops are anthelmintic, strongly antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative,
deodorant, diaphoretic, disinfectant, expectorant, sedative and tonic.
- The
plant is used internally in the treatment of dry coughs, whooping cough,
bronchitis, bronchial catarrh, asthma, laryngitis, indigestion, gastritis
and diarrhoea and enuresis in children.
- It
should not be prescribed for pregnant women.
- Externally,
it is used in the treatment of tonsillitis, gum diseases, rheumatism,
arthritis and fungal infections.
- The
plant can be used fresh at any time of the year, or it can be harvested as
it comes into flower and either be distilled for the oil or dried for
later use.
- Thyme
has an antioxidant effect, thus regular use of this herb improves the
health and longevity of individual body cells and therefore prolongs the
life of the body.
- The
essential oil is strongly antiseptic.
- The
whole herb is used in the treatment of digestive disorders, sore throats,
fevers etc.
- The
essential oil is one of the most important oils used in aromatherapy. It
is used especially in cases of exhaustion, depression, upper respiratory
tract infections, skin and scalp complaints etc.
- The
oil can cause allergic reactions and irritation to the skin and mucous
membranes.
Outside Info:
evergreen shrub growing to 0.2m by 0.3m. Lilac; coloured summer flowers.
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
and flowering tops - raw in salads, used as a garnish or added as a
flavouring to cooked foods, going especially well with mushrooms and
courgettes..
- It
retains its flavour well in long slow cooking.
- The leaves
can be used either fresh or dried. If the leaves are to be dried, the
plants should be harvested in early and late summer just before the
flowers open and the leaves should be dried quickly.
- An
aromatic tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves. Pungent and spicy.
- It
suits food cooked slowly in wine, especially poultry, fish, hot
vegetables, fruit salads, and jams
Other Uses:
Essential; Fungicide; Ground cover; Pot-pourri; Repellent.
- An
essential oil from the leaves is frequently used in perfumery, soaps,
toothpastes, mouthwashes, medicinally etc
- It
has fungicidal properties and is also used to prevent mildew.
- The
leaves are dried and used in pot-pourri.
- The
dried flowers are used to repel moths from clothing whilst the growing
plant is said to repel cabbage root fly.
Farm Notes: Thyme is
a good companion for most plants
Tomato (dragon lovers guide)
Habitat: Requires sunlight
Medicinal Uses: Cardiac; Homeopathy; Odontalgic; Skin.
· The pulped
fruit is an extremely beneficial skin-wash for people with oily skin. Sliced
fruits are a quick and easy first aid treatment for burns, scalds and sunburn.
· A
decoction of the root is ingested in the treatment of toothache.
· The skin of
tomato fruits is a good source of lycopine, a substance that has been shown to
protect people from heart attacks. It seems to be more effective when it is
cooked and so can be obtained from food products such as tomato ketchup and
tinned tomatoes. Lycopine has also been shown to have a very beneficial effect
upon the prostate and is being used increasingly to treat enlarge prostate and
the difficulties in urination that accompany this disorder.
· A
homeopathic remedy is made from the plant. It is used in the treatment of
rheumatism and severe headaches.
· All green
parts of the plant are poisonous
Outside Info: Annual growing to 2m by 0.4m
Edible Uses: Fruit; Oil.
· Fruit -
raw or cooked. It can be used as a savoury vegetable or flavouring in cooked
foods, or can be eaten out of hand as a dessert fruit. It is much used in
salads and as a flavouring in soups and other cooked foods.
· A juice
made from the fruit is often sold in health food shops. The fruit can also be dried and ground into
a powder that can be used as a flavouring and thickening agent in soups,
breads, pancakes etc.
· An edible
oil is obtained from the seed. Suitable for culinary purposes. The seed is
small and it would be very fiddly to utilize. It is only viable to use the seed
as a source of oil if large quantities of the plants are being grown for their
fruits and the seed is not wanted
Other Uses: Cosmetic; Insecticide; Repellent.
· The strong
aroma of this plant is said to repel insects from nearby plants
· A
semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed. It can be used in making soap
· A spray
made from tomato leaves is an effective but very poisonous insecticide and, if
ingested, is toxic to humans
Farm Notes:
· Tomatoes
grow well with asparagus, parsley, Brassicae and stinging nettles
· The pulp
of the fruit is used cosmetically in face packs.
· They are
also a good companion for gooseberries, helping to keep them free of insect
pests.
· They
dislike growing near fennel, kohl-rabi, potatoes and Brassicae (not a typo! –
different opinions are prevalent on this point)
Trace Moss
(Runner of
Pern, Master Harper)
Growth form: moss,
grows on ground
Habitat: on any
runner trace in the Northern Continent. The moss doesn’t do as well in the heat
of Boll as it does in the North.
Medicinal Use: None
Known
Outside Info: A close
and dense, springy moss variety.
Edible Uses: Unknown
Other Use: Path
A runner can tell if he or she
strays from a trace by the feel of the trace moss. The legendary 'Lopers'
originally planted the moss, and it has been maintained since. The moss doesn't
stain runner shoes.
Tubers (DLG,
Dragon Kin, Dragondrums, Dragonsinger, Dragons Dawn, Moreta, Master Harper, Renegades,
The Second Weyr)
There is
no clear indication as to what a tuber is, but it could be the potato. Given the more northerly clime of the
original novels, and the various forms and wider range of the plant, I believe
it more likely to be the humble potato.
Habitat: tubers of
one form or another grow in many areas, it cannot grow in the shade. It
requires moist soil.
Location:
Half-circle seahold, Ista, Southern, Southern Boll
Medical Uses: Antiphlogistic; Antispasmodic; Poultice.
- A
juice made from the tubers, when taken in moderation, can be helpful in
the treatment of peptic ulcers, bringing relief from pain and acidity.
- Excessive
doses of potato juice can be toxic - do not drink the juice of more than
one large potato per day.
- A
poultice is made from boiling potatoes in water. This is applied as hot as
can be borne to rheumatic joints, swellings, skin rashes, haemorrhoids
etc.
- Peeled
but uncooked potatoes have been pounded in a mortar and then applied cold
as a soothing plaster to burns and scalds.
- Potato
skins are used in India to treat swollen gums and to heal burns.
- The
tubers contain very small quantities of atropine alkaloids. One property
of these alkaloids is the reduction of digestive secretions, including
acids produced in the stomach.
- The
leaves are antispasmodic.
Outside
Info: Perennial growing to 1m
Edible Uses:
Root; Rutin.
- Root
- raw or cooked. Potatoes are a very versatile food that can be used in a
wide variety of ways. Having a mild flavour, and readily accepting the
flavour of other foods, they can be eaten on a regular basis without
becoming boring (not according to Piemur). Whilst occasionally eaten raw,
they are most commonly cooked and can boiled, baked, fried, added to
soups, stews etc. The cooked potato can also be dried and made into a
powder and then used as a thickener in soups etc, or be added to cereal
flours when making bread, biscuits etc. The potato is a very rich source
of starch, but does not contain high quantities of other nutrients.
- The
fresh petals of white-flowered varieties contain rutin.
Other Uses:
Alcohol; Biomass; Cleanser; Cosmetic; Polish; Size; Starch.
- The
tubers are a source of starch that is used in sizing cotton and to make
industrial alcohol etc.
- Ripe
potato juice is an excellent cleaner of silks, cottons and woollens.
- The
water in which potatoes have been boiled can be used to clean silver and
to restore a shine to furniture. Emollient and cleansing facemasks are
made from potatoes, these are used to treat hard, greasy and wrinkled
skins.
- The
potato is a good source of biomass. When boiled with weak sulphuric acid,
potato starch is changed into glucose and this can then be fermented into
alcohol.
Farm Notes:
- Does
well when grown after a crop of rye
- Potatoes
should not be stored with apples because the ethylene gas released by the
apples will cause the potatoes to go soft and develop a sour taste
- Always
grow from seed – growing from the tuber will result in blight.
Growth form: Terran turnip
Known locations: Fort
Hold, northern farms under Benden Weyr
Habitat: It
requires moist soil; turnips grow best in deep, friable, highly fertile soil
Medicinal Uses: Cancer;
Poultice.
- A
decoction of the leaves or stems is used in the treatment of cancer.
- The
powdered seed is said to be a folk remedy for cancer.
- The
crushed ripe seeds are used as a poultice on burns.
- The
root when boiled with lard is used for breast tumours.
- A
salve derived from the flowers is said to help skin cancer.
Outside Info: Biennial
growing to 0.45m
Edible Info: Leaves;
Root.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. The cooked leaves make an acceptable vegetable, though
they are coarser than the related cabbage. They are more often used as a
spring greens, sowing the plants in the autumn and allowing them to
over-winter. Young leaves can also be added in small quantities to salads,
they have a slightly hot cabbage-like flavour and some people find them
indigestible.
- Root
- raw or cooked. Often used as a cooked vegetable, the young roots can
also be grated and eaten in salads, they have a slightly hot flavour like
a mild radish.
Other uses:
Insecticide.
- Turnip
root peelings contain a natural insecticide. The chopped roots can be
brewed into a tea with flaked soap, this is then strained before use. It
is effective against aphids, red spider mites and flies.
Farm Notes: Grow a
good crop for winter fodder
Tussilago (Colts
Foot) (DLG, Moreta)
Habitat: can
tolerate maritime exposure.
Medicinal Uses: Antitussive;
Astringent; Bitter; Demulcent; Diaphoretic; Emollient; Expectorant; Skin;
Stimulant; Tonic.
- An
effective demulcent and expectorant herb, coltsfoot is a popular remedy
for the treatment of a wide range of chest complaints.
- The
flowering stems are rich in mucilage and are the main parts used, though
the root is also sometimes employed.
- The
herb should not be taken whilst pregnant or breast-feeding and it should
not be given to children under the age of six.
- Extracts
of the whole plant can increase immune resistance.
- The
leaves are harvested in June and early July, the flowers are harvested
when fully open and the root is harvested in the autumn. All can be dried
and used as required.
- The
plant is antitussive, astringent, demulcent, emollient, expectorant,
stimulant and tonic. It is widely used in the treatment of coughs and
respiratory problems and is often candied so that it can be sucked as a
sweet.
- The
plant is of particular use in the treatment of chronic emphysema and
silicosis, helping to relieve the persistent cough associated with these
conditions.
- Coltsfoot
is particularly effective when used in combination with thyme and cherry.
- A
poultice of the flowers has a soothing effect on a range of skin disorders
including eczema, ulcers, sores, bites and inflammations.
- A
bitter, tonic and diaphoretic preparation can be obtained from the root.
Outside Info: Grows to
30cm It is a perennial with creeping rhizomes, dull yellow flowers in early
spring that turn into a dandelion-like seed head.
Edible Uses:
Flowers; Leaves; Salt; Tea.
- Flower
buds and young flowers - raw or cooked. A pleasant aniseed flavour, they
add a distinctive aromatic flavour to salads.
- Young
leaves - raw or cooked. They can be used in salads, added to soups, or
cooked as a vegetable. The leaves have a bitter taste unless they are
washed after being boiled.
- An
aromatic tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves and flowers. It has a
liquorice-like flavour.
- The
dried and burnt leaves are used as a salt substitute.
- The
slender rootstock is candied in sugar syrup.
Other Uses:
Compost; Oil; Soil stabilization; Stuffing; Tinder.
- The
soft down on the underside of the leaves is used as a stuffing material.
- When wrapped
in a rag, dipped in saltpetre and dried in the sun the stuffing makes an
excellent tinder.
- Plants
have an extensive root system and are used to stabilize banks.
- The
leaves are a valuable addition to the compost heap.
Farm Notes: The
rhizomes can lay dormant in the soil for many years, emerging when the soil is
disturbed
Verbena (DLG)
Habitat: Benden
Weyr Bowl; It cannot grow in the shade; The plant can tolerates strong winds
but not maritime exposure.
Medicinal Uses: Analgesic;
Antibacterial; Anticoagulant; Antispasmodic; Antitumor; Astringent; Bach;
Birthing aid; Depurative; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Emmenagogue; Galactogogue;
Stimulant; Tonic; Vulnerary.
- It is
useful when taken internally in the treatment of headaches, fevers,
nervous exhaustion, depression, gall bladder problems, insufficient
lactation etc
- It
should not be given to pregnant women, though it can be used to assist
contractions during labour.
- Externally,
it is used to treat minor injuries, eczema, sores, neuralgia and gum
disease.
- The
leaves and flowering stems are analgesic, antibacterial, anticoagulant,
antispasmodic, astringent, depurative, diaphoretic, mildly diuretic,
emmenagogue, galactogogue, stimulant, tonic and vulnerary.
- Some
remarkable results have been obtained when using this plant in the
treatment of certain tumours.
- The
root is astringent, it is used in the treatment of dysentery.
- This
species was ranked as a potential antifertility plants.
Outside Info:
Perennial growing to 0.6m by 0.5m Lemon. Tiny, pale summer flowers.
Edible Uses:
Flowers; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- parboiled, seasoned and then eaten.
- The
leaves are used as a tea substitute.
- The
flowers are used as a garnish.
Other Uses: None
known
Farm Notes: The
plant is harvested as flowering begins in the summer and dried for later use.
Vines,
@Ista (Moreta)
Growth form:
broad-leaf, climbing
Known locations: Ista
Medicinal Uses: When its
leaves are bruised, it releases a sap that will neutralize insect stings. Although
this cannot be confirmed, this indicates similar characteristics of Grape
vines, and this may then be a naturalised variety.
Notes: There is nothing to indicate whether
these vines are native or imported and, if the latter, what they might be.
Growth form: Vine
Flowers:
many-petaled ivory flowers that bloom late winter/early spring.
Location: Nerat
Notes: There is nothing to indicate whether
these vines are native or imported and, if the latter, what they might be.
Walnut
Growth form: tree
Habitat: Benden
Hold
Medicinal Uses: Alterative;
Anodyne; Antiinflammatory; Astringent; Blood purifier; Detergent; Laxative;
Pectoral; Vermifuge.
- The
bark and leaves are alterative, anodyne, astringent, blood tonic,
detergent, emetic, laxative, pectoral and vermifuge. Especially useful in
the treatment of skin diseases, black walnut is of the highest value in
curing scrofulous diseases, herpes, eczema etc.
- An
infusion of the bark is used to treat diarrhoea and also to stop the
production of milk, though a strong infusion can be emetic.
- The
bark is chewed to allay the pain of toothache and it is also used as a
poultice to reduce the pain of headaches.
- The
husk is chewed in the treatment of colic and applied as a poultice to inflammations.
- The
burnt kernels, taken in red wine, are said to prevent falling hair, making
it fair.
- Green
husks are supposed to ease the pain of toothache.
- A tea
made from the leaves is astringent. An infusion is used to lower high
blood pressure. It can be used as a cleansing wash.
- The
juice from the fruit husk is applied externally as a treatment for
ringworm. The pulverized leaves have been rubbed on the affected parts of
the body to destroy ringworm.
- The
oil from the ripe seeds is used externally in the treatment of gangrene,
leprosy, and wounds.
- The
sap is used to treat inflammations.
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 30m by 20m at a fast rate. It cannot grow in the
shade The seed is borne in solitary fruits or in pairs and is 3 - 4cm in
diameter. The bruised leaves have a pleasant sweet though resinous smell.
Edible Use: Oil;
Sap; Seed; Sweetener.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. A sweet, rich distinctive delicious flavour it makes an
excellent dessert nut and is also widely used in confections, cakes etc.
- The
unripe fruits can be pickled. The
nuts can leave a permanent stain on clothing.
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed. A sweet taste but it tends to go
rancid quickly. Used as a seasoning in bread, squash and other foods.
- The tree
yields a sweet sap that can be drunk or concentrated into syrup or sugar.
It is tapped in spring.
Other Use:
Beads; Compost; Dye; Filter; Poison; Herbicide; Insecticide; Repellent; Tannin;
Wood.
- A
brown dye is obtained from the nuts, husks and bark. It does not require a
mordant. The husks can be dried for later use.
- A
brown dye is obtained from the leaves and stems. It does not require a
mordant. The dye turns black if it is prepared in an iron pot. The leaves
can be dried for later use.
- The outside shell gives off a black dye when beaten, and this is
used to paint house doors
- The bark of the tree trunk as well as the leaves are used as a
poison to stun fish, for which the preparation is as follows: the bark is
stripped off and leaves collected, these are then beaten and little pieces
are thrown in the water where fish are known to swim. The substance in the
bark temporarily stuns the fish after which they float to the surface and
can be collected. The poison does not affect humans and consumption is
thus safe.
- Plants
produce chemicals, which can inhibit the growth of other plants. These
chemicals are dissolved out of the leaves when it rains and are washed
down to the ground below, reducing the growth of plants under the tree.
The roots of many members of this genus produce substances that are toxic
to many plant species, especially apples and the white pines.
- Wood
- this very attractive wood rivals that of J. nigra, the black walnut, in
quality.
- The
husks are rich in tannin.
- The
green fruit husks can be boiled to provide a yellow dye.
- The
husks can be made into a high quality charcoal and is then used as a
filter. It was used in gas masks.
- The
woody shells on the fruits have been used to make jewellery.
- Insects
are said to avoid the walnut tree, hence it is often used, as a poor man's
insect repellent. When rubbed on faces, walnut leaves are said to repel
flies. The leaves repel fleas and have been used as a strewing herb. They
are also used as an insecticide against bed bugs. The ground up husks are
also insecticidal.
- Can
be used to help speed up composting with additions of some other herbs (non-specified
– obviously a farm craft secret!)
Farm Notes:
- Requires
a deep well-drained loam and a sunny position sheltered from strong winds
and will not succeed on infertile upland soil or on soils with poor
drainage. Do not disturb roots
once the tree is established.
In addition to the normal Walnut
tree, there are several different species, which, in the main, possess most of
the above qualities. The Black Walnut,
though, gives us some different uses: Dye; Herbicide; Rootstock;
Wood.
- This
species is sometimes used as a rootstock.
- A
golden brown dye can be obtained from the seed husks.
- A
light brown dye is obtained from the young twigs.
Wood of the Black Walnut is more
highly sought as it produces larger pieces than the smaller Walnut tree.
The type of greens mentioned in
Dragonsinger is a cress. However there
is also a Land cress as well as water cress so both are included.
Habitat: stream
sides. Requires wet soil and can grow in water Hardy to about -15°c
Location: general
area of Half-Circle seahold
Medicinal Use:
Antiscorbutic; Depurative; Diuretic; Expectorant; Hypoglycaemic; Odontalgic; Purgative;
Stimulant; Stomachic; TB.
- Watercress
is very rich in vitamins and minerals. Considered a cleansing herb, its
high content of vitamin C makes it a remedy that is particularly valuable
for chronic illnesses.
- The
leaves are antiscorbutic, depurative, diuretic, expectorant, purgative,
hypoglycaemic, odontalgic, stimulant and stomachic.
- The
plant is used as a specific in the treatment of TB (not that that
disease should exist on Pern anyway!).
- The
freshly pressed juice is used internally and externally in the treatment
of chest and kidney complaints, chronic irritations and inflammations of
the skin etc.
- Applied
externally, it has a long-standing reputation as an effective hair tonic,
helping to promote the growth of thick hair.
- A
poultice of the leaves is said to be an effective treatment for healing
glandular tumours or lymphatic swellings.
- Some
caution is advised; excessive use of the plant can lead to stomach upsets.
Outside Info: It has
small white flowers in spring and summer, pungent compound leaves, with large
terminal leaflet
Edible Use:
Leaves.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. Sweet with a tangy aftertaste. Water cress is mainly used as a garnish or as an addition to
salads; the flavour is strong with a characteristic hotness. It has a
reputation as a spring tonic, and this is its main season of use, though
it can be harvested for most of the year and can give 10 pickings
annually. Some caution is advised if gathering the plant from the wild,
see the notes above on toxicity. The leaves are exceptionally rich in
vitamins and minerals, especially iron.
Other Use: None
known
Farm Notes: The
leaves can be harvested almost throughout the year and are used fresh.
Water
lilies (DLG)
Habitat: Fresh
Water plant.
Location: Benden
Weyr’s bowl lake.
Medicinal Use: Unknown
Outside Info: float on
surface of water, triangular shaped leaves, the flowers have white petals
Edible Use: Roots.
The Roots are edible.
Other Use: Unknown
Farm Notes: none
Watermelon
(Dragon
Drums)
There seems to be a consensus that
Rind fruit may be a melon species.
Habitat: Southern
Hold; Annual; cannot grow in the shade, tolerates drought
Medicinal Use:
Cardiac; Demulcent; Diuretic; Enuresis; Febrifuge; Pectoral; Purgative; Tonic;
Vermifuge.
- The seed
is demulcent, diuretic, pectoral and tonic.
- It is
sometimes used in the treatment of the urinary passages and is used to
treat bed wetting.
- The
seed is also a good vermifuge and has a hypotensive action.
- A
fatty oil in the seed, as well as aqueous or alcoholic extracts, paralyse
tapeworms and roundworms.
- The
fruit, eaten when fully ripe or even when almost putrid, is used as a
febrifuge
- The
fruit is also diuretic, being effective in the treatment of dropsy and
renal stones.
- The
fruit contains lycopine is shown to protect the body from heart attacks
- The
rind of the fruit is prescribed in cases of alcoholic poisoning and
diabetes.
- The
root is purgative and in large dose is said to be a certain emetic.
Outside Info: The fruit has a pink-fleshed interior, with
a green rind.
Edible Use:
Fruit; Leaves; Oil; Pectin; Seed.
- Fruit
- raw. A very refreshing fruit, it has a delicate sweetness with an
extremely high water content, the fruit is often used as a refreshing
drink
- The unripe
fruits are added to soups. A syrup can also be made from the juice.
- The
fruit is a rich source of pectin, and can be added to pectin-low fruits
when making jam
- Leaves
- cooked.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. They can be roasted or ground into a powder and used with
cereal flours when making bread, cakes etc, or added to soups and stews.
- An
edible oil is obtained from the seed.
Other Use: Oil;
Cosmetic.
- The
seed oil is used for making soap and for lighting.
- Face
masks made from the fruit are used as a cosmetic on delicate skins.
Farm Notes:
Wedgenut's (Brazil
nuts) (DLG)
Habitat: Nerat,
Boll(Tropical hard woods) Reaches
its best development on well-drained clay or sandy clay soils.
Medicinal Uses: Tea;
antioxidant, emollient, nutritive
- Tea prepared from the bark is a
remedy for liver ailments
- In folk medicine, the husks of
the seedpods used as a tea to treat stomach-aches
- Brazil nuts are rich in protein
and vitamin E, an important antioxidant, and in monounsaturated fats,
which can counteract some forms of heart disease.
- Additionally the nuts are an
extraordinary source of selenium, another antioxidant; one Brazil nut
contains approximately 2,500 times as much selenium as other nuts. This
non-metallic element is shown to improve mood as well as mental
functioning and to increase blood flow to the brain.
Outside Info: enormous evergreen tree often grows
to heights of 150 feet or above, with branches emerging only from its top. Its
fruit, a large woody seedpod containing from 15 to 25 nuts, usually grows to
the size of a large grapefruit or melon.
Edible Uses: Oil; Nut.
- Oil extracted from the nuts is
employed as cooking oil,
- They are mainly eaten raw and
used as an ingredient in nut and snack mixes Because of their flavour,
they are also known as the butternut or cream nut.
Other Uses: Weed
killer; Oil; Wood
- The
acid from the nut kills other undergrowth.
- Oil is used to make
hair-conditioning products, soaps, and skin creams; it has both detergent
and moisturizing properties enhancing shine, silkiness,
malleability and softness to hair dry, renewing lifeless hair and split
ends.
- Wood is used in: Boat and ship
decking, flooring, furniture, and cabinet stock.
Farm Notes: Not
usually cultivated due to length of time to grow.
Wheat (White Dragon,
DLG, Dragons Dawn, Renegades)
Habitat: Ruatha,
prefers a sunny position in a rich well-drained soil
Medicinal Use:
Antibilious; Antihydrotic; Antipyretic; Antivinous; Sedative; Skin; Stomachic.
- The
young stems are used in the treatment of biliousness and intoxication.
- The
ash is used to remove skin blemishes.
- The
fruit is antipyretic and sedative.
- The
light grain is antihydrotic. It is used in the treatment of night sweats
and spontaneous sweating.
- The seed
sprouts are antibilious, antivinous and constructive. They are used in the
treatment of malaise, sore throat, thirst, abdominal coldness and spasmic
pain, constipation and cough.
- The
plant has anticancer properties.
Outside Info: Annual
growing to 1.5m cannot grow in the shade and cannot tolerate Maritime exposure.
Edible Use: Seed.
- Seed
- cooked. The seed can be cooked as a whole grain but it is more usually
ground into a powder and used as a flour for making bread, fermented
foods, pasta, cakes, biscuits etc. High in gluten, it is the most common
flour used for making bread.
- The
seed can also be sprouted and then added to salads or juiced to make a
healthy drink.
Other Use: Beer;
Biomass; Mulch; Paper; Size; Starch; Thatching.
- Wheat
is used instead of barley in some beers. These tend to be heavier in
alcohol content than your average ale. Wheat brews are considered summer
brews, and is drunk mainly in the warmer weather. In the warmer parts of
Pern, this might be made nearly year-round.
- The
straw has many uses, as a biomass for fuel, bedding and as a mulch in the
garden etc. It can be used for
thatching but due to thread this is only usually done inside caves etc.
- A
fibre obtained from the stems is used for making paper. The stems are
harvested in late summer after the seed is harvested, they are cut into
usable pieces and soaked in clear water for 24 hours. They are then cooked
for 2 hours in lye or soda ash and then beaten in a ball mill for 1½ hours
in a ball mill. The fibres make a green-tan paper.
- The
starch from the seed is used for laundering, sizing textiles etc.
Farm Notes:
- Grows
well with maize
- Dislikes
cherry, & pine
- Some
varieties can be sown in autumn for an early summer crop
White bulb (reputed to be Garlic)
From other sources, most people
think this to be Garlic.
White
roots (Yam or Potato?) (Dragonsong)
There is no clear idea as to what
White Root is. Personally I prefer the
idea that they are either Yams or Cassavas.
Whereas I believe that ’Tubers’ are potatoes – simply because any new
colony that didn’t include such a species wouldn’t deserve to survive and also
that they will do better than Yams in the North.
Habitat: Landing.
Easily grown in a fertile well-drained soil in a sunny position or light shade.
Medicinal Uses:
Miscellany; Tonic.
- The
tubers are prescribed in the treatment of diarrhoea, enteritis, enuresis
and spermatorrhoea.
- They
are also dried and cut into shavings then used as a tonic.
Outside Info: Perennial
Climber that supports itself by twining around the branches of other plants
Edible Uses:
Leaves; Root.
- Tuber
- cooked. A very pleasant mild flavour with a floury texture, the roots
can be eaten as a potato substitute. The starch can be used as a binding
agent for other foods.
- Leaf
tips - cooked.
- Tubercles
- cooked.
Other Uses: None
known
Farm Notes: None
White
thorn (Hawthorn?) (Moreta)
Habitat: A very
hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -18°c
Medicinal Use:
(Anodyne – pern);Antispasmodic; Astringent; Cardiotonic; Diuretic; Hypotensive;
Sedative; Tonic; Vasodilator.
- Hawthorn
is an extremely valuable medicinal herb. It is used mainly for treating
disorders of the heart and circulation system, especially angina. Helps
restores normal heart beat.
- The
fruit is antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, sedative, tonic and
vasodilator. Both the fruits and flowers of hawthorns are used as a heart
tonic.
- The
fruits and flowers have a hypotensive effect as well as acting as a direct
and mild heart tonic. They are especially indicated in the treatment of
weak heart combined with high blood pressure, and used to treat a heart
muscle weakened by age, for inflammation of the heart muscle,
arteriosclerosis and for nervous heart problems. Prolonged use is
necessary for the treatment to be efficacious. It is normally used either
as a tea or a tincture. Hawthorn is combined with ginkgo to enhance poor
memory, working by improving the blood supply to the brain.
- The
bark is astringent and is used in the treatment of malarial fevers.
- The
roots are said to stimulate the arteries of the heart.
- On
Pern it is also an Anodyne
Outside Info: A
deciduous shrub growing to 6m by 6m at a medium rate. Not maritime tolerant. The fruit is about 1cm in diameter. There
are up to five fairly large seeds in the centre of the fruit, these often stick
together and so the effect is of eating a cherry-like fruit with a single seed
Edible Use: Klah;
Fruit; Leaves; Tea.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. A dry and mealy texture, not very appetizing.
- The
fruit can be used for jams and preserves.
- The
fruit pulp can be dried, ground into a meal and mixed with flour in making
bread etc.
- Young
leaves and young shoots - raw. A tasty nibble, they are nice in a salad.
- Young
leaves are a tea substitute.
- The
roasted seed is a Klah substitute
Other Use: Charcoal;
Fuel; Hedge; Rootstock; Wood.
- A
good hedge plant, it is very tolerant of neglect and is able to regenerate
if cut back severely, it makes a good thorny stock-proof barrier and
resists very strong winds. It can be used in layered hedges.
- The
plant is often used as a rootstock for several species of garden fruit
such as pear.
- Wood
- very hard and tough but difficult to work with a fine grain. It is used
for tool handles and making small wooden articles etc.
- Charcoal
made from the wood is said to be able to melt pig iron without the aid of
a blast.
Farm Notes:
Willow – see red
willow salic (DLG, Moreta)
Habitat: requires
moist or wet soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Medicinal Use:
Anodyne; Antiinflammatory; Antiperiodic; Antiseptic; Astringent; Diaphoretic;
Diuretic; Febrifuge; Hypnotic; Sedative; Tonic.
- Justly
famous as the source of salicylic acid (Red Willow Salic).
- The
bark is anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiperiodic, antiseptic, astringent,
diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, hypnotic, sedative and tonic.
- Used
internally in the treatment of dyspepsia connected with debility of the
digestive organs, rheumatism, arthritis, gout, inflammatory stages of
auto-immune diseases, feverish illnesses, neuralgia and headache.
- Its
tonic and astringent properties render it useful in convalescence from
acute diseases, in treating worms, chronic dysentery and diarrhoea.
- The
fresh bark is very bitter and astringent and contains salicin, which
decomposes into salicylic acid in the human body. This is used as an
anodyne and febrifuge (healers distil it into crystals for storage).
- The
bark is harvested in the spring or early autumn from 3 - 6 year old
branches and is dried for later use.
Leaves are used internally in the treatment of minor feverish illnesses
and colic.
- An
infusion of the leaves has a calming effect and is helpful in the
treatment of nervous insomnia. Added to bath water, the infusion is of
real benefit in relieving widespread rheumatism. The leaves can be
harvested throughout the growing season and are used fresh or dried.
Outside Info: A
deciduous tree growing to 25m by 10m at a fast rate
Edible Use: Inner
bark; Leaves; Tea.
- Inner
bark - raw or cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and added to
cereal flour then used in making bread etc. A very bitter flavour,
especially when fresh, it is used as a famine food when all else fails.
- Leaves
and young shoots - raw or cooked. Not very palatable used only in times of
scarcity.
- The
leaves can be used as a tea substitute.
Other Use:
Basketry; Charcoal; Paper; Pioneer; Shelterbelt; String; Wood; charcoal.
- The
young stems are very flexible and are used in basket making. The plant is
usually coppiced annually when grown for basket making, though it is
possible to coppice it every two years if thick poles are required as
uprights.
- The
bark can be used for tying plants.
- A
fibre obtained from the stems is used in making paper. The stems are
harvested in spring or summer, the leaves are removed and the stems
steamed until the fibres can be stripped. The fibres are cooked for 2
hours with lye and then beaten with mallets or put through a blender. The
paper is red/brown in colour.
- A
fast growing tree and tolerant of maritime exposure, it can be grown as a
shelterbelt.
- Wood
- elastic, soft, easy to split, does not splinter. Used for construction,
turnery, poles, tool handles etc.
- The
wood is also used to make charcoal, which has medicinal uses, and is also
the best quality artist's charcoal.
Farm Notes: Grown on a regular basis, especially as
coppicing.
Habitat:
Medicinal Use:
Antispasmodic; Astringent; Diuretic; Tonic.
- The
plant is antispasmodic, astringent, diuretic and tonic.
- Used
in combination with sage and willow as a headache tea
- Used
to treat chronic bladder problems.
- Avoid
if pregnant.
- Do
not take internally except by direction of a Healer.
Other Uses: The
flowers have a soft almond scent
Outside Info:
evergreen perennial growing to 0.08m by 0.3m
Edible Use:
Fruit; Leaves.
- Fruit.
No more details are given.
- Leaves
- raw.
Other Use: None Known
Farm Notes: Wintergreen is
not the source of wintergreen oil.
Witch
hazel (DLG)
Habitat:
Medicinal Use:
Astringent; Haemostatic; Homeopathy; Sedative; Tonic.
- Witch
hazel bark is used to heal wounds, treat tumours, eye problems etc.
- Widely
used as an external application to bruises, sore muscles, varicose veins,
haemorrhoids, sore nipples, inflammations etc.
- The
bark is astringent, haemostatic, sedative and tonic
- The
bark is used internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, colitis, dysentery,
haemorrhoids, vaginal discharge, excessive menstruation, internal bleeding
and prolapsed organs.
- Branches
and twigs are harvested for the bark in the spring.
- An
infusion of the leaves is used to reduce inflammations, treat piles,
internal haemorrhages and eye inflammations. The leaves are harvested in
the summer and can be dried for later use.
- A
homeopathic remedy is made from fresh bark. It is used in the treatment of
nosebleeds, piles and varicose veins.
Outside Info: A shrub
with fragrant winter flowers that grows to 5m.
It is a large shrub with smooth brown bark, fragrant winter flowers, and
woodsy fruit capsules
Edible Use:
Seed; Tea.
- Seed
- raw or cooked. An oily texture. The seeds are about the size of a barley
grain and have a thick bony coat. (unconfirmed)
- A
refreshing tea is made from the leaves and twigs
Other Use:
Cosmetic; Miscellany; Tannin; Wood.
- The
plant is very rich in tannin and used cosmetically as an ingredient in
almost any preparation made to relieve capillary weaknesses.
- The
stems have been used for water divining
- Wood
- heavy, hard, very close grained
- The
flowers have a soft sweet perfume.
Farm Notes: None
Withies (Dragonsong, White Dragon)
Habitat: Marsh
land, river banks. Plateau Hold nr
Ruatha
Medicinal Use: Unknown
Outside Info: water
plant resembling Earth like reeds
Edible Use: Unknown
Other Use: made
into baskets
Farm Notes: None.
Habitat: does not
thrive in a hot climate, very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to
about -25°c
Medicinal Use:
Antispasmodic; Cardiac; Diaphoretic; Diuretic; Homeopathy; Sedative.
- Sweet
woodruff is widely used for external application to wounds and cuts as an
anti-contestant and also taken internally in the treatment of digestive
and liver problems. It is a tonic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory.
- The
leaves are antispasmodic, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative. An
infusion is used in the treatment of insomnia and nervous tension,
varicose veins, biliary obstruction, hepatitis and jaundice.
- Excessive
doses can produce dizziness and symptoms of poisoning.
- The
dried plant contains coumarins and these act to prevent the clotting of
blood - though in excessive doses it can cause internal bleeding.
- Do
not use this remedy if you are pregnant or have circulatory problems.
- A
homeopathic remedy is used in the treatment of inflammation of the uterus.
Outside Info: Sweet
woodruff grows to 45cm. Small clusters of brilliant white flowers in late
spring
Edible Use:
Condiment; Drink; Flowers; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. The leaves are coumarin-scented (like freshly mown hay),
they are used as a flavouring in cooling drinks, fruit salads and wines.
- The
leaves are soaked in white wine to make 'Maitrank', an aromatic tonic
drink.
- A
fragrant and delicious tea is made from the green-dried leaves and
flowers. Slightly wilted leaves are used, the tea has a fresh, grassy
flavour.
- The
sweet-scented flowers are eaten or used as a garnish.
Other Use: Dye;
Ground cover; Pot-pourri; Repellent; Strewing.
- A red
dye is obtained from the root.
- Soft-tan
and grey-green dyes are obtained from the stems and leaves.
- Although
the fresh plant has very little aroma, as it dries it becomes very
aromatic with the scent of newly-mown grass and then retains this aroma
for years. It is used in the linen cupboard to protect from moths etc.
- A
strewing herb, hung up in bunches in the home in order to keep the rooms
cool and fragrant during the summertime
Farm Notes: The
plant is harvested just before or as it comes into flower and can be dried for
later use.
Habitat: Tolerates
drought and maritime exposure. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down
to about -25°c
Medicinal Uses:
Antiinflammatory; Antiseptic; Antispasmodic; Aromatic; Astringent; Carminative;
Cholagogue; Diaphoretic; Digestive; Emmenagogue; Odontalgic; Stimulant; Tonic;
Vasodilator; Vulnerary.
- Particularly
valuable for treating wounds, stopping the flow of blood, treating colds,
fevers, kidney diseases, menstrual pain etc.
- The
whole plant is used, both fresh and dried, and is best harvested when in
flower.
- Some
caution should be exercised in the use of this herb since large or
frequent doses taken over a long period may be potentially harmful,
causing allergic rashes and making the skin more sensitive to sunlight.
- The
herb combines well with Peppermint for treating colds and influenza
- The
herb is antiseptic, antispasmodic, mildly aromatic, astringent,
carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, odontalgic,
stimulant, bitter tonic, vasodilator and vulnerary.
- The
fresh leaf can be applied direct to an aching tooth in order to relieve
the pain
- Flowers
allegedly treat eczema.
- Outside
Info: Grows to 0.6m by 0.6m, dense flat white or pink flower heads from
summer to fall. The leaves have a pungent aroma, especially when grown in
a hot sunny position
- Edible
Uses: Condiment; Leaves; Tea.
- Leaves
- raw or cooked. A peppery leaf, best finely chopped into salads
- The
leaves are also used as a hop-substitute for flavouring and as a preservative
for beer etc.
- Exercise
caution as the plant can be toxic to some.
- An
aromatic tea is made from the flowers and leaves
- An
essential oil from the flowering heads is used as a flavouring for soft
drinks.
Other Uses:
Compost; Cosmetic; Dye; Essential; Ground cover; Hair; Liquid feed; Repellent.
- The
growing plant repels insects.
- A
liquid plant feed can be made from the leaves - fill a container with the leaves and then add some water.
Let it soak for two sevendays and then dilute the dark liquid, perhaps 10
- 1 with water.
- Add 1
finely chopped fresh leaf to each wheelbarrow full to speed composting.
- The
fragrant seeds have been used to impart a pleasant smell indoors.
- The
leaves have been used as a cosmetic cleanser for greasy skin.
- Yellow
and green dyes are obtained from the flowers.
Farm Notes:
- A
good ground cover plant, spreading quickly by its roots.
- It
works to improve the soil fertility
- Improves
the health of plants growing nearby and enhances their essential oil
content thus making them more resistant to insect predation.
Yellow fruit (Lemon)
One 'yellow fruit' is mentioned as
citrus, in Dragonlovers, so I have gone with the description of Lemon. However, thon only other Yellow Fruit I came
across, in white dragon, would seem to be the Banana.
Habitat/Known locations: Southern,
Ista(citrus fruit)
Medicinal Uses:
Antibacterial; Antiperiodic; Antiscorbutic; Aromatherapy; Astringent;
Carminative; Miscellany; Refrigerant; Rubefacient; Stimulant; Stomachic.
- Lemons
are an excellent preventative medicine and have a wide range of uses in
the domestic medicine chest.
- The
fruit is rich in vitamin C, which helps the body to fight off infections
and also to prevent or treat scurvy.
- Applied
locally, the juice is a good astringent and is used as a gargle for sore
throats etc.
- Lemon
juice is also a very effective bactericide.
- It is
also a good antiperiodic and is used as a substitute for quinine in
treating malarial type fevers.
- Although
the fruit is very acid, once eaten it has an alkalising effect upon the
body which is good for treating rheumatic conditions
- The
skin of the ripe fruit is carminative and stomachic.
- The
essential oil from the skin of the fruit is strongly rubefacient and when taken
internally in small doses has stimulating and carminative properties.
- The
stem bark is bitter, stomachic and tonic.
Outside Info:
evergreen shrub growing to 3m by 1m at a medium rate, cannot grow in shade.
Edible Uses:
Condiment; Fruit.
- Fruit
- raw or cooked. A very acid taste. Mainly used as a drink and as a
flavouring. It is also used in salad dressings etc where it acts as an
antioxidant. The juice is used to help set jam. The fruit can be up to
15cm long and 7cm wide.
- The
dried rind of the fruit is often used as a flavouring in cakes etc.
- An
essential oil from the rind is used as a food flavouring.
- The
flowers are eaten in fritters, jams etc
Other Uses: Cleanser; Essential; Oil; Polish; Pot-pourri;
Repellent.
- A
semi-drying oil obtained from the seed is used in soap making.
- An
essential oil from the peel is used as a food flavouring and also in
perfumery and medicines.
- A
higher quality essential oil is obtained from the flowers. The peel
contains 0.4% essential oil.
- An
essential oil obtained from the leaves and young twigs is called
'petitgrain oil'. Yields are around 0.4%.
- The
dried fruit rind is used as an insect repellent in the clothes cupboard.
- The
juice of the fruit is used for polishing bronze and other metals that have
been neglected. It can also be used for removing ink stains.
- Wood
- nicely veined, it takes a beautiful polish.
Farm Notes:
- Do
not use manure
- Able
to tolerate low temperatures.
- The
flowers are sweetly scented
Yellow-veined
grass (Dragonsong)
Habitat/Location: near
Half-Circle seahold
Growth form: grassoid
Medicinal Uses: Unknown
Outside Info: Grass
form with yellow veins.
Edible Uses: 'salad'
greens
Other Uses: Unknown
Farm Notes:
available in early spring