Identification
This page will only inform on identification of an edible/medicinal plant alone. It will not inform about what the plant does. Identification can be tricky sometimes, especially when common indicators are not available, such as a certain fruit or shape. Learning how to identify medicinal herbs in their young stages of growth as well as mature can be really helpful when hiking in different times of the year.
Intestinal Distress medicinal plants
Blackberry
Blackberry flowers: Photo credit partially to University of Florida
Blackberry leaves are oval shaped with toothed edges and a pointed tip.
Leaves usually grow in bunches of 3-5.
Berries are black when mature or red/green when younger and grow in clusters of several
berries that are 1/2-1 inch in length
Berries are not ripe until mid-late summer.
Flowers of the berries begin as white and turn pink as a berry begins to form.
Leaves usually grow in bunches of 3-5.
Berries are black when mature or red/green when younger and grow in clusters of several
berries that are 1/2-1 inch in length
Berries are not ripe until mid-late summer.
Flowers of the berries begin as white and turn pink as a berry begins to form.
Mentha spicata (Mint family of Spearmint and Peppermint)
Photo of my peppermint
Identifying any kind of mint is pretty easy because of it's strong, minty scent. So usually one could crush a leaf and smell to ID.
Leaves will grow in tight clusters and are alternately arranged.
In late summer, mint will bloom pink/purple flowers that shoot from the apical meristem.
Mint grows rapidly and grows in full sun with moist, fertile soil.
Leaves will grow in tight clusters and are alternately arranged.
In late summer, mint will bloom pink/purple flowers that shoot from the apical meristem.
Mint grows rapidly and grows in full sun with moist, fertile soil.
Sassafras
Sassafras
Sassafras can have leaves in three different kinds of arrangements: oval, three-lobed, or mitten like.
Can grow into a tree of about 40 feet tall.
Leaves are more narrow at the bottom.
Prefers full sun to partial shade, usually grows in meadows.
Can grow into a tree of about 40 feet tall.
Leaves are more narrow at the bottom.
Prefers full sun to partial shade, usually grows in meadows.
Yarrow
Golden Yarrow and young leaves
Yarrow is a type of fern so it will have leaves like a fern (shown at the bottom of the picture).
Yarrow flowers can bloom in either white or yellow tight clusters at the apical meristem.
Grows in places of full sun like meadows or lots.
Has one single, tall stem that rises to about three feet in height.
Very hardy plant and can withstand a lot.
Yarrow flowers can bloom in either white or yellow tight clusters at the apical meristem.
Grows in places of full sun like meadows or lots.
Has one single, tall stem that rises to about three feet in height.
Very hardy plant and can withstand a lot.
Yellow root
Yellow root flower and root
Yellow root grows next to rivers or any place with water (as seen in the picture) and has a little bit of a woody stem
The flowers bloom in the spring and are really small purple/brown flowers along a stem 2-4 inches long
Root is one continuous yellow root (not netted)
Leaves are similar to celery leaves in three-five leaf clusters.
Leaves are serrated and pointed
The flowers bloom in the spring and are really small purple/brown flowers along a stem 2-4 inches long
Root is one continuous yellow root (not netted)
Leaves are similar to celery leaves in three-five leaf clusters.
Leaves are serrated and pointed
Common Cold Aid medicinal plants
Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh blooms and leaves
Starts growing in the spring and does not bloom until mid-late summer
Easiest way to identify: rub the stalk of the plant and if it smells like pepper, it is Black Cohosh
Careful not to mistake this plant for False Goat's Beard because they look very similar; false Goat's Beard does not smell like black cohosh though.
Black Cohosh can get really tall (3-4 feet). The stalk of the berries will be what grows tall.
Found in shaded or partially shaded areas.
Easiest way to identify: rub the stalk of the plant and if it smells like pepper, it is Black Cohosh
Careful not to mistake this plant for False Goat's Beard because they look very similar; false Goat's Beard does not smell like black cohosh though.
Black Cohosh can get really tall (3-4 feet). The stalk of the berries will be what grows tall.
Found in shaded or partially shaded areas.
Ginseng
Ginseng plant and ginseng root
The root shown here is from a ginseng plant that is about seven years old
Ginseng takes a long time to mature and has many clusters of leaves when it does.
Leaves grow in groups of five
Mature Ginseng will produce red berries in one single cluster at the very top of the plant.
The rings in the root tell how old the plant is. Every nook in the root is a year old, the root in the picture has about seven nooks in the bulk of it.
Ginseng is endangered because of it's long growth period and because of it's popularity so it is illegal to harvest in the wild.
Ginseng takes a long time to mature and has many clusters of leaves when it does.
Leaves grow in groups of five
Mature Ginseng will produce red berries in one single cluster at the very top of the plant.
The rings in the root tell how old the plant is. Every nook in the root is a year old, the root in the picture has about seven nooks in the bulk of it.
Ginseng is endangered because of it's long growth period and because of it's popularity so it is illegal to harvest in the wild.
Golden seal
Goldenseal plant, flower and leaf comparison
The roots of this plant are the same color as yellow root but the roots of golden seal are netted.
Golden seal has the same leaf shape and arrangement as may apples except golden seal will not have a small apple under the leaves.
The flower of golden seal is white and circular with a yellow center and fingered petals (shown to the left)
To the left a may apple leaf and a golden seal leaf are compared. They are very similar but golden seal has more lobed edges then may apple. The Golden seal is the bottom left and the may apple is the bottom right.
Photo credit: Flower: http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/h/hyca--flfront51072.htm
Plant: http://www.tanastable.com/?p=965
Golden seal Leaf: http://www.caes.uga.edu/Publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_id=8052
May apple Leaf: http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/p/pope--lf26851.htm
Golden seal has the same leaf shape and arrangement as may apples except golden seal will not have a small apple under the leaves.
The flower of golden seal is white and circular with a yellow center and fingered petals (shown to the left)
To the left a may apple leaf and a golden seal leaf are compared. They are very similar but golden seal has more lobed edges then may apple. The Golden seal is the bottom left and the may apple is the bottom right.
Photo credit: Flower: http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/h/hyca--flfront51072.htm
Plant: http://www.tanastable.com/?p=965
Golden seal Leaf: http://www.caes.uga.edu/Publications/pubDetail.cfm?pk_id=8052
May apple Leaf: http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/image/p/pope--lf26851.htm
Lobelia
Lobelia flowers and leaves
Lobelia can grow to be about three feet.
Has a tall hairy stem that branches at the top.
Flowers can be pale violet, pale yellow, or white. They usually turn darker as they mature.
Leaves usually extend downward along the stem and have an obovate form.
Has a tall hairy stem that branches at the top.
Flowers can be pale violet, pale yellow, or white. They usually turn darker as they mature.
Leaves usually extend downward along the stem and have an obovate form.
Red Clover
Red Clover Flower
Leaves are trifoliate, meaning that they have three leaves (as in regular clovers).
Leaves are elliptic in shape and should have a "v" shape marking.
Flowers can be either pink or red.
This plant is a common meadow plant and it grows everywhere in full to partial sun.
Leaves are elliptic in shape and should have a "v" shape marking.
Flowers can be either pink or red.
This plant is a common meadow plant and it grows everywhere in full to partial sun.
Senna
Wild Senna pods and leaves
Flowers are yellow with five petals and brown/beige center.
Seeds are pod/beans that grow in clusters along the stem.
Has thick, hairy stems that stand erect.
Senna blooms in the summer and prefers full sun.
Not very common in Appalachia, but it does still grow around there.
Seeds are pod/beans that grow in clusters along the stem.
Has thick, hairy stems that stand erect.
Senna blooms in the summer and prefers full sun.
Not very common in Appalachia, but it does still grow around there.
Spice bush
Spicebush pods and leaves
Spice bush flowers are small and pale yellow; they bloom very early in the spring during March and April. I missed its blooming when I went to the Botanical gardens in mid-April to take pictures.
Leaves are oval shaped and smooth.
Berries are red, very fragrant and strong. Usually wildlife will consume them before humans do.
Spice bush can get pretty tall at about 4-5 feet. In the wild, it is usually found growing with or under another taller tree, like Yellow Poplar.
Grows in partial sun or light shade.
Leaves are oval shaped and smooth.
Berries are red, very fragrant and strong. Usually wildlife will consume them before humans do.
Spice bush can get pretty tall at about 4-5 feet. In the wild, it is usually found growing with or under another taller tree, like Yellow Poplar.
Grows in partial sun or light shade.
Wintergreen Tea berry
Wintergreen Tea berry berries and leaves
Wintergreen Tea berry is simple to identify because of its strong minty smell. Luckily it does not look anything like any members of the Mentha spicata species.
Leaves are alternate, simple, oval-shaped and are 1-3 inches long. This plant is actually very small.
Flowers are small, white and vase-shaped that hang down from the center of the plant. Flowers appear mid-late summer.
Berries are round, red and form from the flowers so they would still be hanging under the plant. The berries do not form until late summer and can last through most/all of the winter.
The leaves will smell like toothpaste when crushed.
Leaves are alternate, simple, oval-shaped and are 1-3 inches long. This plant is actually very small.
Flowers are small, white and vase-shaped that hang down from the center of the plant. Flowers appear mid-late summer.
Berries are round, red and form from the flowers so they would still be hanging under the plant. The berries do not form until late summer and can last through most/all of the winter.
The leaves will smell like toothpaste when crushed.
Medicinal herbs for skin irritations
Comfrey
Comfrey flowers and leaves
Comfrey looks terrifyingly similar to foxglove, so be careful with identifying this plant!
Although Foxglove and comfrey have the same flower appearance, Foxglove has much larger flowers than comfrey does and are a lot brighter in color. Comfrey flowers are much more fragile and are lighter colored.
Comfrey can grow to be about three feet tall.
Leaves are long, pointed and grow alternately. Their color is a deep green or emerald. Leaves may also resemble the smell of cucumber.
Although Foxglove and comfrey have the same flower appearance, Foxglove has much larger flowers than comfrey does and are a lot brighter in color. Comfrey flowers are much more fragile and are lighter colored.
Comfrey can grow to be about three feet tall.
Leaves are long, pointed and grow alternately. Their color is a deep green or emerald. Leaves may also resemble the smell of cucumber.
Jewel weed
Jewel weed Flower and leaves
Jewel weed is very easy to identify, especially when their striking flowers bloom.
Jewel weed blooms a small orange and red flower that kind of resembles the shape of an orchid.
Leaves grow alternately, are serrated and are oval. The leaves are pretty big in comparison to the tiny flower.
For more information on identifying jewel weed visit the learning resources page on this website!
Jewel weed blooms a small orange and red flower that kind of resembles the shape of an orchid.
Leaves grow alternately, are serrated and are oval. The leaves are pretty big in comparison to the tiny flower.
For more information on identifying jewel weed visit the learning resources page on this website!
Plantain
Leaves of Plantain taken at the Botanical Gardens
There are many kinds of Plantain including narrow-leaf, rattlesnake and broad-leaf. Luckily, they all serve the same medicinal purpose.
Plantain probably looks very familiar because it grows everywhere. It can live in just about any environment it is placed in.
Both narrow leaf and broad leaf are very common in Appalachia but rattlesnake plantain isn't so common. Rattle snake plantain has striking white, netted veins on its leaves that is really hard to miss.
Plantain probably looks very familiar because it grows everywhere. It can live in just about any environment it is placed in.
Both narrow leaf and broad leaf are very common in Appalachia but rattlesnake plantain isn't so common. Rattle snake plantain has striking white, netted veins on its leaves that is really hard to miss.
Red Clover
(See near the top of the page)
Yarrow
(See near the top of the page)