NOW BLOOMING AT MOUNT YONAH TRAILHEAD!......ORANGE BUTTERFLY WEED ( Aesclepias tuberosa): This beautiful summer flower is also well-known by its popular medicinal name "Pleurisy Root". Clusters of tiny, bright-orange flowers sit atop hairy stems with alternate lanceolate leaves. The plant can reach a height of 2 feet at maturity. It blooms in this area prolifically from late May through July and often later. Found generally in sunny, open areas along the edges of fields and fencerows. The root of the Butterfly Weed was widely used by early practitioners as a tea or tincture to treat pleurisy, asthma and bronchitis. It also has laxative and diuretic properties. Poultices of the root are still used to treat sprains and bruises. Some nice specimens are found in season around the lower end of the wildlife-feed lot south of the Raven Cliffs parking lot; also up near the junction of Richard Russell Highway and FS-244. In Smithgall Woods, they are often found around the Wetlands Loop Trail area and along Tsalaki Trail where it crosses open areas.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:55:05 +0000
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