Local Herb Walk
Last summer I had the good fortune of joining local natropath, Dr. Dorothy on an herb walk through Concho. On our hike we identified more than a dozen edible and medicinal plants growing right in our area. Dr. Dorothy has had extensive training in herbs and wild plants and she shared a wealth of information. She emphasized the importance of understanding the specific properties of each medicinal plant, as many are toxic when misused. In addition to identifying useful plants, Dorothy pointed out poisonous plants, stressing the need for absolute correct identification.
Because Concho is located in a "transitional zone" Dr. Dorothy recommends two books written by Michael Moore for identifying local medicinal plants: Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West and Medicinal Plants of the Mountain West. The books Flowers of the Southwest Mesas by Patraw and Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands by Elmore were also useful in identifying desert plants on our herb walk. In addition to books, we carried clippers, leather gloves, and paper bags for collecting. For a natural insect repellent Dorothy shared a solution of apple cider vinegar, rosemary and thyme, which was effective when applied every half hour. She also recommends Tea Tree or Lemon Weed as alternative insect repellents.
Working from a list of medicinal herbs we identified the following medicinal and edible desert plants on our June 2006 herb walk:
Grindelia Identified by shiny sticky buds. Also known as Gum Weed. |
White Sweet Clover Smells like "green vanilla". |
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Bayonet Yucca The roots can be used for soap. |
Barberry Leaves are pointed. Wood is yellow inside. |
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Willow Desert willow can eventually grow into a tree. |
Yellow Sweet Clover Has yellow flowers when in bloom. |
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Cockle Bur It is named for its distinctive pods which grow on top. |
Plantain Identified by its parallel veined leaves. |
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Juniper Berries can be harvested. |
Escoba de la Vibora Known also as Snake Broom. |
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Red Dock Has curly leaves that are red and green. |
Mullein Has fuzzy leaves. |
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Yarrow Characterized by delicate fern-like leaves. |
Red Clover Has reddish purple flowers when in bloom. |
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Mormon Tea Has twig-like leaves. Also known as "Squaw Bush". |
Threadleaf Groundsel Produces a yellow flower when mature. |
The following medicinal and edible plants are also known to grow in the Concho area, though we did not find them on our walk:
Alflafa, Wild Rose, Anil del Muerto, Camphor Weed, Prickly Poppy, Pinon Pine, Prickly Pear,Puncture Vine, Vervain, Wild Lettuce, Mallow, Mesquite, Pineapple Weed
I am looking forward to this coming spring when the native plants begin to grow again. We've had a wet winter and the coming seasons are sure to be green and excellent for desert plant identification.
Medicinal Plant Guides