Every time I venture into the woods, I am treated to something new.

Herb Robert

I’ve seen this little pink beauty, Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum); every year but always have a hard time recalling its name. I’ve never researched much about it. When I started to explore this plant, I came across many different names for it – bloodwort, Robert Geranium, cuckoo’s eye, death-come-quickly, stinking Robert, stinky Bob, which it gets from an unpleasant odor that the bruised leaves give off. This little plant is known to effectively treat tumor diseases, as well as manage to halt or even cure some cancers such as ovarian cancer, intestinal cancer and stomach, breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cysts, ovarian, polycystic, leukemia along with successfully treating tuberculosis, radiation poisoning, ulcers, hematuria, impotence, and sterility. Wow, I won’t ever forget this little beauty’s name again.

Forget-Me-Not

No matter how often I see Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis scorpiodes), it thrills me. When you look close at the delicate periwinkle flowers, there is a little yellow center. There are many stories written about its name but my favorite one is a German legend about when God was naming all the plants, a tiny unnamed one cried out, “Forget-me-not, O Lord!” God replied, “That shall be your name.”

Foamflower

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), whose Latin name is rather interesting. Tiarella, the plant’s genus name, comes from the Greek word tiara.  Originally, this meant “turban” a reference to the shape of the plant’s fruit or referring to the shape of the flower’s pistil that resembled a turban.  The species name cordifolia means “heart-leaved” and is a reference to the shape of its leaves.  However, when I look at the leaves, they resemble rounded maple leaves rather than a heart to me.

Who doesn’t love to come upon Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)? Like Skunk Cabbage, its flower (Jack) is protected by a spathe (pulpit). The plant emits a fungal smell that attracts insects to the flower. The design of the plant is very useful for pollination. The shape of the “pulpit” or spathe keeps insects confined and ensures pollination occurs. I can’t wait to come across it again when the berries are ripe and bright scarlet red.

All information is shared for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.