Echinacea was used during the 1800s similarly to today, as a treatment for colds, flu, and other common communicable diseases. For reasons that are not entirely known, it boosts the body's natural immune system. Echinacea is a common ingredient in over-the-counter remedies for shortening cold and flu.
Purple Coneflower in bloom
Very cool!
ReplyDeleteThis plant is not goldenseal. I grow goldenseal and can say conclusively that the plant shown above is not golden seal. I am not a botanist, but this plant looks like something in the mint family, perhaps motherwort. A tell-tale sign of mints is a hairy square shaped stem. here is a link for an image of motherwort http://nefaeriaofetsy.blogspot.com/2008/08/herb-profile-motherwort-leonurus.html
ReplyDeleteYes you are correct. Thank you for reminding me that this post was never ammended. After this plant was transplanted it became clear that this was not goldenseal, especially when it bloomed. It remained a mystery for a while, but earlier this spring another person here at the museum correctly identified it as Motherwort. For a bit I thought it might be mitrewort but that did not add up either. This is still a good thing though as motherwort was another popular medicinal herb, historically speaking, but to my knowledge it has not retained its popularity as goldenseal has. Regardless, thanks for bringing the lapse to my attention.
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