-plant identification-

28 Pins

·4mo

Woodland Folk

Identifying Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and use Cape Gooseberry! 🏮🧡 Cape gooseberry is a annual or perennial (depending on the region they are growing in) bush which can be found growing wild along the coastlines in primarily the North Island, though they are native to Peru and Chile. They have velvety heart shaped leaves and produce a very distinct calyx (husk) to cover the fruit which becomes brown and papery as the berry matures to a ripe orange. Physalis peruviana should only be eaten when fully ripe as they can be toxic and only the fruit should be consumed. Their flavour is a mixture of tomato and tropical fruit which lends itself well to sweet or savoury dishes alike! You can eat the berry straight out of the husk, preserve them into jams and sauces, or dry them and cover them

three oranges on a tree with the words identifying kolia passiflora tetrandi

Identifying Kōhia (Passiflora tetrandra)

Here's a post on how to identify and use Kōhia! 🌿🌳 Kōhia, or New Zealand passionfruit, is a perennial climbing vine found sprawling through native trees in lowland forests across the North Island and the top of the South Island. They produce sweet smelling intricate flowers in the spring and round orange fruits in the summer and autumn months that contain edible seeds and red flesh. Māori would traditionally crush, steam, and press kōhia seeds to make a fragrant oil which would be used to treat many skin ailments and they would also dry the stems and light them to use as slow burning torches when travelling through the bush in the dark! Next time you are on a bush walk look on the ground to find the scattered passionfruit husks (eaten by tūī, silvereye, possums, and rats). Search amongs

blue flowers with the words identifying yarrow, aehilea millefolium

Identifying Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Here's a post on how to identify Yarrow! 🤍🌿 Yarrow is a perennial flowering herb which grows as a bit of a "weed" in Aotearoa. You can find their feathery leaves and clusters of white flowers blooming nearly all year round along roadsides, in gardens, and throughout meadows in most temperate regions of the world. Achillea millefolium is an incredible medicinal herb, most notably for treating hemorrhaging and staunching wounds. Achilles, the famous Greek warrior, healed many of his troops using bruised yarrow leaves to treat injuries and stop bleeding (hence the name Achillea). Yarrow tea is wonderful for breaking fevers, flushing out UTI's, treating colds, and soothing menstrual cramps (though avoid yarrow if pregnant). Planting yarrow attracts many pollinator insects and their rhizomes

a tree in the middle of a forest with text overlay that reads identifying silver fern asophela triloon

Identifying Silver Fern (Alsophila tricolor)

Here's a post on how to identify Silver Fern or Ponga! 🌿🤍 As I make moves into identifying non-edible species I thought tree ferns would be a great place to begin, starting with our world famous native; Silver Fern. They can be found in most forests in Aotearoa as a sub-canopy layer and are incredibly easy to identify with their distinct silvery stalks and frond undersides. Ponga has been a national symbol for so many industries in New Zealand, yet so many people born on these islands could not identify them in the wild. In rongoā Māori the pith and gum of ponga has been used to expel intestinal parasites and treat skin ailments. Māori would also use the poisonous wood from the silver fern to tip their spears with for an extra fatal attack. It is said that fern stalks and leaves can catc

a green plant with white flowers and the words identifying balm of gileaded cedonella canariensa

Chicken Nesting Boxes

Dried Leaves

Lemon Mint

Identifying Balm of Gilead (Cedronella canariensis)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and use Balm of Gilead! 🌿🕯 Cedronella canariensis is a perennial herbaceous plant native to the Canary Islands. They are not the true 'Balsam of Gilead' which is a rare poplar tree from the Gilead region in Jordan which was used to produce a very aromatic perfume. The regular Balm of Gilead has a similarly strong lemon/mint/camphor-like odour. Balm of Gilead attracts many pollinator insects to your garden and their leaves work also as an insect repellant. You can hang bunches around your home to deter mosquitos and also mix them with hay to add to chickens nesting boxes to repel mites. Steeping the dried leaves in boiling water makes a strong tea which is a wonderful decongestant and helpful in dealing with symptoms of colds, asthma, and bronch

an image of a tree with berries on it and the words identifying pricky, minimi

Montane Forests

Juniper Plant

Decorations For Cakes

Identifying Prickly Mingimingi (Leptecophylla juniperina)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and use Prickly Mingimingi! 🫐📌 Leptecophylla juniperina is a perennial shrub native to Aotearoa. They can be found in lowland and montane forests often nestled on the outskirts of kanuka and beech groves. They have sharp needle-like small leaves and produce red or white berries in the summer and autumn months. In Māori medicine prickly mingimingi leaves would be used as a tea to help with kidney troubles, menstrual disorders, and asthma. The berries are floury and a little bland but make a sweet little treat while you're on a hike and would also make gorgeous decorations for cakes and other desserts! Enjoy my fellow foragers! 🐌

Identifying Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and use Wild Carrot! 🥕👑 Wild carrot is native to Asia and Europe but has spread prolifically around the world and can be found in abundance in Aotearoa. Search along roadsides and river banks, as well as in parks, gardens, and meadows for the beautiful lacy umbels of Daucus carota. Wild carrot seeds have been used for centuries around the world as a successful natural contraceptive and abortifacient (so do not consume if pregnant or breastfeeding). Wild carrot is also the ancestor of the orange cultivated carrot we all consume today! The roots can be woody and fibrous but can be used to flavour soups, stews, and teas or dried and ground to make a coffee substitute. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked and the flower umbels can be battered and f

Identifying German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and use German chamomile! 🦋🌼 German chamomile is native to Southern and Eastern Europe but can be found growing wild in country meadows and alongside river banks all over Pōneke where I live. Chamomile comes from the Latin word for "earth apple" referring to their lovely sweet, crisp apply scent. Try harvesting some this summer and drying batches of the flowers to use over the wintertime! German chamomile's calming properties have been used for centuries to sooth symptoms from pre-menstruation and menopause as well as sleep disorders. The oil from the flowers is a vibrant blue colour and works wonders on skin ailments such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Enjoy my fellow foragers! 🐌

two purple flowers with green leaves and the words identifying red clover trifoum pratense

Herbaceous Perennials

Hardy Plants

Leaves And Flowers

Identifying Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and use red clover! 🍀🐝 Red clover is a herbaceous perennial which grows all over Aotearoa. They can be found in gardens and parks, alongside riverbanks and disturbed areas, and prolifically in meadows and farmland. This plant is sometimes considered a "weed" but more often they are praised and intentionally planted for their nitrogen fixing abilities and long leguminous tap root which can turn the most compacted clay soil into healthy fertile ground. Red clover leaves and flowers are edible and delicious and are wonderful in teas, salads, and desserts. Try making pink lemonade this summer using the flowerheads! Enjoy my fellow foragers! 🐌

Identifying Wood Sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and eat wood sorrel! Wood sorrel is a creeping clover-like plant which has delicate white flowers with purple veining. They grow from rhizomes and seeds and spread prolifically in NZ gardens as "weeds". The leaves and flowers of wood sorrel have a distinctly tart, lemon, sour flavour which is delicious in fresh salads, steeped in teas, or cooked into lemony sauces. 🍀🍋 Enjoy my fellow foragers! 🐌

blue flowers with the words identifying boraggo officitis

Purple Flowering Plants

Identifying Borage (Borago officinalis)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and eat borage! Borage or "starflower" is a vibrant blue/purple flowering plant which blooms throughout the spring and summer months here in Aotearoa. They self-seed prolifically and can generally be found popping up in veggie and flower gardens as well as parks and disturbed land. Young borage leaves can be used like spinach and the flowers have a delicate cucumber honey flavour which is a great addition to salads and desserts. Not to mention it makes

yellow flowers with the words identifying calendula calendaria officinalis

Calendula Officinalis

Identifying Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Here's a post on how to identify, harvest, and store calendula! Calendula is a vibrant flowering plant which blooms throughout the spring and summer months here in Aotearoa. You can find calendula generally self seeding in parks, gardens, and community gardens and if you haven't got any near you please try and grow some yourself, they grow so easily from seed! Calendula leaves and petals are edible and the flowers are very medicinal when dried and infused in oils, salves, and tinctures. Dress y