By Maya Savard, age 14
While walking through camp to get to your bunks or tracks, you’ve probably noticed the vibrant flowers or interesting plants growing along the path. However, you may not know the names, properties, and uses of such plants. That is why I am going to be discussing the various kinds of flora, both medicinal and toxic, around Camp Danbee and hopefully enrich your understanding of the natural world.
The first plant is a flower you’ve most likely seen on the way to the waterfront or if you’ve been to Acres. This flower is bright yellow and is shaped like a rod, which is why it is called Goldenrod! Historically, goldenrod was used to heal skin wounds, however you should not use it or any other herbal product on open wounds, unless a healthcare professional directs that it is alright. Goldenrod has culinary uses as well, as it can be used in baked goods, tea, and honey. Goldenrod tea recipes can be found online, and you can buy it in stores or make it yourself. Goldenrod can also be used to make yellow dye, for coloring cotton, wool, and silk fabrics in its rich hue.
This next plant is also a flower, and one you might have heard in the context of beverages. But it can also be used for skin conditions like acne, eczema, and minor first-degree burns. It’s been used for thousands of years as medicine in Ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. Did you guess it? It’s Chamomile! Chamomile tea is helpful for addressing stomach problems and insomnia. People also use it as mouthwash for mouth sores after receiving cancer treatment. It’s marvelous that such a small flower has such strong properties.
Our third plant is actually the last flower of the survey. It has a pretty strange name,
and a strange story to go with it. It is said to have been named after a lace headdress
worn by the wife of King James I. It’s called Queen Anne’s Lace! Queen Anne held a
contest to see if anyone could find a piece of lace as beautiful as the flower, but no
one won. Queen Anne’s Lace is also called Wild Carrot because it’s the European
plant from which carrots were developed. Queen Anne’s Lace has a variety of uses
including culinary, medicinal, and aesthetic uses. The entire plant is edible and does not have toxic properties, however it’s very similar to certain toxic plants, like hemlock. Queen Anne’s Lace’s flowers can be eaten raw, made into jelly, or made into cordials and syrups. The seeds can also be dried and added to tea, used as a garnish for cocktails, used by herbalists to soothe the digestive tract, and as an antiseptic and diuretic. The root can be grated and mixed with oil to treat topical burns. Queen Anne’s Lace also has skincare applications, because the seeds can be made into an oil that can increase collagen production and help repair sun damage. And much like Goldenrod, the flower can be used to make a natural light yellow dye.
The fourth plant in our survey is a berry called Red Currant. This berry is edible and contains an antioxidant carotenoid called lycopene that reduces the risk of heart disease and cancer, specifically prostate cancer. Red Currants are full of vitamin C, which supports a healthy immune system and maintains collagen, which is essential for hair and skin. It has a sweeter and less pigmented sibling, the White Currant. The berries can garnish drinks, be made into jellies, or accompany salads. Red Currants are popularly served in this way in the United Kingdom, France, Scandinavia, Austria, Russia, and German-speaking areas.
This last plant is not edible at all, and touching any part of it can result in blisters on your skin. It has a red stalk and white berries with a little black dot on them, bearing a resemblance to eyes. It’s called White Baneberry, or Doll’s Eyes, because of its toxic properties and similarity to china dolls. If you eat these berries, symptoms include throat and mouth burning, severe stomach cramps, headaches, diarrhea, salivation, dizziness, and hallucinations. This plant is no joke, and consuming large quantities of white baneberries can cause cardiac arrest or respiratory paralysis. While humans are affected by the White Baneberries properties, birds are not. In fact, they are one of the main ways baneberry seeds spread. I believe I made my point fairly well, but if you see this plant, DO NOT TOUCH IT!!
This reporter wants to be inclusive, so here is a shout-out to the little fungi over by the Pavilion in Acres!
Taken together, we hope this new knowledge enlightened you and changed the way you see nature here at Camp Danbee. The next time you pass by Red Currant or Goldenrod, maybe you’ll remember an interesting fact to tell your friends and family!
All photos by Maya Savard
