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Birch, silver, Betula pendula
There are many species of birch on earth. Where I come from you will mainly find silver birch, Betula pendula, downy birch, Betula pubescens and hybrids of the two. Collectively,…
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Comfrey, Symphytum officinale
Comfrey, Symphytum officinale, and I have known each other for a long time. We have had many adventures together. Like that time when Yeka and I dug out a beautiful…
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Goldenrod, Solidago virgaurea
European goldenrod, Solidago virgaurea, exuberantly brightens up many countries. With its numerous bright yellow flowers, you can hardly miss this plant. In our Dutch riverlands, you used to be able…
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Milk thistle, Silybum marianum
Milk thistle, Silybum marianum, is a wild beauty found in rugged places. With spring approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss this plant in detail. Many…
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Nettle, stinging, Urtica dioica L
Everyone has had a run in with the stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, at some point and knows that he lives up to his name. After touching this plant, your skin…
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Sage, common, Salvia officinalis L.
Some plants are so versatile that you almost dread starting a monograph on it. Nettle is such a plant and today I am writing about another plant in this category:…
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Self-heal, Prunella vulgaris
A great plant that I often fail to find in herb books is the common selfheal, Prunella vulgaris. Weird, considering this plant that is also called heal-all. Maybe it's because…
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St John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum
St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, may not be a plant you immediately think of in winter. This plant is pre-eminently associated with summer and St. John's festivities in June, the…
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Sweet flag, Acorus calamus
This versatile, water-loving plant, sweet flag (Acorus calamus) is well established in Europe. However, she isn't native to the continent. Alexander the Great already brought her this way from South…
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