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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. Everyone should read about this plant at the beginning of spring. At that time of the year, multitudes…
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Nettle, stinging, Urtica dioica L
Everyone has had a run in with stinging or great nettle, Urtica dioica, at some point in their lives and knows that it lives up to its name. After touching…
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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 miss in herbal books is self-heal, Prunella vulgaris. Odd, considering that this plant that is also called heal-all. Maybe it is overlooked because it…
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St John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum
In folklore, St. John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum, is a plant that is associated with summer and St. John's Day in June, the time when the plant also blooms. Still, as…
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Sweet flag, Acorus calamus
This versatile, water-loving plant, sweet flag – Acorus calamus – is well-established in Europe. However, it is not native to the continent. It has been here for a long time,…
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