Dahoon Holly

 

    

     Welcome to December in Central Florida! We are finally starting to see some cooler weather and a few leaves changing colors. We are also seeing more and more red berries throughout all of our woodlands and wetlands. These red berries, more often than not, belong to any one of our 10-11 species of Holly. 

     The Holly Family, Aquifoliaceae, has a great reputation for being beneficial medicinally, though most species have toxic berries, so they aren’t the most edible of plants. The Ilex genus is the only genus in the family that contains around 400 species. The family name translates to “trees with needles on their leaves” which is pretty darn accurate for most species. However, the genus name is an old word for Oak. The Holly species I wanted to introduce you to today is the Dahoon Holly or Ilex cassine. 

     Like every species of Ilex, Dahoon Holly is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are on different trees. These flowers are usually really small and develop in clusters at the leaf axils. Only female plants produce the small berry-like fruits that are actually drupes. These drupes are often mistaken for berries because they contain multiple seeds where traditional drupes only contain one seed, referred to as a stone. I. cassine berries are yellow, orange, or red, the ones I find most often around here are red. This species is native and reaches about 12 meters (about 39 feet) in height. Leaves are alternate and simple, around 3-14 centimeters (1.18-5.51 inches) long and mostly oval. Some leaves have a few small teeth on their otherwise smooth margins. These plants love to have their feet damp so you can often find them in wet hammocks and flatwoods, though they can survive in dryer areas. They are often mistaken for another species of native Holly, the Yaupon Holly, Ilex vomitoria, though Yaupon Holly’s leaves are much smaller and have a much more interesting margin. There is also an invasive species that has become quite common around the area that is a major look-a-like for I. cassine, that is the Brazilian Peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia. The most notable difference between these two is that S. terebinthifolia has pinnately compound leaves. 

 

Here's a video going over some info about this Holly as well as a close relative in the same genus.

 

Medicinal Uses:

 

Common Names- Dahoon Holly, Christmas Berry, Cassine

 

Scientific Name- Ilex cassine 

 

Edibility- The leaves can be used as a tea.

 

Summary of Actions- Diuretic, emetic, hypnotic, laxative, purgative, stimulant, vermifuge

  

Parts Used- Leaves

 

Traditional Native American Ceremonial Use- Ilex cassine is sacred to the peoples of Florida and the East Coast of North America and is used similarly to Ilex vomitoria to produce a ceremonial cleansing tea referred to as the black drink. This drink is high in caffeine (or theobromine) and causes vomiting, which is considered to be a desirable and cleansing event prior to certain ceremonies. The Apalachicola tribe of Florida prepare large quantities of I. cassine and place it in huge snail shells that are then used as offerings in rituals, where the beverage is also consumed. The shells may be beautifully engraved with mystical images and divine figures. During celebratory rituals, a great deal of tobacco is smoked alongside the drink, producing an intensely euphoric, stimulating effect. Many scholars believe that I. vomitoria was the preferred leaf for making the black drink, however I. cassine was still used. The leaves of I. cassine and I. vomitoria have also been smoked as tobacco substitutes by native tribes and settlers and were also used as tea substitutes by southern rebel troops during the American Civil War.

Tea- Dahoon Holly makes tea but it is the least recommended of all Holly teas. It can cause severe headaches, vomiting, and can be laxative when taken at larger concentrations. However, if the beverage is not brewed too long, one can enjoy the flavor, stimulating effects, and health benefits without going through a ritual purging like with the ceremonial black drink.

Caffeine vs. Theobromine- Many sources say that Dahoon Holly contains a large amount of caffeine. However, recent studies have determined that the alkaloid previously thought of as being caffeine is actually Theobromine. This is a very closely related alkaloid that has most of the same effects as caffeine and is found in cocoa.

Stimulant- Dahoon Holly tea works as a stimulant helping to improve cognitive function for a time.

Blood Pressure- Though stimulating, the leaves can have a calming effect, and they have been known to improve arterial function and blood circulation in some individuals. Theobromine has also shown cardioprotective tendencies in several studies.

 

Fevers and Malaria- Some compounds found in the leaves of Dahoon Holly have been known to be anti-inflammatories. This helps to support the traditional use, in some cultures, for reducing fevers and treating malaria.

  

Joints- Ilex cassine has also been used to help reduce joint pain and inflammation. 

  

Cautions, Contraindications, and Warnings- Although no specific reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, the fruits of at least some members of this genus contain saponins and are slightly toxic. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stupor if eaten in quantity. There is also much caution surrounding the tea as large concentrations can induce vomiting, cause dizziness, and cause headaches. Do not use this herb if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

 

  

 

 

    

I only included a basic introduction to this amazing native holly. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram or updates on my adventures in Nature. Find me on YouTube and check out my videos! I also have a few things up on Teespring, check it out! Also, if you like what I do and what to see more, Become a Patron!

Resources:

Cassine: Natural Medicinal Herbs: http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/i/ilex-cassine=cassine.php

Dahoon Holly: Eat The Weeds: http://www.eattheweeds.com/tag/dahoon-holly/

Dahoon Holly, Ilex Cassine: Wild South Florida: http://www.wildsouthflorida.com/dahoon.holly.html

Dahoon Holly (Ilex Cassine): Treasure Trees: https://treescharlotte.org/041-dahoon-holly/

Dahoon Holly…The Dollar Tree of Fruits: Treasure Coast Natives: https://treasurecoastnatives.wordpress.com/2018/10/26/dahoon-holly-starts-young/

Holly Ilex: Herb Wisdom: https://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-holly.html

Ilex Cassine: Florida Native Plant Society: https://www.fnps.org/plant/ilex-cassine

Ilex Cassine: Plants For A Future: https://pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Ilex+cassine

Ilex Cassine: Practical Plants: https://practicalplants.org/wiki/Ilex_cassine

Ilex Cassine: Useful Temperate Plants: http://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Ilex+cassine

Ilex Cassine – Cassina Tree: Entheology.com: http://entheology.com/plants/ilex-cassine-cassina-tree/

Ilex Cassine Dahoon Holly: Environmental Horticulture: https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/ilecasa.pdf

Paraguay Tea: A Modern Herbal: https://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/p/partea05.html

Pokeweed

     Having been raised in North Florida, by a family who has been in the South for many a generation (most of us are in Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas), I was raised with a few Appalachian traditions. One of these traditions was “Poke Salat.” Now, my parents didn’t prepare this traditional dish, but I did hear about it quite often and some other family members did prepare it occasionally. Though it sounds like a springtime salad, it’s actually a pot of cooked greens. I promise you that if anyone ever serves you a salad and calls it Poke Salat, you should run away as fast as you can. This is because Pokeweed is highly toxic and it has to be cooked several times over in order to be edible.

     Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is a poisonous, herbaceous plant that has long been used for food and folk medicine in parts of eastern North America, the Midwest and the Gulf Coast where it is native. Poke is a member of the Phytolaccaceae (Pokeweed) family and is a perennial herb. It grows up to 11ft tall, though the variety commonly found in the South tends to stop at 8ft. Single alternate leaves are pointed at the end with crinkled edges and an unpleasant smell. The stems are green, pink, or red. Flowers greenish-white in long clusters at ends of stems that will develop into dark purple berries resembling blueberries or elderberries. Pokeroot is best dug up in the fall after the plant has died back for the winter. This is when the plant is the most medicinal and the least toxic. The next best time to dig the roots is in the early spring when the leaves are just coming out (as long as you're sure what you're picking!). The leaves and berries are harvested from Autumn to the following Spring and can be found in North & South America, East Asia & New Zealand. Though it has become naturalized all over Europe. It’s often found on edges of fields or cleared lands and roadsides. Pokeweed poisonings were common in eastern North America during the 19th century. The roots were often mistaken for parsnip, Jerusalem artichoke, or horseradish. The berries are often mistaken for elderberries. Use caution! And remember, if you’re not 100% sure of your identification, DON’T consume/use the plant!

     Poke is predominately toxic to mammals, though some small mammals have a resistance to the toxin. The berries are an important food source for birds and can be eaten by them because the small seeds hard outer shell simply passes through the birds' digestive system. It’s also a valuable host plant for a number of butterfly species found here in Florida.

     

I recently filmed a video about this beautiful plant.

Medicinal Uses:

Common Names- Poke, Pokeweed, Poke Salet, American Pokeweed, Cancer-root, Cancer Jalap, Inkberry, Pigeon Berry, Pocan, Poke, Poke Root, Pokeberry, Reujin D Ours, Sekerciboyaci, Skoke, Virginian Poke, Yoshu-Yama-Gobo, Yyamilin 

Scientific Name-  Phytolacca americana and P. acinosa 

Edibility- Pokeweed is edible when cooked properly. The young shoots and leaves are boiled in two changes of water. The leaves taste similar to spinach and the shoots taste similar to asparagus. Properly cooked Poke is known as "Poke Salet," not Poke Salad as it is commonly called. Poke berries are cooked and the resulting liquid used to color canned fruits and vegetables. Caution is advised as the whole plant is poisonous raw, causing vomiting and diarrhea.

Summary of Actions- Alterative, anodyne, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antiseptic, antitumor, antitussive, antiviral, cathartic, detoxifying, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, hypnotic, lymphagogue, narcotic, purgative, and resolvent. 

Energetics- Acrid, slightly sweet, root slightly bitter. The root is slightly cooling and drying. The berries are slightly warming.

Parts Used- Leaves, Berry, and Root 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)- Known as Shang Lu, Poke affects the liver, spleen, bladder, and small intestine meridians. It clears toxins, reducing the swelling associated with goiters, arthritis, neuralgias, breast lumps and tumors, eczema, skin dermatitis, ulcers, and similar wounds. Shang Lu removes statis, especially when associated with abdominal distension, nausea, heavy feelings, moodiness, and constipation. It also clears up Liver Qi stagnation, which is commonly associated with breast lumps, tumors, acute mastitis, as well as chronic benign and malignant lumps. Like in Western Herbalism, Shang Lu is considered to be drastically purgative. 

Traditional Native American Uses- Some Native American tribes used Pokeweed as a purgative (to stimulate bowel clearance) and an emetic (to promote vomiting). Many traditional cultures believe that doing so "cleanses" the body, expels bad spirits. The fruit was made into a red dye used in painting horses and various articles of adornment. The Delaware Indians were likely the first to prescribe pokeweed in medicine, using it as a cardiac stimulant. Indians of the Rocky Mountain region used pokeweed to treat epilepsy, anxiety, and neurological disorders. The Pah-Utes fermented berries in water to make a narcotic tea. The Cherokee used poke in a number of different ways. The leaves were often combined with Lemon Balm and made into a tea to reduce phlegm and calm the chest when there was a cold our cough. The root was used as a blood purifier and antibiotic. It was considered especially potent in treating kidney infections. It was also used to increase metabolism.

Antibiotic- Most herbalists turn to Goldenseal for its use as an antibiotic. However, it’s an endangered species. Pokeweed is also a great antibiotic with many of the same properties, but as a bonus, it’s not endangered. It’s often considered a problematic weed in the South. 

Lyme Disease- I know of several herbalists who have successfully used a tincture made from the root to treat Lyme disease.

Rheumatism & Fibromyalgia- Some modern experts believe that rheumatism was used as a blanket term for several issues in older medical texts. One of these issues is believed to be fibromyalgia. Most older medical texts that include the use of Poke have described it as being fairly effective in the treatment of rheumatism. The berries were consumed whole or a tea made from the leaves was drunk for this purpose. Sometimes Prickly Ash was added to the tea for rheumatism.

Endocrine Regulator- Poke helps to regulate your hormones. It has the most profound effect on the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, and sex glands. This makes it a prime herb to use in cases of sterility, impotence, low sperm count, and prostate issues.

Skin Conditions- Pokeweed has frequently been used in folk medicine to treat skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, and scrofula (tuberculosis of the neck). However, caution should be used with this plant as the sap can cause irritation, swelling, and an itchy rash in people with sensitive skin. Despite that, it is believed to have amazing anti-inflammatory effects that may help relieve localized pain and swelling.

Detoxifying- It is one of the strongest herbs known to promote cleansing and clear toxemia that also acts on the glands. Because of this, it has a long history of use for detoxifying the blood and body.

Thyroid- Poke is an old-time Appalachian remedy for hypothyroidism, especially goiter.

Auto-immune Disease- The root is taken internally in the treatment of auto-immune diseases (especially rheumatoid arthritis), tonsillitis, mumps, glandular fever and other complaints involving swollen glands, chronic catarrh, bronchitis etc. 

Dye, Ink, & Food Coloring- A rich brown dye can be made by soaking fabric in fermenting berries in hollowed out pumpkin. Using the fermented berries, without the pumpkin, yields a pink-ish red dye. It was often used as red ink or dye in the civil war era. Many letters written home during the civil war were written in pokeberry ink, which now appears as brown ink. Pokeberry has also been used as a red food coloring and as a wine coloring agent. 

Toxicity and Dosage- It is a strong herb so dosages must be monitored and respected. (Even just one to two drops of tincture is enough and not more than ten drops is recommended.) Because it is so strong it is usually used in combination with other herbs that can help soften its approach without lessening its properties. In Appalachian folk medicine, the berries are swallowed as a treatment for arthritis and for immune stimulation. Only swallow one berry (either fresh or dried) at a time. One berry is the equivalent of one drop of root tincture. At doses of 1 g, dried poke root is emetic and purgative. At lower doses of 60 to 100 mg/day, the root and berries have been used to treat rheumatism and for immune stimulation; however, there are no clinical trials that support these uses or doses. 

Side Effects- Individuals show widely varying tolerance for poke. Some people can't handle more than three or five drops per day, while others can take 25 or 50 drops with no adverse effects. The side effects of poke include mental unclarity, spaciness, and out-of-body feelings. If you notice such feelings, it means you've found your tolerance level, so back off to a lower dosage. If you take way too much (such as mistaking dropperful for drops, which some people have done!), you may encounter more severe side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Cautions, Contraindications, and Warnings- All parts of the plant are toxic with roots being the most toxic, stems and leaves are less so and the least toxic is the fruit. The raw berry is toxic. If cooked improperly the juice from the leaves can cause severe stomach cramping, diarrhea, vomiting, convulsions, death. The plant sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive people. The plant contains substances that cause cell division and can damage chromosomes. These substances can be absorbed through any abrasions in the skin, potentially causing serious blood aberrations, and so it is strongly recommended that the people wear gloves when handling the plant. Do not use this plat during pregnancy! Ingestion of poisonous parts of the plant may cause severe stomach cramping, nausea with persistent diarrhea and vomiting, slow and difficult breathing, weakness, spasms, hypotension, severe convulsions, and death. 

     I only included a basic introduction to this wonderful Appalachian herb. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram or updates on my adventures in Nature. Find me on YouTube and check out my videos! I also have a few things up on Teespring, check it out! Also, if you like what I do and what to see more, Become a Patron!

Resources:

Books:

The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to New World Medicinal Plants by Matthew Wood 

Florida’s Edible Wild Plants by Peggy Sias Lantz

Herbal Medicine From the Heart of the Earth by Dr. Sharol Marie Tilgner

The Cherokee Herbal by J.T. Garrett

Websites: 

Foods Indigenous to the Western Hemisphere: American Indian Health and Diet Project: http://www.aihd.ku.edu/foods/pokeweed.html#:~:text=Uses,to%20humans%20and%20some%20animals. 

The Health Benefits of Pokeweed: Very Well Health: https://www.verywellhealth.com/can-pokeweed-provide-health-benefits-4587368 

Poke: Southeast Wise Women: https://www.sewisewomen.com/poke 

Poke (Shang Lu): White Rabbit Institute of Healing: https://www.whiterabbitinstituteofhealing.com/herbs/poke/ 

Pokeweed: Drugs.com: https://www.drugs.com/npp/pokeweed.html 

Pokeweed: Natural Medicinal Herbs: http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/p/phytolacca-americana=pokeweed.php 

Pokeweed, An Herb For All Things Pokey: The Herbwife’s Kitchen: http://crabappleherbs.com/blog/2007/07/31/pokeweed-an-herb-for-all-things-pokey/comment-page-2/ 

Pokeweed Herb: Alternative Nature Online Herbal: https://altnature.com/gallery/pokeweed.htm 

Coral Bean

     One of the things I look forward to most this time of year is a certain, bright red, flower blooming among the piney flatwoods and mixed woodlands that my husband and I tend to venture. We first encountered Cherokee Bean (or Coral Bean) before we even knew what it was. Actually, our friend Justin dubbed it the X Wing plant because the leaves reminded him of the X Wings from Star Wars. (Yes indeed, we are ALL nerds here!) It wasn’t until about a year later that we realized that those leaves belonged to the pretty red flowers we kept seeing in the Winter. In most of the places we tend to hike, the flowers develop at the same time the plant drops it’s leaves, so the flowers and leaves aren’t always present at the same time.

     Erythrina herbacea (Coral Bean) is in the Fabaceae (Pea) family. The genus Erythrina includes over 115 species of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that all have orange or bright-red flowers. They are found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In North and Central Florida, E. herbacea grows as a large perennial, reaching 6 feet tall before it freezes to the ground in winter. In South Florida it grows as a large deciduous shrub or small tree. This plant can be found from North Carolina through to Texas and further South. It’s range includes all the coastal states along the Gulf of Mexico. It prefers well-drained sand, loam, or clay, and can easily be found in open, sandy woods & clearings of the coastal plains. In Florida, it’s easy to find in mesic hammocks, pine flatwoods, scrub, secondary woods, upland mixed woodlands, coastal dunes, and sandhills throughout the whole state. Blooms are present from Winter until Spring.

Medicinal Uses:

Common Names- Coral Bean, Coralbead, Cherokee Bean, Cardinal Spear, Red Cardinal

Scientific Name- Erythrina herbacea

Edibility- The flowers and young leaves are edible cooked. With the leaves, it’s best to play it safe and cook them at least twice, throwing away the water after the first time cooking them.

Summary of Actions- Antiemetic, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Narcotic, Purgative, Tonic

Parts Used- The whole plant can be used, but most commonly it’s the root, seeds, and bark.

Native American Traditional Uses- A number of Native American Tribes had many medicinal uses for this plant, varying between nations and localities. Creek women used an infusion of the root for bowel pain; the Choctaw used a decoction of the leaves as a general tonic; the Seminole used an extract of the roots for digestive problems, and extracts of the seeds, or of the inner bark, as an external rub for rheumatic disorders.

General Tonic and Fevers- A tea made from the leaves can be used as a general tonic, promoting a healthy digestive system and improving health in general. However a decoction of the root can also be used to help reduce fevers.

Nausea and Constipation- A decoction of the root can be used to clear up nausea and constipation. A cold infusion of the root has also been traditionally used for a variety of bowel complaints in women.

Urinary System- The diuretic properties of this plant make it excellent for clearing up blocked urination.

Joint Pain and Numbness- A decoction of the beans or inner bark has been used as a body rub and steam for numb, painful limbs and joints.

Other Uses- Traditional cultures use the seeds as beads. It’s also a beautiful landscape plant for those who want to have a native landscape and who may want to attract hummingbirds.

Cautions, Contraindications, and Warnings- All parts of the plant, but especially the seeds, contain numerous toxic alkaloids, including erysodine and erysopine, and cyanogenic glycosides. They can cause diarrhea and vomiting. The alkaloids have an action similar to the poison curare (Strychnos species) and have been used as a rat poison. In sufficient quantities, the seeds can cause human death.






     I only included a basic introduction to this brilliant Florida Native. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. Follow me on Facebook (Bat Lady Herbals) and Instagram (BatLadyHerbalist) for updates on my adventures in Nature. Find me on YouTube and check out my videos! I also have a few things up on Teespring, check it out! Also, if you like what I do and what to see more, Become a Patron!

Resources:

Cardinal Spear: Natural Medicinal Herbs: http://www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net/herbs/e/erythrina-herbacea=cardinal-spear.php

Coral Bean: University of Florida Gardening Solutions: http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/coral-bean.html

Coral Bean- Hummingbird Fast Food: Eat the Weeds: http://www.eattheweeds.com/coral-bean-humming-bird-fast-food/

Erythrina: Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/erythrina

Erythrina Herbacea: Florida Native Plant Society: https://fnps.org/plants/plant/erythrina-herbacea

Erythrina Herbacea: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=erhe4

Erythrina Herbacea: Useful Tropical Plants: http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Erythrina+herbacea

Erythrina Herbacea (Coral Bean): Find Me A Cure: https://findmeacure.com/2012/04/01/erythrina-herbacea-coral-bean/