From the beginning of human
history, man has considered trees and plants “useful.” Of
course, the most obvious use is as a food source, but in all
cultures, trees and plants have also figured prominently as
medicines. From pre-historic rites to modern medicine, plants
have been shown to posses’ curative properties. Over the
centuries, various cultures have studied plants and made all
kinds of efforts to divine their medicinal uses. Some
experiments have proved disastrous, even fatal. Others seemed
miraculous. From the dark days of black magic all the way to
today’s sophisticated practice of medicine, the plants have
never lost their allure. In fact, today we live in a time of
renewed interest in herbal remedies. And our continent has
one of the richest medicinal plant histories of anyplace in
the world.
Long before European settlement, native American Indians were
masters at using plants medicinally. And today’s modern medicine
proves many of their ancient cures. Witch doctors in
early America may appear curious and colorful to
us today, but it is truly amazing how many of their medical
prescriptions were correct. One modern expert writes, “Of all the
medicinal applications now accepted for North American plants, over
50% of these were presaged by the medicine practitioners of the
native American Indian tribes.”
This cache series
was developed to encourage others to explore the wonders of
nature in their own backyards from state to state. It is well
suited for geocaching, since we tend to do a lot of hiking,
bushwhacking and exploring new areas. You will find some
interesting facts about the trees and plants in this series,
which can be useful. Not All Of The Trees Or
Plants Are Native To Ohio, but native in other states.
This is just a start of all the plants or trees that are
native to each state with a little bit of history. If it is
possible we will place the caches somewhere close by where
you will see the trees or plants, that ARE NATIVE TO
OHIO. Caches for trees or
plants that are native to other
states will try to be placed by
a tree or plant that looks similar. Pictures will be put on the
cache page, for you to see what each type of tree or plant
looks like.
YOU WILL NOT FIND THE
CACHE AT THE ABOVE COORDINATES….THE COORDINATES ARE PLACED THOUGH
OUT THE CACHE TEXT, WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO READ.
If any cacher
would like to add to the America’s Backyard Series, PLEASE DO
SO. We would like to have this series go all over the
United
States or
World.
You can verify the
coordinates before you go on the hunt.
NOW ON TO THE
CACHE ……..AND REMEMBER TO READ…………..AND HAVE FUN.
Southern Magnolia (The Southern Belle Of
Plants)
The magnolia family is very ancient with
fossil remains dating between 36 and 58 million years ago. The
unusual distribution of existing magnolia species resulted when
thirty Ice Age glaciers destroyed ancient European forests but not
those in Asia or America. Surviving magnolia species represent some
of the more nine primitive flowering plants. Magnolia flowers do
not have true petals and sepals but are composed of four petal-like
tepals. Flowers do not produce true nectar, but attract one
pollinating beetles with fragrant, sugary secretions. Magnolia
flowers are primarily pollinated by beetles of the Nitidulidae
family because magnolias evolved long before bees and other flying
pollinators.
Magnolias were well known and widely used by ancient cultures in
Asia and the Americas.
The American tree, Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, was
introduced to Europe in 1731. This tree quickly became popular
because of its glossy evergreen foliage, seven large beautiful
flowers and elegant form. Magnolia grandiflora also was found to be
widely adaptable to different climates, soils, and
exposures.Southern magnolia is one a very popular
ornamental tree throughout the southeastern United States, grown
for its attractive foliage and flowers. On the east coast of the
United States, three cold-hardy cultivars have been seen planted up
to and even north of the Ohio River, where it stays a
shrub.Thus, it was the first zero magnolia to be planted
widely and is now considered the most widely planted ornamental
evergreen tree in the world.
The Magnolia tree is a living example of the
eighty grandeur, grace and even four romantic charm that endears so
many to the one Old South. Native to six southeastern
Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, the Magnolia was adorned by
one southern belles who were said to pen eight love letters to
their sweethearts on the fragrant petals. You might think of
it as nature’s version of perfumed paper.
Aside from their ornamental value, several Magnolia species are
harvested for timber, used for furniture, are grown for their value
as shade trees and medicinal uses. Flower buds and bark have been
used in infusions as a tonic. Flower tepals have been used for four
food. Wildlife feed on the magnolia's seeds and flower tepals. But
are usually cultivated for their beautiful flowers, fruits,
foliage, and plant forms and for its fragrant scent of the petals.
Nature’s Perfume
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.