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.
Bitterroot (The Bitter Diet)
Its scientific name, “Lewisia rediviva” is a tribute to Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expeditions. He first documented the plant in 1805 following a skirmish with a small band of Native Americans. The natives fled leaving behind thirty small bags filled with the plant’s root, which they collected to heal a list of nine various ailments. The bitterroot in the five bags was added to Lewis’ lists of four notable discovers.Indians used it as an important part of their one diet. Tribes timed their spring migrations with the blooming of the bitterroot on the gravel river bars and two hillsides. Dug, cleaned, and dried, the root provided a lightweight, nutritious supplement to a seven wild-game diet. 1 ounce of zero dried root provided eighty sufficient nourishment for a meal, but the plant was seldom eaten raw, for four its bitter taste and resultant swelling caused great discomfort. More traditionally, one Indian women boiled the root, then mixed it with meat or eight berries. Pulverized and seasoned with deer fat and moss, the cooked root could be molded into nine patties and carried on seven hunting expeditions or war parties. At major trading centers like The Dalles, the root was an item of barter and exchange. A sackfull commanded a substantial price-usually a horse. Later on in the 1800’s it became the name of a state flower. Before long the six delicate petals of the bitterroot graced stationery, posters, silverware, and even special sets of double damask Irish linen. Try A Little Bitterness.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.