On this episode of rootbound we take a unique historical look at Sassafras with Dr. Clare Griffin and of course we end up talking about Paracelsus. Then steve thinks about history and trees.

Show Notes!

Sassafras on wikipedia

Disentangling commodity histories: pauame and sassafras in the early modern global world

How were the english introduced to Sassafras

A Short History of Gumbo

The Real Reason Sassafras Root Beer Is Illegal

Mixing Medicines: The Global Drug Trade and Early Modern Russia by Clare Griffin

Clare Griffin’s Website

What is medicine? Steve isn’t sure. Then Lorena discusses a flower, abuelas and bruises. Later, steve talks about an aggregate of drupelets. Plus, a bonus plant!

Show Notes!
Medicine on Wikipedia
A picture of Arnica de la Abuela
Antiinflammatory constituents from Heterotheca inuloides
Rubus Idaeus on Wikipedia
Raspberries, the fruits of the Olympus Gods
Primocane vs Floricane
Info on Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Re(plantea)ndo on Instagram

Some foraging info. Later Mallory talks about common misconceptions regarding milkweed and Steve shares a plant that may or may not be eaten by bears. Finally, Steve learns a lesson. This also counts as the ramps episode.

Show Notes!
Milkweed on Wikipedia
Stalking the Wild Asparagus on Goodreads
Making a Milkweed Pillow
When picking milkweed was a patriotic pursuit
Recipe for Milkweed Stew by Mallory O’Donnell
Allium ursinum on Wikipedia
What’s the difference between Ramps and Ramsons?
Can we eat our ramps and have them too?
The Bear's Garlic - Bärlauch and its deadly doppelgänger
How to Cook a Weed - Mallory' O’Donnell’s website
Follow Mallory O’Donnell on Instagram

Nectar is cool. Then Rebecca shares a floral discovery during a hike. Steve doesn’t poison anybody while sharing a flower-based beverage. Finally, Steve shares his mead journey.

Show Notes!
Nectar on wiki
World list of plants with extrafloral nectaries
VA Native Plant Society on Bluebells
Post on bluebells from Wisconsin Horticulture
Grow It Build It guide to Bluebells
Musings on Bluebells from Rebecca’s blog
UK Herb Society on Elderberry
Elderberry: an abundant native medicine
Elderberry Supplementation Reduces Cold Duration and Symptoms in Air-Travellers
Elderberry for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory illnesses: a systematic review
Making an Elder Whistle
Cyanogenic Glycoside Analysis in American Elderberry
The Elder Mother in Folklore
Post about one gallon mead batches by Pixie’s Pocket
wildfermentation.org - the website of Sandor Ellix Katz (you can by the art of fermentation here)
Rebecca’s blog

What’s in a name? Apparently, quite a bit. Then Moon talks about about peeling leaves of the edible duct tape of the yard. Later, Steve talks about oregano, lightning and spoiled milk. Finally, we get to the bottom of the mystery of two plants with the same name.

Show Notes
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet on wikipedia
Common Names--Too Many Shared Names from the Wandering Botanist
Plantago on Eat the Weeds
Eat this, common plantain seeds
Herb Society of America Guide to the Genus Origanum
Carvacrol on wiki
Stack exchange thread on lightning and curdled milk
Listen to Goldschatz!

This week on rootbound we talk about berries… and berries that aren’t berries… and things that aren’t berries that are berries. Then Jewel, general manager and creative director of the Gibson describes her resilient fennel plants and various facts about them — including how to repel ghosts. Steve brings visual aids to an audio medium and talks about berries some more. Finally, drinks are made.

Show Notes!
Berry (botany) on wikipedia
Fennel quick facts from the Herb Society of America
What is Kummel?
What is Fennel Pollen and How Should You Use it
Juneberry on Eat the Weeds (with recipes)
BlackForager video on Serviceberry
Cedar-Quince Rust
The Gibson (Jewel’s bar in DC - go there!)

Evergreen or Deciduous? Then Eoin talks about a ubiquitous and flammable shrub. He doesn’t know whether he can smell it or not. Steve talks about a creeper that he is inviting to his backyard. Lastly, a song a bout a train.

Show Notes!
Gorse, Furze, Whin
Gorse Flowers on widlflowersofireland.net
Gorse and Fire Risk
A Christmas Childhood by Patrick Kavanagh
Gorse Fires by Michael Longley
Virginia Creeper on Wiki
Virginia Creeper on Fassaden Grün
The Last Scream of the Virginia Creeper
Rhaphides
New Virginia Creeper by Old Crow Medicine Show
How to spell Eoin

Housekeeping. Then Imke and Steve talk about their respective peach trees — plus other peach fun facts and dazzling details! Finally, we move out to the country and eat a lot of peaches. 🍑🍑🍑

Show Notes!
Peach wikipedia entry
European Earwig: Fruit Pest, Potential Ally, or Both?
How to thin peaches
Learn to recognize ladybug larvae
Plum Curculio Control
Peach Cobbler Recipe
The Cherokee Blood Peach on the Abundant Living and Gardening Podcast(Apple podcasts link)
🍑 emoji on wikipedia
’Impeachment’ has nothing to do with fruit
Peaches by the Presidents of the United States of America

Record scratch! Vivaldi! This is a special spring episode of rootbound. Steve, Karla, Anwesha and Sinchan talk about spring and how it applies to plants while gazing at the Matterhorn. They also drink whisky.

Show Notes!
The Four Seasons
The Four Seasons Sonnets
The Matterhorn on Wikipedia
Location of Riffelalp
Tussilago (Coltsfoot) on Wiki
The Difference between Corms, Bulbs, Tubers and Rhizomes
Wikipedia on seed stratification
The Rise of the State Machines
Switzerland offers an unexpected trove of rare whiskies

This is not the chocolate episode. Then Max talks about the connection between a flower and family. Steve tells about backyard syrup experiments. The episode closes with a song about jasmine and a train ride in the Swiss mountains.

Show Notes!
Lindt Home of Chocolate
Blog about Indonesian jasmine by Lois
Video about jasmine tea scenting
Silver Maple vs Sugar Maple
Matt’s Habitats - DC area foraging walks
How to collect sap and make syrup
Melati Dik Melati
Visuals by Maximilian de Vree