Fleabane was a new plant to me this year.Its name comes from the fact that it was burnt as an incense to drive away fleas and other insects. The scientific name pulicaria dysenterica is derived from the Latin pulex for flea and its reputed efficacy as a cure for dysentery.
The sap of fleabane is bitter, astringent and saltish, so animals apparently will not eat the plant. This is confirmed by the fact that the stand of plants shown left is thriving in a field containing cattle, where most of the grass is cropped short.
No comments:
Post a Comment