Ethnobotany

Florida Native Plants That Healed, Fed, and Occasionally Poisoned Us

What is ethnobotany?

Ethnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between peoples and plants.

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Disclaimers

• - Foraging 101: Do not eat a plant unless you’re 100% certain what it is. Always do your own research.
• - We don’t have time to cover every edible plant in Florida
• - Focus on plants native to SWFL that you can easily find in the wild or even in your own yard!

Native American History in Florida

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• Evidence of human activity 12,000 years ago
• Permanent settlements and shell mounds began about 2,000 years ago
• Majority of diet was fish and seafood
• No staple crops

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The Staples

Cabbage Palm�Sabal palmetto

• Fronds were used as body coverings for men and women
• The Seminole and Miccosukee used fronds to make chickee huts
• Palm fibers were used for cordage, mats, and baskets
• Edible Heart of Palm
• Fort construction – does not splinter from cannon fire, termite proof

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Shirley Denton

Saw Palmetto�Serenoa repens

• Ripe fruits can be eaten raw
• Important food source for Native Americans (“ate of them greedily”)
• Tastes like “rotten cheese steeped in tobacco juice”
• Today: Used as a supplement to maintain a healthy prostate

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Shirley Denton

Saw Palmetto�Serenoa repens

• Ripe fruits can be eaten raw
• Important food source for Native Americans (“ate of them greedily”)
• Tastes like “rotten cheese steeped in tobacco juice”
• Today: Used as a supplement to maintain a healthy prostate

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Pine�Pinus palustris�Pinus densa

• Vitamin C tea made from needles to prevent scurvy
• Pine nuts edible
• Pine pollen edible
• Lumber
• Turpentine production

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Pine�Pinus palustris�Pinus densa

• Vitamin C tea made from needles to prevent scurvy
• Pine nuts edible
• Pine pollen edible
• Lumber
• Turpentine production

Coontie�Zamia integrifolia

• All parts are toxic (cycasin)
• Brought to Florida from Caribbean by native peoples
• Seminoles found a way to make flour from the roots
• Florida Arrowroot Flour
• Became one of the first major industries in South Florida
• Plant almost went extinct

Roger Hammer

Cypress�Taxodium ascendens�Taxodium distichum

• Dugout canoes
• Wood is rot resistant
• Lumber used for chickee huts, docks, boats, forts, furniture, spoons, etc

Shirley Denton

Live Oak�Quercus virginiana

• Tannins from bark for dyes
• Acorns flour
• Lumber for ships (see USS Constitution “Old Ironsides”
• Natures A/C

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Beyond Food

Yaupon Holly�Ilex vomitoria

• Leaves contain caffeine 60mg/cup
• Native Americans would brew an extra strong tea from the dried leaves called “The Black Drink” which men consumed during ritualistic ceremonies to induce vomiting
• Wood was used for arrows.

Shirley Denton

Coin Vine�Dalbergia ecastaphyllum

• Crushed roots, bark, and leaves release a compound containing rotenone.
• Inhibits the oxygen uptake of fish gills immobilizing them.

David Sedore

Pokeweed�Phytolacca americana

• Entire plant is toxic
• Poke greens were a southern staple
• Pokesalat festival 69^th annual Harlan County, KY
• Juice from fruits has been used as ink (civil war), dyes, and to color wines.
• King Louis XIV prohibited the use of the juice to color wines because it “injured the flavor” punishable by death.

Emily Bell

Marsh Fleabane�Pluchea odorata

• Leaves were used in bedding to repel fleas
• Tea has been widely used to treat cramps, muscle spasms, upset stomach, and hay fever

Mary Keim

Firebush�Hamelia patens var. patens

• Anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties

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• Crushed leaves were applied to cuts, burns, insect bites, and rashes

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• Edible (bitter) berries

Shirley Denton

Beauty Berry�Callicarpa americana

• Edible berries can be eaten raw or used for jelly

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• Leaves contain callicarpenal which is a natural insect repellent

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• Tea can be made from the leaves to relieve joint pain

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Shirley Denton

Spanish Bayonet�Yucca aloifolia�Yucca filamentosa

• Fresh flower petals can be eaten raw or cooked
• Flowers turn more bitter with age
• Native Americans would use the leaf fibers to make rope or string
• Spaniards would plant around their forts and on top of protective walls as defenses

Ginny Stibolt

Rattlesnake master�Eryngium yuccifolium

• The name comes from the belief that it’s roots could treat snake bites

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• Tea was made from the roots to treat fevers, cough, and infections

Christopher Benda

Spanish Moss�Tillandsia useneoides

• It has been used as bedding, packing, insulation, and tossed on campfires to smoke out mosquitoes

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• Used in Ford Model T seat cushions

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Greenbrier�Smilax spp.

• Roots were used as a dye for animal skins
• Starch – Seminoles used for bread and fritters (10lbs or roots made 1lb of flour)
• Sarsaparilla was made form the roots and has a taste similar to rootbeer
• Thickening agent for jellies
• Synthetic cortizone
• New growth tips can be eaten raw

Bird Pepper�Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum

• High in vitamin A and C
• Thought to prevent cancer
• Very Spicy! between 50,000 and 100,000 Scoville units

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Roger Hammer

• Improves memory (because the next time you go to the bathroom you’ll remember you ate them!)

�Florida Strangler Fig�Ficus aurea�

• Aurea means golden, referring to the figs’ color when ripe.
• Fruits are edible
• Wood was used for arrows
• Bowstring and netting was made out of the aerial roots.
• The latex sap was used to treat wounds and the dried latex was used like chewing gum.

John Bradford

�Florida Strangler Fig�Ficus aurea�

• Aurea means golden, referring to the figs’ color when ripe.
• Fruits are edible
• Wood was used for arrows
• Bowstring and netting was made out of the aerial roots.
• The latex sap was used to treat wounds and the dried latex was used like chewing gum.

Wax Myrtle�Morella cerifera

• Leaves were used as a seasoning in Native American cooking

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• Berries can be boiled to produce wax that can be used for candles (1 gallon of berries = 1 cup of wax)

Stuff That Actually Tastes Good

Pawpaws�Asimina spp.

• 12 species native to FL, all have edible fruits
• Fruits can be eaten raw or used to make breads and pies
• Bigflower pawpaw is known to have been a popular food for indigenous tribes and settlers

Shirley Denton

Pawpaws�Asimina spp.

• 12 species native to FL, all have edible fruits
• Fruits can be eaten raw or used to make breads and pies
• Bigflower pawpaw is known to have been a popular food for indigenous tribes and settlers

Blueberries

Darrow’s Blueberry

Vaccinium darrowii

Deerberry

Vaccinium stamineum

Shiny Blueberry

Vaccinium

myrsinites

Sparkleberry

Vaccinium arboretum

Not pictured - Highbush Blueberry – Vaccinium fuscatum

Berries cont’d…

Red Mulberry

Morus rubra

Southern Dewberry

Rubus trivialis

Dwarf Huckleberrry

Gaylussacia dumosa

Marlberry

Ardisia escallonioides

Plums

Flatwoods Plum

Prunus umbellata

Chickasaw Plum

Prunus angustifolia

Hog Plum

Ximenia ameriana

Shirley Denton

Shirley Denton

Persimmon�Diospyros virginiana

• Edible fruit
• Jewelry and buttons were made from the seeds

Prickly Pear�Opuntia spp.

• Used for dyes

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• Edible fruit and pads

Shirley Denton

Muscadine Grape�Vitis rotundifolia

• Edible leaves and fruits
• Used for wines and jams
• Vines used for baskets, mats, and wreaths
• Stems contain fresh water
• Tea was applied to the head to promote hair growth

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John Bradford

Seagrape�Coccoloba uvifera

• Edible fruits that can be eaten raw or made into wine or jelly (tastes similar to apple jelly)
• Postcards
• Leaves used as plates

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Cocoplum�Crysobalanus icaco

• Taste and texture similar to marshmallows
• The seed kernel “tastes like almonds”
• The dried, oily seeds can be strung on sticks and burned like candles

John Bradford

Elderberry�Sambucus nigra

• Caution, make sure you have the right plant! (Don’t confuse with water hemlock)
• Used extensively by Native peoples to treat stomach aches, headaches and as a general painkiller
• The berries may cause stomach upset if eaten raw but are fine cooked into jams and preserves
• Flowers are edible raw or cooked

Shirley Denton

Winged Sumac�Rhus copallinum

• Don’t confuse with Poison Sumac!
• Fruits are tart and can be eaten raw
• Clusters of fruit can be cooked and steeped to make a tasty tea similar to lemonade
• Dried fruits can be ground and used as a spice
• Native Americans would drink the tea to treat diarrhea.

Kim Hosen

“Weeds”

Virginia Pepperweed�Lepidium virginicum

• All parts of the plant are edible (flowers, seeds, leaves, roots)
• Distinctly peppery taste, “horseradish lite”
• Native Americans used leaf tea to treat scurvy, diabetes, and to expel tapeworms

Beggarticks�Bidens alba

• Leaves and flowers are edible
• Higher iron content than spinach

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Shirley Denton

Wood Sorrel�Oxalis corniculata

• Tangy flavor

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• High in Oxalic acid

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Florida Pellitory�Parietaria floridana

• Cucumber flavor

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• Hairy texture

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Dwarf Plantain�Plantago virginica

• Leaves and seeds are edible

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• Mild flavor

Gary Fleming

Honorable Mentions

Sea Purslane�Sesuvium portulacastrum

• Common succulent found in salt marshes and coastal shorelines
• Leaves are crisp and salty when eaten raw
• Can be cooked as a potherb to reduce saltiness or used in soups as a salt substitute

Shirley Denton

Spiderwort�Tradescantia ohiensis

• Edible leaves and flowers

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• Does not spoil

Larry Allain

Sneezeweed�Helenium spp.

• Leaves were dried and snorted to expel evil spirits

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• When consumed by cows causes milk to taste bitter

Agnieszka Kwiecień

Creeping Cucumber�Melothria pendula

• Fruits are edible when green and a powerful laxative when ripe and black

Redbay�Tamala borbonia

• Leaves used to season soups and gumbos

Shirley Denton

Pickerelweed�Pontederia cordata

• New shoots and seeds are edible

Eleanor Dietrich

- Resources -

• Questions?