Vanilla Bean – Vanilla planifolia

Vanilla orchid and bean by Koehler

Aromatic vanilla made from the bean
lingering sweet fragrance somewhere in between
the moon, the Milky Way a bright sunbeam
delicious ingredient for vanilla ice-cream…

By Sandra Glassman

 

This member of the Orchid family is a native of the tropical forests of Mexico, but can also be found in tropical areas of Asia, New Guinea, and Africa. Where the vine is cultivated they once believed the Cojon de gato (Thevetia peruviana) tree was the best companion for growth. In Mexico it was used in antiquity to flavor their chocolate. It was introduced to Europe by the Spanish historian and explorer, Hernandez.

 

In Meso-America (an area encompassing central Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica) it was a special treat that was only allowed to be consumed by the Royalty. Among the Olmec, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Mixtec, Totonac and Aztec it was believed only those of the ruling class deserved to partake in this aphrodisiac! In the 1990‘s the Chicago Institute of Smell and Taste it was determined to be a powerful stimulant to men.

 

In folk medicine it is an aromatic stimulant, used to exhilarate the brain, prevent sleep, improve muscular energy, and to stimulate sexual desire! It is used in infusion form for hysteria, rheumatism and low fever.

 

The aroma is used in perfumes, and veterinary medicine. In the Victorian Language of Flowers vanilla stands for innocence, purity, charm, silence, and secrecy. In magic it is utilized in love spells, meditation, healing rituals, and mental clarity & strength.

 

A Warning: do not use the essential oil of vanilla when pregnant. Avoid high  concentrations in skin care of the essential oil.

 

The above pic is from Koehler’s Medicinal-Plants 1887  [Image in Public Domain]

Pink Ladies Slipper – Cypripedium acaule

Pink Ladies Slipper Orchid

…Fore, I’m Pink Lady Slipper
nature’s wonder of wonders
to remain in stately splendor
in my homeland of the wild
the woodlands lonely child
an Orchid of pink flower…
grandeur is of my leafless flowering stalk
where birds squawk in trees
rustling leaves; talking their
talk, whispering of the lonely
child living in the wild…

By D A Baugh

Read the entire poem at http://allpoetry.com/poem/6669493

This rare orchid is native to Eastern North America; they grow in shady forests under pines, oaks, sweet gum, red Maple, Sassafras, and greenbrier. It is listed as Unusual, Endangered, or vulnerable in Georgia, Illinois, New York and Tennessee. It is almost impossible to transplant

because it takes a special organism in the soil for them to thrive. Many people have tried to transplant them with harmful effect…the plants slowly die due to the lack. It is highly recommended that you only take pictures of these delicate orchids to remove from the forest….

NOT the plant itself.

O ka u la su lo (the Cherokee name for the Lady’s Slipper) was considered a sacred plant by the Cherokee and other eastern woodlands peoples. They used it for medicine for the treatment of anxiety, nervousness, and especially insomnia. It was also included in 1 or 2 formulas for its antispasmodic activity.

In modern herbal medicine the root is considered antispasmodic, nervine, sedative and tonic. The root has been used in the treatment of nervous complaints, menstrual disorders, stomach aches, kidney and urinary disorders, and venereal diseases. An infusion of the fall harvested tubers is used in these treatments.

Pink Lady’s Slipper is the provincial flower of Prince Edwards Island, and Nova Scotia, Canada

Pink Lady’s Slipper Orchid – Cypripedium acaule

My first memory of this pretty little orchid was from 1962, I was 12 years old and at Girl Scout Camp in Deep Creek, Maryland. We had a cool counselor who told us about the things (plants and animals) that surrounded us! I had earned the two weeks at camp by selling Girl Scout Cookies; actually my Dad sold most of them (smile).

Also known as Mocassin Flower

 

When we found this pink early spring ephemeral, we were told about how rare it was. We were told to look and not touch. She brought the flower to life by retelling an old Ojibwa tale of a young girl who was brave and fearless.

Pink Lady's Slipper

Her family and village were all sick; so she walked through snow to

 

 

 

retrieve the healing herbs from the one who had them. Walking home

she lost her moccasins and left bloody footprints in the snow. After

her people were healed she and her brother found the Lady’s Slipper

blooming in her footprints as the snow melted!

 

This past spring, on the road behind ours we found in the woods the wonderful pink Lady’ Slipper. It is still relatively rare, but here in Delaware they are not listed as Endangered. I would love to have this flower in the garden, but they hate their roots to be disturbed, and they need a special microbe in the soil to flourish. So I will leave this medicinal plant where I find it, and go revisit it next year.