Missouri Native Plants of Interests

Wild Flowers and weeds with magico-religous uses and phytopharmacological, medicinal, and healing activity.

'Missouri Native Plants Of Interest' is a continuation on my previous (unfinished) essay entitled "Phytopharmacologically active plants: of the midwest". Nearly all of the plants listed in these two essays are plants I have personally encountered and worked with. Many field guides and various sources of information (particularly on the internet) are simply bits of recycled misinformation. The reason I am compiling these lists based completely on personal encounters is because I truely wish to see it before I believe it.

This is a rough draft. It is to be later sorted by botanical family (Alphabetical order based on genus, then species,subspecies). The purposes of this compilation is to supply information regarding the folk-lore, chemistry / phytopharmacology, and other various uses of plants native to our area. Before I became conscious of their existance all I saw when I looked out the car window was a blur of green and now I am able to pinpoint and identify each individual plant as they are all very unique and worthy of our attention. Please remember though that many of these plants may possibly be protected by law against harvesting, or near the end of their existance so please use extreme care when seeking out these plants. Plants such as Yellow Lady's Slipper should absolutely NOT be harvested but rather simply admired for their beauty. Take photographs and possibly even notify a local botanist so that they may enjoy this amazing plant and possibly be able to harvest a small amount of seeds in order to restore their abundance and end their scarcity.

Aster Family (Asteraceae)

Apiaceae

Poppy Family (Papaveraceae)

Mallow Family

Fumitory Family

Mint Family (Lamiaceae)

Vervain Family (Verbenaceae)

Arum Family

Nightshade Family (Solanaceae)

Pea Family (Fabaceae)

Rose Family

Rutaceae

Graminaceae Family

Orchid Family (Orchidaceae)

Common Name (Scientific Name): Family Member, Anatomy, Constituents, Activity.

Hemp Argimony (Eupatorium cannabinum): Aster Family Member. (Eupatorium maculatum)

Black HoreHound (Ballota nigra)

Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum):

Gravel Root (Eupatorium purpureum):

Gay Feather (Liatris spicata)

Pennycress ( )

White Prickly Poppy (Argemone alba): Poppy Family Member

(Trillium)

Heliotrope ( )

Poppy Mallow ( )

(Solidago )

Wild Indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)

Indian Cigar Tree (Bignonia catalpa): Bignoniaceae Family Member.

New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus): Rhamnaceae family member. Thought to be sedative in action.

Shephard's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Bakana (Sciprus)

Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium pubescens): Orchid Family Member.

Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)

Wild Strawberry (Fragaria vesca):

(Galium odoratum): Rubiaceae Family Member.

(Galium verum): Rubiaceae Family Member.

Cleavers (Galium aparine): Rubiaceae Family Member.

(Lycopus )

Queen Ane's Lace ( )

Sweet cicely ( )

Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana)

Mayapple (podophyllum peltatum)

Cowslip (Primula veris)

Primrose (Primula vulgaris)

Golden Rod (Solidago virgaurea)

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

Bleeding Heart (Dicentra sp.)

Dutchmans Breeches (Dicentra sp.)

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Bundle flower (Desmanthus illoensis)

(Echinacea purpurea)

Desmodium (Desmodium adscendens): Fabaceae Family Member.

Sea Holly (Eryngium levenworthii):

Ipomea

Oenothera

Sunflower (Helianthus)

Milkweed (Aclepias sp.)

Corydalis (Corydalis sp.): Poppy Family Member, Isoquinoline Alkaloids: Protopine, Leonticine, Tetrahydropalmatine. , Analgesic and sedative properties. Used in TCM.

Reed Canary Grass(Phalaris arundinacaea)

Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa)

Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

Vervain (Verbena officinalum)

Hoary vervain (Verbena stricta)

Valerian (Valeriana)

Mint Species (Mentha sp.)

Henbit Common Dead Nettle(Lamium amplexicaule)

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)

Yarrow (Achillea millifolium)

CatTail ( ): In a family of its own, this Cattail family member is commonly found growing in wetlands and riverbeds all around the midwest.

Sweet Flag(Acorus calamus):

Aesculus hippocastnum (Horse Chestnut):

Cinquefoil (Potentilla )

Angelica (Angelica archangelica):

White Sage (Artemisia ludoviciani):

Wild Hemp (Cannabis sativa): Cannabis is in a family of its own.

Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum): Apiaceae Family Member.

Mulberry Tree (Morus ): Once a member in the Cannabis family, Morus is now classified as a X Family Member.

Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium): Nightshade Member.

Toloache (Datura innoxia): Nightshade Family Member.

Nightshade (Solanum sp.) Nightshade Family Member.

Oats (Avena sativa): Graminaceae Family Member.

Chicory (Cichorium intybus): Aster Family Member

Bakana (Scirpus atrovirens): This powerfully hallucinogenic member of the sedge family is native to Kansas and Missouri and can be found growing in marsh like area's and around wetlands and river. The root is used for its powerful properties and has much folk lore sorrounding it.

Go Back To Essays Section.