| Legends & Lore of Texas Wildflowers Contributor(s): Silverthorne, Elizabeth (Author) |
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ISBN: 1585442305 ISBN-13: 9781585442300 Publisher: Texas A&M University Press OUR PRICE: $17.06 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: May 2002 Annotation: Elizabeth Silverthorne has gathered an intriguing bouquet of folklore about forty-four of Texas' most fascinating wildflowers such as water lily, Queen Anne's lace, honeysuckle, dogwood, and morning glory. Only recently have people again become aware that the lowliest wildflower may harbor an important secret. Native Americans reportedly made a weak tea from the paintbrush to treat rheumatism. Violets have been used to cure cancer, while sunflowers were planted by nineteenth-century pioneers to protect families from malaria. In ancient times when people were more aware of their dependence on plants to provide food, medicine, fuel, and materials for clothing, there grew up a vast amount of folklore, much of which is described in these wildflower profiles. For each flower in this book Silverthorne describes the significance and origin of its common name, identifies where the flower grows naturally, what uses it has had historically, and what legends are associated with it. She offers everyone who has admired the beauty of wildflowers a fuller appreciation of them. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Nature | Plants - Flowers |
| Dewey: 582.130 |
| LCCN: 95045245 |
| Series: Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment (Paperback) |
| Physical Information: 0.74" H x 6.05" W x 9" (0.97 lbs) 264 pages |
| Themes: - Geographic Orientation - Texas - Cultural Region - Southwest U.S. - Cultural Region - Mid-South - Cultural Region - South |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Every spring paintbrush decorates Texas' highways with its colorful leaves, which look as if they have been dipped in paint. Native Americans reportedly made a weak tea from this flower to treat rheumatism, to use in food as a secret love charm, and to use as a poison for their enemies. This roadside delight, sprinkled in with the bluebonnet, creates spectacular scenery for Texas travelers. In Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers, Elizabeth Silverthorne offers a delightful selection of these botanical treasures explaining the significance and origin of the name, identifying where the flower and its family members are located, and colorfully describing each one's legends and uses. Complemented by eighteen delicate drawings, legends and facts about forty-four of Texas' most interesting flowers, such as the water lily, Queen Anne's Lace, poinsettia, dogwood, and morning glory, are delightfully detailed. Violets have been used to cure cancer. Sunflowers were planted by nineteenth-century pioneers to protect families from malaria. Indian Blankets were used to increase fertility. Buttercups were used, in ancient time, to treat leprosy, plague, and insanity and, more recently, to remove warts or raise blisters. Silverthorne's text offers folklore enthusiasts, gardeners, and Texas history buffs an enchanting reading experience and an invitation to discover the legends growing in their own backyard. |