Flower identification, medicinal and edible properties. As my fellow Steemian followers know, I am an intermediate herbalist and love to forage and identify the local Montana flora as part of my survivalist skillset. Here are the latest finds from my woodland journeys.
Blooming Prickly Pear Cactus
The blooms are so lush!
You wouldn't expect to find a cacti in Montana, but the forests morph from pine to high desert within a matter of yards!
This cacti provides an ample source of food, but the fruits in Montana are much smaller and less fleshy in comparison to its southern relatives.
The stems of the cacti can be mashed and used as dressing wounds out in the bush. Recent studies have been shown that the juice of this cactus may lower blood pressure!
Montana Wild Rose
One of my favorite flora shots with the river in the background
One of my favorite Montana wildflowers, the Wild Rose has a wonderful smell but the blooms only last about a week or so.
This Wild Rose is a great survival food as the hips last throughout the winter and can be foraged as an edible. It is considered more of a famine food as the hips are quite seedy, but in a Montana harsh winter, this could be a lifesaver.
The hips of the Wild Rose contain as much vitamin C as an orange! The tincture of this rose is used for feminine ailments, such as relieving cramps and reducing labor pain.
A special thanks to Lone Pine publishing and its authors for a series of GREAT herbal identification books!
