Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers by Elizabeth Silverthorne

In Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers, Elizabeth Silverthorne has gathered an intriguing array of folklore about forty-four of Texas' most fascinating wildflowers, such as water lily, Queen Anne's Lace, honeysuckle, dogwood, and morning glory. 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 and even plant worship, some of which is described in these wildflower profiles. Over the years much of the folk wisdom about plants was forgotten or ignored as more sophisticated scientific technology ruled the world. Only recently have people again become aware that the lowliest wildflower may harbor some important secret. Now, scientists are working to unlock secrets in wildflower extracts that may be a key to curing modern health problems. For each of the flowers 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. Eighteen delicate drawings accompany the text. The paintbrush, often referred to as Indian paintbrush, may be seen in reddish-orange abundance along Texas highways. Native Americans reportedly made a weak tea from this flower to treat rheumatism, secretly mixed it with food to create a secret love charm, and derived a poison from it to use against their enemies.

Agarita Agave Anemone Aster Bluebell Bluebonnet Broomweed Buttercup Clover Coral Bead Daisy Dandelion Dogwood Foxglove/Penstemon Gaillardia/Indian Blanket Goldenrod Holly Honeysuckle Iris Lily Mallow/Winecup Milkweed Mistletoe Morning Glory Mullein Mustard Orchid Paintbrush Passionflower Phlox Pitcher Plant Poinsettia Poppy Prickly Pear Primrose Queen Anne's Lace Sunflower Thistle Verbena Violet

Other common roadside blooms have had equally amazing uses, the author reveals. 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 times, to treat leprosy, plague, and insanity and, more recently, to remove warts or raise blisters.

Silverthorne offers everyone who has admired the beauty of wildflowers a fuller appreciation of them. Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers should also delight those who enjoy folklore.

ELIZABETH SILVERTHORNE is the author of three award-winning books, Ashbel Smith of Texas, Plantation Life in Texas, and Christmas in Texas, published by Texas A&M University Press, as well as a number of other books for adults and children. A free-lance writer, she lives in Salado, Texas.

Number Twenty-four:
The Louise Lindsey Merrick Natural Environment Series

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Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers
0-89096-702-4 cloth $24.95

LC 95-45245. 6x9. 264 pp. 18 line drawings. Bib. Index.
Natural History. Folklore. Regional Topics.

Publication Date: March 1996.

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