Published by Daniel Mosquin on December 18, 2017
Although appetizing in appearance to many people, the berries of Solanum dulcamara are best appreciated for their beauty rather than their flavour.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on June 14, 2017
Serious gardeners and botanists often ignore the common garden or hybrid petunia. It is ubiquitous in nurseries, grocery store “garden” sections, and hanging baskets throughout North America (I imagine Europe as well, but am speaking from my own experience). So ubiquitous, that I have learned to more or less discount it as something of particular […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on March 31, 2017
Like potatoes and tomatoes, Solanum crispum is a member of the Solanaceae. Common names for the species include Chilean nightshade, Chilean potato vine, and Chilean potato tree; in addition to Chile, it is native to Peru.
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on July 3, 2015
Solanum pyracanthos is native to Madagascar and is a member of the genus that includes tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants. I wouldn’t try to eat the small fruits without a good indication of their edibility, however, as many members of the Solanum are poisonous (at least when raw).
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on March 27, 2015
Datura wrightii, also known as sacred datura or jimsonweed, is a representative of a group of plants that mean many things to many different people. Fans of Carlos Castaneda will know of this genus from Castaneda’s hallucinatory accounts of his journey through the teachings of shamanism. Ethnobotanists will know of the traditional uses of Datura […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on May 15, 2009
Patagonia is a large place, covering southernmost Chile and Argentina. To me it conjures images of big skies, steppe lands and dry air. As it really is, Patagonia is much more, including Andes mountains and temperate rainforest similar to our own in Vancouver, BC. Petunias belong in the Solanaceae, which is well represented in South […]
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Published by Daniel Mosquin on August 4, 2007
The photographer, Wayne, has written about this species on his weblog, Earth, Wind & Water, and I highly recommend reading the entry–not only will you learn about the plant, but you’ll learn a little more about zombies, too: Some Kind of Voodoo.
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