Legends & Lore of Texas Wildflowers

By Elizabeth Silverthorne

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585442305
• ISBN13: 9781585442300
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

exactly what I wanted to know...

I haven't finished it yet, but this author has done her homework well. I find her knowledge very helpful, the stories interesting. The only thing I would like to see is many more flowers covered, or for her to write more books on this subject. I will be seeking out her other books. I can highly recommend this if you are interested in the uses and lore of plants.

Good book on common folklore of plants

This is a good book on the past uses and folklore of plants. It contains not just Texas plants but plants that are common throughout the U.S. Each chapter is relatively short (two to five pages) and on a different plant. It makes an interesting book to share with others and pass the time on a rainy day.

Delightful

This charming book captivated and amazed me with its blend of whimsical legend and fascinating fact about many of our most common wildflowers. For example, simply imagine driving on a set of tires made from goldenrod! This book is a must-have addition to the library of any student of native plant lore.