Bloodroot
All members of the Poppy family have milky or colored sap, and Bloodroot (Sanguinarea canadensis) is no exception. Its sap is as red as its petals are white, and was used as a source of dye by Native Americans (for clothing and baskets) as well as for paint and as an insect repellent. The individual flower of Bloodroot lasts only two days, but on these two days, it reigns supreme amongst the early ephemerals.
I just picked a few of these flowers today, along with a feathery white kind with some blue underneath, and the bright dark blue flower, all in the woods and about the same size. I wonder what these others are? I picked them today to reward myself for catching a brush fire which had started in the woods behind Rite Aid. The fire dept came and had their hose on it probably only 10 mins after it had started, probably from a cigarette butt. Because of fast action, no trees were burned and very few flowers, only leaves and fallen logs. I am so grateful I came home just then and smelled it starting….The woods are DRY, everyone.
April 15, 2012 at 12:37 am