Here’s a plant that those of us in isolation might find interesting: in the Middle Ages, it was used as a plague remedy. This plant is part of a colony on the WoodenBoat Campus. It’s just starting to flower, as you can see from this image taken Tuesday (April 21):
04/21/20
By summer, the colony will have constructed a gigantic blue-green leaf dome that will shade out everything under it:
Leighton Archive Image
Two of the common names for this non-native plant are Japanese Butterbur and Sweet Coltsfoot. Its scientific name is Petasites japonicus. The name Butterbur originated many years ago when the large leaves were used to wrap butter in hot weather. The name Coltsfoot originated from the shape of the leaves. The adjective Sweet indicates that this plant’s flowers and leaves have a sweeter scent than other Coltsfoot plants, including our native Coltsfoot. In Japan, the plant is used to make a popular food called Fuki. (Brooklin, Maine)