Clapping for Nature: Weeds

Leah Stein Dance Company Summer Studio Works August 24, 2024

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) also known as the blackberry nightshade, European nightshade

  • Found in many wooded areas, as well as disturbed habitats;

  • Can grow up to 47 inches tall; small white flowers and dull purple berries

  • Unripe berries and leaves are unsafe and contain a toxic chemical called solanine

  • When ripe: have been used for cramps, spasms, pain, nervousness; leaves applied topically to relieve psoriasis, and deep skin infections

Clammy Goosefoot (Dysphania pumilio) 

  • Native to Australia, but it can be found in other parts of the world

  • Likes to spread out in waste areas, such as roadsides and lots 

  • Has Vitamins C and E, essential fatty acids, iron, calcium, minerals, protein and antioxidants

Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium giganteum) also known as tree spinach, lamb's quarters, melde, goosefoot, wild spinach and fat-hen

  • Contains more iron, protein, vitamin B2, and vitamin C than either spinach or cabbage

  • Grows from about 3-6 feet tall

Common Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) also known as riverside wormwood, felon herb, chrysanthemum weed, wild wormwood, old Uncle Henry, sailor's tobacco, naughty man, old man, or St. John's plant 

  •  Herbaceous perennial that grows 2-4’ 

  • Genus is named for Artemis, Greek goddess of the moon, wild animals and hunting

  • In Nepal, the plant is used as an offering to the gods, for cleansing the environment (by sweeping floors or hanging a bundle outside the home)

  • Dried leaves are often smoked or drunk as a tea to promote lucid dreaming

Gallant Soldier (Galinsoga parviflora) also known as quick weed, potato weed, gauss, burrionera 

  • Species of herbaceous plant in the daisy family; cousin of Galinsoga quadriradiata

  • Grows up to 30 inches tall

  • Young leaves can be used in a soup or in dishes, such as risotto and lasagna

Green Carpetweed (Mollugo verticillata) also known as carpetweed, Devils’ grip, Indian chickweed, whorled chickweed

  • Grows in sunny disturbed areas including tilled gardens, newly planted lawns, and along roadsides

  • Spreads from a sparsely branched central taproot, creating a low mat

  • Used in treating fever, aches and other various ailments 

  • Shows promising activity in pharmacological properties due to the presence of phytoconstituents like terpenoids, saponins and flavonoids

Hairy Crabweed (Fatoua villos) also known as Mulberry Weed

  • Leaves are heart shaped and resemble Mulberry leaves

  • Roots are depurative, diuretic, emmenagogue and febrifuge

  • Used as a treatment against fevers

Horseweed (Erigeron canadensis) also known as horseweed, Canadian horseweed, Canadian fleabane, coltstail, marestail, and butterweed

  • Grows up to 5 feet tall, with sparsely hairy stems

  • Used for bleeding, dysentery, and water retention 

Licorice Weed (Scoparia dulcis) also known as licorice weed, goatweed, scoparia-weed and sweet-broom

  • Whole plant is used to treat toothaches; dried and used as a herbal tea to treat blood in urine; crushed and mixed with salt, and applied to sores to aid in healing

  • Drug prepared from this plant is used in the treatment of diabetes

  • Leaves are used to treat fevers and nausea

Mexican Tea (Dysphania ambrosioides) also known as epazote, Jesuit's tea, Mexican tea or wormseed

  • Self or wind-pollinated

  • Grows 2-5 feet tall in cultivated fields, roadsides, streamsides, and waste places

  • Has been used to remove intestinal worms

Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)

  • Deciduous shrub usually growing 33–66 feet tall, but known to reach 115 feet

  • Believed to be the most widely transported fiber crop in prehistory

  • Primarily used to make barkcloth

Princess Tree (Paulownia tomentosa) also known as empress tree, or foxglove-tree

  • Grows 33–82 ft tall, with large heart-shaped leaves and large, blue fragrant flowers

  • Its nitrogen-rich leaves provide good fodder and its roots prevent soil erosion and readily absorbs pollutants

Shaggy Soldier (Galinsoga quadriradiata ) also known as shaggy soldier, Peruvian daisy, hairy galinsoga

  • Main stem reaches anywhere from 4 to 24 inches

  • Cousin of Galinsoga parviflora

  • Used as an herb or in salads

  • Used for its anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to neutralize the sting of stinging nettles

Spanish Needle (Bidens alba) also known as shepherd's needles, beggarticks, Spanish needles, or butterfly needle

  • Nutrient dense wild plant, boasting a similar nutrient profile to kale 

  • Provides a nectar source for butterflies and honey bees

  • Can be re-grown from stems

White Clover (Trifolium repens)

  • Low-growing forage legume used predominantly in pasture mixtures with grasses

  • Food source for livestock and pollinator for bees

  • Leaves and flowers are high in protein and often used in salads