Cleavers (Galium aparine)

Taxonomy

Family: Rubiaceae

Genus: Galium

Species: Aparine

Common names: Cleavers, clivers, goosegrass, stickywilly, stickyweed, stickyleaf, catchweed, robin-run-the-hedge, and coachweed.

Description

Green. Square stem punctuated with clusters of 6-8 thin, oblong leaves and occasional branches. Flower is tiny and white with four petals. The fruits are small, hard balls. All parts of the plant have sticky hooks.

Growth

Found throughout the United States. Grows near low, shrubby vegetation. Flowers and fruits in spring.

Uses

Food: Edible raw, but much more palatable when cooked. Should be collected before fruiting. Good source of vitamin C. Can be made into tea. Dried and roasted fruit can be made into a coffee-like drink.

Medicinal: Infusion used for skin problems (poison oak). Used as relief for colds, sunburns, and poisonous bites.

Warnings

Laxative and diuretic.

Sources

http://www.northernbushcraft.com/plants/cleavers/notes.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleavers

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GAAP2

http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Galium+aparine

Survival Situation: Snake Bites

Introduction

The easiest way to avoid dying from a snake bite is to avoid being bitten. The best way to do so is to never pick up a wild snake -- ever. Only 12 people in the US die by snake bites every year and they are usually under the influence of alcohol. 30% of reported bites are known as "dry bites" in which no venom is released.

Prevention

• Never pick up a wild snake
• Never try to kill or approach a snake
• Avoid sudden movement if a snake is encountered
• Try to wear thick or heavy clothing when snakes are expected
• Avoid reaching to places without visibility (especially for climbers)
• Tapping the ground with a walking stick or stomping will cause snakes to hide.
• Avoid disturbing places a snake might hide (logs, rocks, etc.)

Deadly Snakes

In the US there are two distinct types of deadly snakes: pit vipers and elapids. Pit vipers include rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths (water moccasin). The only dangerous elapid is the corral snake. Pit viper bites are immediately very painful but elapid bites do not start to hurt until hours later. Never assume a snake bite is harmless because a lack of pain. Take every unknown snake seriously.

If Bitten DO NOT

• DO NOT Attempt to kill the snake
• DO NOT Make a tourniquet
• DO NOT Attempt to suck out the venom (by mouth or otherwise)
• DO NOT Cut the bite area
• DO NOT Let the eat/drink (especially drugs, pharmaceuticals and alcohol)
• DO NOT Use antivenom in the wilderness

If Bitten

• Move away from the snake
• Remain as common as possible (stay assured that everything will be okay)
• Try not to exert yourself or move too much
• Treat for shock if necessary
• Keep injured area below heart level
• Disinfect wound
• If available, wrap bandage staring 2-4 inches above the wound (closer to the heart) down to the bite itself. Make sure the bandage is not extremely tight as to cut off circulation.
• Call 911 and get to a hospital as soon as possible

Sources

http://www.surviveoutdoors.com/reference/snakes/snake-bites.asp

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000031.htm

Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

Taxonomy

Family: Ericaceae

Genus: Gaultheria

Species: Shallon

Common names: Salal, gaultheria, shallon

Description

Twigs are reddish-brown with shredding bark. The shiny, dark green, alternate leaves are thick and leathery. Small, urn-shaped flowers are borne in showy clusters on terminal and subterminal bracteate racemes (offset nodes). The white, pink, or deep-rose tinged flowers are sticky and glandular.

Growth
Salal grows in warm, moist to dry, montane to lowland coastal conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest. Salal grows well in partial shade, although vigor may be poor beneath a dense canopy. This perennial shrub persists in sun or shade. Salal commonly occurs with species such as red alder, salmonberry, vine maple, swordfern, rhododendron, vaccinium, dwarf Oregon grape, Pacific dogwood, tanoak, threeleaf foamflower, and deerfern in western hemlock or western hemlock-western redcedar forests. In redwood forests, salal grows with dwarf Oregon grape, evergreen huckleberry, willow (Salix spp.),California hazel, Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii), California laurel (Umbellularia californica), and rhododendron.

Uses
Food: Berries are edible. They are sweet, can be dried into cakes. Can also be made into tea.
Medicinal: Tea used for cramping and inflammation (bladder inflammation, stomach or duodenal ulcers, heartburn, indigestion, sinus inflammation, diarrhea, moderate fever, inflamed / irritated throat). Poultice used for bug bites/stings.

Sources
http://northernbushcraft.com/berries/salal/notes.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaultheria_shallon
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GASH

Photographs:

Wilderness Survival

This blog is going to be used to post information regarding a series of skills, plants, animals, mushrooms, and equipment. One or two of these will be choosen weekly and throughout the week information on them will be posted. As better sources appear they will be retrospectively added to. Overtime real samples and data can be collected. Hopefully in the course of a few months vital skills and knowledge will be available.
This blog, at least for now, will cater to the USA, the pacific northwest and specifically to Humboldt County.
Please comment with you suggestions, corrections and experiences.