Herb Sophia, Tansymustard, Flixweed,Descurainia Sophia,Mustard Family (Brassiaceae)

Found in disturbed soil, roadsides, sandy areas
Seen in April on CR 142

If you saw this in your yard, you would pull it as a weed, but Herb Sophia has many beneficial properties. It grows from 6 to 30 inches high with a single erect stem, branching in the upper plant as flower stalks grow. Leaves are bright green and feathery, divided into numerous narrow segments. Flattish clusters of flowers bloom at the tip of the branches. Flowers are tiny, about 1/8 inch across, with four yellow petals. Seed pods are one inch long, narrow and point upwards. Native Americans have used Herb Sophia for both food and medicinal purposes. Young leaves and shoots can be boiled and eaten as greens. The seed can be ground, mixed with cornmeal and used to make bread and cakes. Ground seeds were added to water to make a cooling drink or were mixed with snow and eaten as ice cream. Medicinally, a poultice of the plant has been used to ease toothache. The juice of the plant has been used in the treatment of chronic coughs, hoarseness, ulcerated sore throats and asthma. A poultice of ground seeds was used on burns and sores. It is used in the treatment of asthma, fevers, bronchitis, oedema, scurvy and dysentery and as a diuretic, expectorant, laxative, digestive aid and tonic, and in the treatment of worms. Leaves were buried with seed corn to prevent spoiling. Source.

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