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Common Scottish Plants Uses of some of our familiar native species This page shows just a small selection of the information Flora Celtica has available on the uses of native plants in Scotland. If you want to find out a bit about the plants, click on the pictures below.
Oxalis acetosella - Wood sorrel Biadh nan coinean (Bird's foot) - [Gaelic] The leaves of this common, little woodland plant were (and still are) employed throughout Scotland, Ireland and other north European countries as a salad vegetable, as well as a ‘tea’. The Oxalic acid content makes the drink bitter and, as a consequence, extremely refreshing, particularly for heat stroke or fever patients. In large quantities, however, the acid can be toxic and there are historical records of accidental poisonings in very young children - so be warned ! References:
Digitalis purpurea - Foxglove Lus nam bansith (Fairy woman's plant) - [Gaelic] Foxglove is a striking plant of shady woodlands and disturbed areas. The heart regulating drug digitalis, which has been in use for at least 250 years, is extracted from this plant. The 'Pharmacopoeia Edinburgensis', a medical text from 1730s Edinburgh, lists this plant as amongst those found in apothecaries (early pharmacies) in Scotland, and states that the leaves were the main parts used. The Gaelic name given above, Lus nam bansith refers to the fact that this plant has had long associations with the faerie folk, or shidhe, as they are known in Gaelic (hence, in English we have 'folk's glove' - the glove of the little people). There is an account from the 1620s of a woman tried for witchcraft for her supposed associations with the faerie folk. She was supposed to have killed a child by poisoning it with foxglove. A more likely scenario was that she was a healer and was unable to dose her cure correctly, resulting in the death. References:
Myrica gale - Bog Myrtle Roid - [Gaelic] Bog myrtle or sweet gale is a distinctive shrubby plant of moorlands. It has dark green, waxy leaves, and small, orange catkins. These are full of aromatic compounds and the leaves were used on Uist and in Glenald (as well as in Scandanavian countries) to flavour, and help preserve, beer. In fact, it is still in use today in the production of commercially available heather ales. In Islay and Jura, this species was often used as a garnish for food, and it is still used in cooking in some parts of Scotland. The essential oils of this plant are repellent to insects, and so sprigs were stored with clothes to discourage moths. The more canny anglers often wear a sprig to keep away the midges (Culicoides impunctatus). Indeed, in 1995 a commercial midge repellant was produced on Skye under the trade name 'Myrica'. A test gave a ratio of 155:13 bites for untreated:treated arms (on 8 people, over a ten minute period), implying that the stuff really is effective. References:
Juniperus communis - Juniper Samh, Aiteann - [Gaelic] An understorey shrub in scots pine forests and in more exposed sites on hillsides (typically subspecies alpina). Oil of juniper is an abortifacient - hence gin was believed to be 'mother's ruin'. In Lothian, in mediaeval times, 'giving birth under the savin tree' was a euphamism for miscarriage or juniper-induced abortion. The 'berries' (actually more akin to the cones of pine trees) are familiar as a flavouring in gin but were also used to flavour whisky, giving it a gamey or 'gin-like' taste. In 1786, a bill banning the import of foreign spirits was passed by Parliament. This contributed to a vast increase in the production of illicit whisky, as home brewed whisky could undercut the legal products of the lowland distilleries. Many home stills were taken into the hills, or other less accessible areas, to keep them from the watchful eye of the authorities. In these areas, whatever wood was at hand could be used to fuel the fire for the still. Juniper was often used, as it is typically found in remoter areas and produces very little smoke when burned - almost perfect if the illicit still had to keep a low profile. It is thought that the demand for juniper at this time had a considerable impact on the two subspecies found in Scotland, reducing their numbers considerably, although they have recovered well since 1823, when a uniform method of alcohol taxation was applied to the whole country.
Drosera rotundifolia - Round-Leaved Sundew Lus na fearnaich (Plant with shields) - [Gaelic] This is
a tiny, carnivorous plant is found in acid boglands. The following
passage from Flora Scotica, by John Lightfoot (an 18th century
naturalist) illustrates some of the supposed properties of this
plant: "The Highlanders believe that the rot in sheep is often
occasioned by their feeding on this herb, which is very ancient."
Although one interpretation of the Gaelic name for this plant is
'the plant with shields' (fearnaich), earnach, (which
may be a component of the name) refers to a disease in cattle which
was thought to have been caused by the beasts grazing on sundew.
There are also later references to the fact that 'trembles' was
possibly the disease caused in sheep when eating this plant.
There were, however, some properties of the plant that were considered
more useful. In Lightfoot, again: "The liquor which exudes
from the hairs of the plants is said to take away warts and corns."
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