These are some of the plants I saw and learned about while in Madeira. I hope you enjoy this post about plants from across the world!
Pride of Madeira
Echium candicans
It's funny, I knew when researching Madeira plants that they had a popular Borage plant. But I forgot what it looked like. I saw this plant all over the island, and it wasn't until I saw it WITHOUT it's flowers that I immediately recognized it as a Borignaceae family plant. Similar in use to Borage for the nervous system
Here's a website for more information: https://herberowe.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/pride-of-madeira-%E2%80%93-echium-candicans/
Boldo
Coleus barbatus
Found this at my relative's house. She told me they use it as a digestive aid for upset stomachs and for detoxing the liver and the gallbladder. It's a powerful bitter! I ate some of the leaves that night and took them back to the Airbnb to dry and try some in a tea. Not as bitter as my relatives noted, but it was certainly a bitter drink.
Spanish Moss (Old Man's Beard)
Tillandsia usneoides (Not Usnea)
It was fun! I saw this on a hike and pointed it out to our guide and he noted it was called Old Man's Beard. I said I wonder if its the same as Usnea... Will likely not due to the area... it still has the same uses and I was able to tell the guide some of the uses that usnea has...
Candelabra aloe
Aloe arborescens
My daughter burnt her shoulders the 1st day here, and we kept our eye out for some aloe and found some! She was grateful to apply it to her burns! I could have used the yellow part as a bit of laxative as I had some dairy the day before which can constipate me.
White Clover
Trifolium repens
This grows all over my yard, and I love the sea of white it creates in the summer. These flowers AND leaves were quite a bit larger than what grows in my yard (even when I don't cut the grass). I was very surprised to see them because we were up at around 5000 feet (in the clouds) when I took this photo.
Lily of the Nile
Agapanthus africanus
This plant has a reputation as an anti-inflammatory and wound healer: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0254629925006581
Prickly Lettuce
Lactuca serriola
Used simiarly as to our wild lettuce so fun to see plants I have in my back yard in a completely different country AND on an island!
Berry bush
Our guide pointed out a local blackberry that they would eat when ripe and hiking. I'm not sure they were actual blackberries such as we eat, but they were growing all over the place.
Castor Oil
Rincinus communis
I've never seen a Castor Oil Plant! Now I have! Fun!
Small melilot
Melilotus indicus
When I saw this I knew it was a melilotus! It looks just like the Sweet Yellow Clover (Melilotus off.) I grow and what grows on the sides of all the fields in Nebraska! Again! another similar plant to what grows in my area.
Plantago Species (this is maybe Hoary)
Plantain grew all over! This particular one was new to me (in seeing it). I'm pretty sure I saw Plantago major. One that grows where I was was Plantago Leiopetala which looks similar to Plantago lanceolata..
Hottentot
Carpobrotus edulis
A very pretty succulent I took a photo of... but later learned it has similar uses topically as aloe.
