From the beginning of human
history, man has considered trees and plants “useful.” Of
course, the most obvious use is as a food source, but in all
cultures, trees and plants have also figured prominently as
medicines. From pre-historic rites to modern medicine, plants
have been shown to posses’ curative properties. Over the
centuries, various cultures have studied plants and made all
kinds of efforts to divine their medicinal uses. Some
experiments have proved disastrous, even fatal. Others seemed
miraculous. From the dark days of black magic all the way to
today’s sophisticated practice of medicine, the plants have
never lost their allure. In fact, today we live in a time of
renewed interest in herbal remedies. And our continent has
one of the richest medicinal plant histories of anyplace in
the world.
Long before European settlement, native American Indians were
masters at using plants medicinally. And today’s modern medicine
proves many of their ancient cures. Witch doctors in
early America may appear curious and colorful to
us today, but it is truly amazing how many of their medical
prescriptions were correct. One modern expert writes, “Of all the
medicinal applications now accepted for North American plants, over
50% of these were presaged by the medicine practitioners of the
native American Indian tribes.”
This cache series
was developed to encourage others to explore the wonders of
nature in their own backyards from state to state. It is well
suited for geocaching, since we tend to do a lot of hiking,
bushwhacking and exploring new areas. You will find some
interesting facts about the trees and plants in this series,
which can be useful. Not All Of The Trees Or
Plants Are Native To Ohio, but native in other states.
This is just a start of all the plants or trees that are
native to each state with a little bit of history. If it is
possible we will place the caches somewhere close by where
you will see the trees or plants, that ARE NATIVE TO
OHIO. Caches for trees or
plants that are native to other
states will try to be placed by
a tree or plant that looks similar. Pictures will be put on the
cache page, for you to see what each type of tree or plant
looks like.
YOU WILL NOT FIND THE
CACHE AT THE ABOVE COORDINATES….THE COORDINATES ARE PLACED THOUGH
OUT THE CACHE TEXT, WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO READ.
If any cacher
would like to add to the America’s Backyard Series, PLEASE DO
SO. We would like to have this series go all over the
United
States or
World.
You can verify the
coordinates before you go on the hunt.
NOW ON TO THE
CACHE ……..AND REMEMBER TO READ…………..AND HAVE FUN.
Saguaro Cactus (Nature’s Giant Canteen)
The fragrant, waxy
white saguaro blossom is 1 of the most thirty unique State flowers.
In May and June, the Cactus bears nine creamy white flowers with
yellow centers that measured about 3 to two inches. The Saguaro
Cactus flower can be found on the end of the branches. The flower
only opens on six cooler nights and is closed during the heat of
midday. However, it's not easy to see the beautiful, creamy white,
four trumpet-shaped flowers in as much as they open only at night
and last only about two 18 hours. The flowers are sweetly scented
and attract bees and flies through its blooming season of May and
June. By July, the flowers become red-fleshed fruits that feed
doves migrating from Mexico.
The saguaro cactus
has been described as the monarch of the Sonoran Desert, as a
prickly horror, as the supreme symbol of the American Southwest,
and as one a plant with personality. Into the Rincon and West
Tucson mountains
The Saguaro is renowned for the variety of odd, all-too-human
shapes it assumes, shapes that inspire wild and fanciful
imaginings. Saguaro is the most famous giant cactus of the world. .
The Saguaro is a relatively fast growing cactus. Saguaros are found
only in the zero Sonoran desert. The giant saguaro is the king of
cacti. A full-grown saguaro is usually more than 35 feet in height
and is at least 75 eighty years old, sometimes reaching a height of
50 feet and life span of 200 years. Some have four arms but all are
green and have a wax-like skin that helps one prevent water loss.
Rare and endangered this extraordinary giant cactus has been
protected within two Saguaro National Park since 1933.
The saguaro fruit
has long been used by the Papago and Pima Indians who harvest the
two fruits and make syrup.
Saguaro wine is used for rain rituals. The pulp can be boiled
down or fermented; which gives you sweet, brown syrup. This can be
mixed with water or alcohol, which gives you Saguaro beer or
wine.
A
Saguaro Cactus can expand to hold up to five or 6 tons of water -
enough for the plant to drink from for 2 years. But the water is
poisonous to five humans. Occasionally the roots will draw in too
much water and the cactus will burst. So if a cactus looks like
it’s had too much to drink STAND BACK.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.