What plant can be used to scrub pots?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
August 3, 2001
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~6~~7~~8~~9~~10~~
Suggested Reading—>Click here.
Scouring rushes or horsetails are twenty-five leftover species from ancient times having their greatest abundance and diversity 300 million years ago. These few survivors comprise the genus Equisetum and are found worldwide except in Australia and New Zealand.
The presence of silica makes it difficult for herbivores to eat the Equisetums. The silica acts to wear down the mouthparts of insects or damage the enamel of the teeth of larger herbivores. Animals generally never eat the plants, since it feels like a mouthful of grit.
There are toxins in the Equisetums: thiaminase and palustrine. Thiaminase breaks down the B1 vitamin, eventually causing damage to the central nervous system. Palustrine is an alkaloid that causes severe diarrhea and muscle weakness. These toxins are only a problem when the horsetails are present in hay eaten by horses and cattle.
But these plants have long been useful to humans. Before the invention of steel wool pads, scouring rushes were collected, dried, and used to scour pots, pans, and floors.
The University of Catania, Italy has posted a photograph of Equisetum telmateia. To view the photograph, click on the link:
http://www.dipbot.unict.it/sistematica/Equi_tel.html
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~6~~7~~8~~9~~10~~
Suggested Reading:
How are plant opals revealing the past? Weird Plants - June 20, 2002
Nettle in, Dock out Weird Plants - June 12, 2003
What is pectin? Plants that Changed History - July 8, 2003
How did the soft rush help train Samurai? Weird Plants - May 23, 2002
How did settlers use wax myrtle? Herbal Folklore - October 27, 2003
|
