Blogger: Ethno-botanist at Landcare Research, Sue Scheele As rugby fans pray for a fully-fit, injury-free AB team to take on the world, I’m thinking about one of our legendary players, the full-back George Nepia. In his biography, written with Terry McLean, George tells of an injury that threatened to end his career. In 1925, the […]

Blogger:  Ethno-botanist at Landcare Research, Sue Scheele It’s cold and wet as I write this, but looking out the window, my eye catches a patch of ngapuka or tītīrangi, Hebe speciosa, in full flower; the rich, magenta blooms sure brightens up a miserable, grey day. Early Maori also appreciated this splendid flower and a recent […]

Blogger: Ethno-botanist at Landcare Research, Sue Scheele Itch-relief treatment, jam, contraceptive –  poroporo (Solanum aviculare, S. laciniatum) is a valuable plant to have around. Commonly regarded as a weed, this soft-wooded shrub is often found on forest margins and cleared bush areas, and, like some other members of the nightshade family, has a reputation of being […]

Blogger: Ethno-botanist at Landcare Research, Sue Scheele In my first blog on medicinal native plants, I suggested it was worth knowing about plant uses in case of economic meltdown and the end of the fossil-fuel era. I forgot to mention earthquakes. Here in the relative safety of Lincoln, I’ve just filled 2 containers with drinking […]

Guest Blogger: Ethnobotanist at Landcare Research, Sue Scheele Over the next few months, Sue Scheele will write a series of blogs on the medicinal uses of our home-grown plants. First up, the ubiquitous kawakawa – cough clearer, tooth-ache reliever and  headache buster. Over to you Sue! Take a quick look at the shelves of your pharmacy or […]