Click below to see our plants alphabetically listed by common name with their cures and cooking ideas
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S earch for Latin names and more here!
Macadamia
Nut Tree Macadamia
integrifolia or Macadamia tetraphylla
This is a tropical climate tree grown for its wonderful nuts. Macadamia
trees take a long time to become productive, up to four or five years, but a
couple
of years
later a single tree can bear many pounds
of its delicious and valuable nuts.
Benefits: The nuts are said to provide just about everything
you'll ever need and they'll cure you of ills too. Probably the truth of the
matter is that
the nuts are good for you especially since they taste good too.
From: Australia
Photographed: In
the (Ortobotanico ) Botanical Garden in Naples, Italy, in 2014.
Planting and Care: Macadamias are evergreen trees that will
grow to be up to 40 feet in height and 30 feet in width.
The real key to a happy macadamia is moisture so if you live in a place with
high humidity and lots of rain this might be a match made in heaven. They will
also want to be planted in deep, fertile and well drained soil with a pH between
4.5
to 8 and they want to live
out
of reach of high winds. In spring, fertilize them generously with nitrogen and
potassium but keep phosphorus to a minimum. I would recommend buying a healthy
small tree as its nut production will be much more reliable than one you grow
from seed.
Text and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2015/2018
My
#1 Fruit Mystery was generously solved by Nathaniel, a visitor to the site. I
am very grateful for his help.
**Macho
Fern See the FERNS PAGE -- Sword
Fern
Madagascar
Ocotillo, African Ocotillo Alluadia procera Drake
From: Madagascar as the name implies
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden in Palermo,
Sicily, Italy. The photograph on the left is a detail of one of these
peculiar plants taken in the huge cactus/succulent greenhouse while
the photograph on the right was taken in the outside cactus garden.
Planting and Care: To be happiest this succulent would
prefer to be in full sun, but it will manage a bit of bright shade
too. It is extremely drought tolerant making it an excellent choice
for a xeriscape garden. It is not at all tolerant of frost.
Text & Photograph
©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2012/2018
Madagascar
Palm Pachypodium lamerei
This odd looking plant is a succulent that closely resembles a frangipani with
the exception of its spiny surface. I was immediately taken with it when I saw
it. They are easy to grow in a warm climate and will grow as much as a foot a
year. Planted in the garden they will grow to be over 15 feet in height.
Benefits: Its sap was used as a poison for the tips
of arrows.
From: Madagascar
Photographed: In the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney, Australia,
in 2013.
Planting and Care: Place your Madagascar palm in an
area of the garden where it will be in full sun and where it will be
relatively dry. Treat it as you do your other succulents and it will
do very well. These plants sadly have no tolerance for cold.
Warning: This plant is poisonous if eaten, but it is
also toxic if you come into contact with its sap.
Text and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2013/2018
Madeira
Cranesbill, Giant Herb Robert Geranium maderense
One of the wonderful characteristics of this plant is that it is lovely as
greenery and even better when it's flowering. That's not all too common in
my experience.
Benefits: It has been used for centuries herbal medicine
in treating blood related disorders.
From: From the island of Madeira.
Photographed: At
the Winter Garden in Auckland, New Zealand in 2012
Planting and Care: This perennial
geranium is not frost tolerant, but it is able to grow in full
sun or shade in a variety of soil types as long as it has well
drained soil with routine rainfall or watering. It rarely gets
as easy as this.
Text and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2015/2018
My
Mystery Plant #1 was solved with the help of Master Gardener
Shirley Martin-Abel from the UK & California (How lucky
is that?)
Magnolia
Tree Mystery 1
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan
in Guatemala.
Photograph
©KO 2010
Magnolia
Tree Mystery 2
Photographed: In the Auckland Domain Park, 2013.
Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2013
MAHOGANY
TREES
**
West Indian Mahogany Tree, American Mahogany, Cuban Mahogany Swietenia
mahogani (L.)
Native to the West Indies, the mahogany was said to be protected in Montserrat,
though we were unsure what that meant as we saw so many cut down. Among several
young trees, we had one very tall old tree on our property which truly was the
garden's centerpiece as well as being a stunning survivor of the 1989 devastation
wrought by Hurricane Hugo. It is a West Indian mahogany which is said to have
a better wood grain than the fast growing Honduran
mahogany. West
Indian mahogany trees lose their leaves in the spring dry season in April and
May, though the old leaves are almost immediately replaced by new growth. The
mahogany can be most readily identified by the rounded oval pods at the top of
the tree which come from nondescript flowers born in late spring to early summer.
It will grow to be just over 80 feet in height.
Benefits: It is most commonly used for the quality of its wood.
No
part
of
this
tree
is
edible,
but
the
bark
has
been
used
medicinally to treat external injuries.
From: The Caribbean and South Florida.
Photographed: In our garden at our former home
in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: As with all trees I recommend
that you purchase one of these beauties locally where you will get the best planting
and care advice for
your
location. If you have a local college or university with an agriculture department,
they will also be able to advise you.
Text & Photograph ©KO
2008 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2018
**Honduran
Mahogany Tree, Big Leaf Mahogany Tree Swietenia
macrophylla
In our first few years in Montserrat, we worked
hard clearing our land. We got to a final corner two years
ago and discovered a lovely straight as an arrow mahogany
growing in the center of a large nondescript tropical forest
area. We cleared all of the less appealing trees and brush
and were left with a mahogany about six inches in diameter.
That small tree grew at an enormous rate and was well
over a foot in diameter when we sold our home. In its native
environment this tree will grow to be about 200 feet tall.
Benefits: This tree
has been used for its medicinal benefits and it is
now used for mahogany wood the world over.
From: Tropical Americas
Photographed: In our garden at our former home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: I suspect that any tropical environment would
be perfect as long as there is routine rainfall. I don't think you'd like the
bill for watering this beautiful tree. Below are two of its seed pods which are
very hard initially. After falling from the tree, they dry out in a few days
exposing the seeds inside.
Text & Photographs ©KO 2007/2013
and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2018
Malavar
Plum See
the "R" Page -- ROSE APPLE
Malva
'Mystic Merlin,' Cheeses, High Mallow, Tall Mallow Malva
sylvestris
Easily mistaken for a geranium, this biennial or perennial plant offers a similar
appearance with a purple or lavender color range.
Benefits: I read that the malva has both nutritional and medicinal
benefits, but none of them seemed too appealing.
From: Europe
Photographed: On the right in the Thuya Garden, Mt. Desert Island,
Maine, 2013, and on the left in
the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in June of 2010.
Planting and Care: The malva is one of
those good sorts that will tolerate most soils, but it
does like to live in the sun and to have routine watering
or rainfall.
Text
and Photographs ©KO 2010 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2012/2018.
Mamey,
Mamey Apple, Mammey, Mammey Apple, Santo Domingo Apricot, South
American Apricot Mammea americana or Pouteria
sapota
The fruit of this large tree are baseball sized with a light brown rough skin.
The interior is yellow/orange in color and very sweet.
Benefits: Aside from the lovely fruit it bears, many parts of
this tree can be used for their natural insecticidal properties. For more information
take a look at this website: click
here!
From: Mexico,
the Caribbean, Central America and the northern countries of South America
Photographed: In Oaxaca in southern Mexico.
Planting and Care: Growing up to about 60 feet
tall, the mammy is a truly tropical tree, hardy in almost all
conditions in the tropics, but not at all resistant to COLD.
It will do its finest in full sun with routine rainfall or watering.
Text and Photographs ©Krika.com
2008 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2018
Manchineel
Tree Hippomane mancinella
Benefits:
From:
Photographed:
Planting and Care:
Text and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
Mandevilla,
Brazilian Jasmine, Rocktrumpet Mandevilla
sanderi
These are gorgeous scented flowering vines whose flowers conveniently come in
a variety of colors.
Benefits:
From: The Americas, the southwest in the US and down through Brazil
in South America.
Photographed: In in Belfast, Maine, in 2013.
Planting and Care: Plant your mandevilla in rich well
draining soil with additions of sand and compost. Find
a place in your garden that has bright morning sun with shade arriving
in
the early afternoon to protect your plant from sun burn. As
with
all
vines
they
will
do
better
with
a
supporting
trellis
of
some
kind.
These plants don't like winter so enjoy the benefits of a perennial by bringing
it
inside when temperatures are falling below 50° F. Place it in any window
where there is bright indirect light and wait for springtime daily temperatures
to be above 50° F when it can go outside again.
Warning: Though there is little real evidence that mandevilla
are poisonous to cats, if you have any concerns it would be best not to have
one of them.
Text
and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2013/2018
**Mango
Tree (Julie variety) Mangifera indica L.
In our garden in Montserrat our mangos bloomed most heavily in January with the
harvest beginning in May and continuing through August. The trees bloomed again
in September,
but lightly, just enough to give us some fruit in time for Christmas. Mango trees
can become huge, up to about ninety feet, but ours were not so big.
Benefits: Its
leaves make a great yellow dye and are sometimes used for cattle
fodder. If you ever wanted to cut one down, you could use the bark
for its tannin and the wood for ship building. It should not be
used in making charcoal.
According
to author David Eric Brussel who wrote Potions, Poisons, and
Panaceas: An Ethnobotanical Study of Montserrat , a tea made
from the leaves is used “. . . to treat colds, sinus congestion,
asthma, coughs, and arthritis. The leaves are chewed to
expel intestinal worms. . . . The resin from this tree is said
to have anti syphilitic properties. A decoction of the bark or
the dried pulverized seed is taken internally for chronic diarrhea.” (p
18) We can add to that what Yahoo News has to say, "
Known in natural medicine as the "King of all Fruits," ripe
mangoes are a great source of beta carotene, while green ones are
rich in vitamin C. Their abundance of enzymes and fiber help relieve
digestion problems."
Diseases and Insects: The most common disease anthracnose is indicated
by black spots on the leaves and can be treated with a natural fungicide. As
for insects mangos are not bothered too much except for nematodes. Plant marigolds
under the tree to repel these nasty critters.
From: Although
they are now common in many
parts of the world, mango trees are originally from India.
Fruit: Mangos should be picked when ripe as green fruits
do not ripen well. Unfortunately, ripe mangos are very appealing to garden
thrushes who insist in tasting every fruit by poking a hole in the skin.
Varieties: It
is said by some that the best variety to grow if you are starting
fresh is “Bombay” because it is less stringy than
other mangos. In Mexico we were enamored of the petecón or
Haden mangos. In Montserrat our Julie mango trees were
already mature so
we didn't consider adding more varieties, even though a
tree bearing petecón s
would have been a real treat. One mango tree well known in
Montserrat is called the hairy mango, because of its very
stringy nature when it is not cooked. I loved mangos so much
I collected these delicious undesirable fruits and peeled
and sliced them for freezing. I had given them a quick test
first
to see if cooking them altered their stringy texture and
indeed it did. I had hit upon a goldmine of free mangos and
I was thrilled. Tragically, my enthusiasm led to my getting
a serious case of mango allergy.
WARNING : The
mango tree is in the poison ivy family so if you are allergic
to one, you may be allergic to the other and
this is something to be very careful about. After living for
years in Mexico, mangos became my favorite fruit and a staple
in our diet. BUT, having bought a property in Montserrat with
two mango trees I developed an allergy when I harvested the
fruit over the several weeks of ripening and peeled and chopped
it for the freezer almost every day so we would have mangos
all year. At first I became red as if I had a sunburn, then
blisters grew on my swelling hands and face. I resisted as
long as I could, but after a week or so I finally succumbed
to a doctor's prescription for Prednisone as the burning and
itching became unbearable. This is a very
serious allergic reaction and sadly I will never be able to
eat or touch a mango again. Honestly, I don't even like to
see them in the market. This allergy is horrible.
Text & Photographs
©Krika.com 2008/2009 and GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2013/2018
Photographed: In
our garden at our former home in Montserrat.
Photographed: On
our deck at our former home in Montserrat.
Photographed: In
our garden at our former home in Montserrat.
A
Mature Julie Mango Tree Beginning to Bloom
Photographed: In
our garden at our former home in Montserrat.
Mangos
come in beautiful colors and a myriad of shapes.
Photographed: In
our garden at our new home at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Photographed: In
our garden at our former home in Montserrat.
Photographed: In
our garden at our former home in Montserrat.
MANGO RECIPES
FROZEN
MANGO POPS
2 large
ripe petacón or Haden mangos
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups water
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Blend
all ingredients well and freeze. I use little cups and insert
a popsicle stick when they go in the freezer.
MANGO
ICE CREAM
2 1/2 cups chopped ripe petacón or Haden mangos
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
pinch of salt
juice of one key lime (if you don't have access to this type of lime,
use the juice of 1/2 yellow lemon)
2 cups with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream
1
bag of ice
1 bag of rock salt (about 2 to 3 cups)
1 hand cranked ice cream maker
Mix
everything except the cream and place in a cold refrigerator
for 1/2 hour. Remove and mix with the cream until blended evenly
and pour into ice cream maker. Assemble the ice cream maker and
fill the space around the ice cream bin with a mixture of rock
salt and ice. Let it sit for 3 to 5 minutes and then begin cranking
slowly. When you feel some resistance in the crank, increase
the speed and crank it until it becomes stiff. Makes about 2
quarts of heavenly ice cream.
MANGO
CRISP
6
large ripe petacón or Haden mangos
1 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of lemon juice or the juice of 1 and 1/2 key
limes
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cup sifted flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Preheat
oven to 350° F., peel and slice fruit into a glass bowl and
mix with 1/2 cup of sugar, cloves, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
Mix
and pour into a greased 1 and 1/2 quart glass casserole. Mix
remaining sugar, flour salt and butter to a crumbly consistency.
Mix in the nuts and sprinkle over the fruit. Bake 45 minutes
until lightly browned. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
HAIRY
MANGO PUDDING
4
cups of peeled chopped hairy mangos
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of raisins
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Place
the mangos and sugar in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat,
stirring occasionally. When the mixture is melted and simmering
add the raisins and spices and cook until the raisins have softened.
Remove from the heat, cool slightly and serve with a sprinkling
of chopped nuts.
MANGO
BREAD
2
cups of flour sifted (after measuring)
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/2 tablespoons milk mixed with 2 teaspoons key lime juice
or 1 tablespoon yellow lemon juice
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups peeled chopped ripe petacón or Haden mangos
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
Generously
butter and then flour your baking pan. Preheat oven to 350° F.
Sift the flour with baking soda, baking powder, and salt and
set aside. Mix milk and lemon or lime juice. Cream the butter
and sugar and beat in the eggs. Into the egg, sugar, butter fold
in the flour and milk in alternate amounts ending with the dry
ingredients. Mix well and stir in the mangos and nuts. Pour
evenly into the pan. Sprinkle the top with chopped nuts. Bake
at 350° F for about 1 hour. If you are using dark pans, line
them with greased wax paper.
MANGO CHUTNEY
4
large ripe petacón or Haden mangos
1/2 cup raisins or a bit more if you like them
1/2 cup freshly
peeled and minced ginger
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups good quality apple cider vinegar
Mix
everything but the mangos and raisins and bring to a boil. Cook
about 45 minutes uncovered. Add the mangos and raisins and continue
cooking uncovered for an hour or so until it is thickened to
your taste. Stir frequently at the end to prevent burning. Cool
and pack in jars for the refrigerator.
GRILLED
MANGO
4
large ripe petacón or Haden mangos
Prepare
a barbecue grill with a greased rack about 6 inches from the
coals. Take a mango, stand it on the stem end on a fixed counter.
Take a
very sharp knife and slice into the mango on the side of the
widest part and carefully cut the fruit completely around to
the seed inside. This is the messy part. Pull the two halves
away from the seed. You'll have something that looks like a mango
bowl. Quickly turn it inside out and slice the fruit in a crisscross
pattern without separating it from the skin. Continue with the
other mangos until you have enough for yourself and your
guests. Place the mangos on the hot greased grill and cook them
until browned and softened about 2 or 3 minutes. The mangos can
all be prepared ahead of time so you aren't drenched in mango
juice at dinner.
**Marigold
Tagetes
Marigolds are annuals and great flowers in almost any setting where
there is sun;
their
colors
are
in
the red to yellow range, the height of these feathery leaved aromatic plants
varies
from
six inches to three feet and the flowers from about four inches across to only
about one inch.
Benefits: Marigolds should be planted in almost any garden anywhere
to naturally prevent insect damage. They really do work as protectors of vulnerable
plants such as tomatoes. In the Caribbean they are a natural inhibitor
of nematodes, which are a very serious problem.
Spiritual Uses: Marigolds are a staple part of Day of the Dead
or Día de los Muertos celebrations all over Mexico. This is a
unique and wonderfully different version of what we know as Halloween. Do take
a look at our story about this very special day in Mexico to learn more about
the tradition and about how the marigold is used at that time of the year. Here
is the link: https://www.krika.com/wsdayofthedead.html
From: Most likely Mexico
Planting and Care: Pick a few varieties
that
appeal
to
you or that meet special needs in your garden for color and height. They are
easy
to
sow, just
follow package directions. Marigolds are annuals so that means you'll be doing
this every year. For those who are truly lazy gardeners, most garden shops have
flats
of marigolds ready to plant in the spring.
Warning: Do
not
plant
marigolds
near
green
beans;
they
are
not
friends.
Text
and Photographs ©Krika.com 2008 and ©[email protected]
2014/2018
Photographed: In
Bar Harbor, Maine, in 2013.
Photographed: In
Bar Harbor, Maine, in 2013.
Photographed: In
our upper vegetable garden at our former home in Montserrat in
2008.
Photographed: At
our new home at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2011.
Photographed: In
Bar Harbor, Maine, in 2013.
Photographed: At
the URI Outreach Center in Roger Williams Park, Providence,
RI, in 2013.
Photographed: At
the URI Outreach Center in Roger Williams Park, Providence,
RI, in 2013.
**Marjoram,
Mexican Oregano Origanum majorana
Marjoram has a milder flavor than oregano, but used fresh it is an excellent
substitute.
Benefits: Marjoram is said to have a long list of health benefits,
but
do consult your physician before using it medicinally.
From: Probably Greece
Photographed: Below on the left in our herb garden at our
home
on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in 2015 and on the right in
a pot on my terrace at our former residence in Taxco, Mexico.
Planting and Care: This most essential
herb
is
easy
to
grow once it is started. That is the only tricky part. If you are lucky enough
to
be near
plant supply sources, buy one. If not, you are in the same boat as I am and
I wish you well with starting seeds. I have no advice as I believe
only being lucky
has resulted in our having a plant. Once your plant is started and on its way
it will grow well in full sun or semi shade. If grown as a potted plant I believe
it prefers a clay pot. If grown in the garden it will spread, putting down roots
from its delicate stems. It likes a sweet soil (alkaline) and regular rain or
watering. You can see the difference in the two plants below, one grown
in the garden the other in a sheltered place in a clay pot. The taste is the
same, but I think the delicate one on the right is much prettier.
Text
and photographs
©KO 2008 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2013/2018
**Match-Me-If-You-Can Please
See the "J" Page - JOSEPH'S COAT
Mexican
Flame Bush, Trinidad Flame Bush, Brazilian Flame Bush, Red
Tassel Flower Calliandra
tweediei
Benefits: Bees,
butterflies, and hummingbirds find this shrub's powder puff flowers as attractive
as we do.
From: Southeastern Brazil and Uruguay
Photographed: In
the (Ortobotanico ) Botanical Garden in Naples, Italy, in 2014.
Planting and Care: This is a perennial shrub with feathery foliage
liking
to
live
in full sun, but accepting of some shade. it will grow to be up to be about 10
feet tall, but only in very warm climates. Mexican flame bush is known to be
both salt and drought tolerant which makes it an ideal plant for the Caribbean
and
places
with
similar locations
and climates.
Text and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2015/2018
Mexican
Grass Tree Please see the Succulent Page
Mexican
Petunia, Mexican Blue Bell Ruellia brittoniana,
R. malacosperma, or R. tweediana
This long blooming plant and its pretty foliage belie
its hardy nature and it's a perennial which makes it even
better.
Benefits: The sweet flowers on this plant will draw butterflies and
hummingbirds.
From: Mexico and the southwestern United States.
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the
Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Plant it in full sun or in
the shade and give it abundant water or keep it dry and it will
do just fine as long as it grows in a warm climate. Its flexibility
is a real plus and it is very pretty as well.
Text and Photographs ©KO
2010 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2018
Mexican
Sage See the "S"
Page -- SALVIAS -- Mexican Sage
**Mexican
Thistle See
The "P" Page -- POPPIES - Mexican Thistle
Mexican
Tulip Poppy 'Sunlight' See The "P" Page
-- POPPIES - Mexican Tulip Poppy
**Mile
a Minute, Cardinal Climber, Cupid’s Flower, Cypress Vine,
Star of Bethlehem Ipomea quamoclit
This is a lacy delicate trailing vine with small red flowers. It is an annual,
but I suspect it will self seed without having to be replanted.
Benefits: This sweet vine is a hummingbird attractant.
Photographed: In our deck garden at our former home in Montserrat.
Planting and Growth: I was given seeds and planted
them along with some others in a large seed bed. The other plants
were up and transplanted to the garden before the mile a minute
ever showed up. When it did, I no longer remembered what I had
planted, but waited to see what the little plants would turn into.
My patience was rewarded as a couple of weeks later they had developed
enough so I realized what they were. They will grow best in full
sun or semi shade with a medium amount of routine rainfall or watering
and will bloom in the tropical summer months of June, July, August
and September. You can expect the vines to reach up to fifteen
feet in no time at all as the name implies.
Text and Photograph © Krika.com
2009 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2018
**Mint Menta or Monarda
punctata or for spearmint Mentha spicata
Mint is one of our favorite plants; it likes sun and lots of water. As home owning
residents, we visited the Agricultural Department in Montserrat and saw
potted
mint
plants. We hoped to buy a few for our garden, but they were all privately owned
by Agricultural
Department
staff.
Benefits: Mint tea made from a cup of boiled water poured over
5 or 6 freshly picked mint leaves I can testify is a life saver to those with
almost any kind of digestive distress. Have a cup after meals. As well, mint
is
a calmative for those with anxiety and a cup of mint tea before bed may help
you sleep. Mint
also
has
antioxidant properties and may be a useful over all toxin cleanser.
Photographed: As a potted plant on our terrace in Taxco, Mexico.
Planting and Growth: Probably the nicest way to have a mint plant is
to be given a few snips from a neighbor which happened in Taxco, Mexico, giving
me the pretty plant you see in the photograph. Once
established,
mint
grows
almost
too
well
so
it is best planted in an area naturally or intentionally restricted like in a
big clay pot.
It
likes
sun or semi-shade and reasonable rainfall or watering.
Text
and Photograph ©Krika.com 2008 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
Miracle
Leaf See
the "K" Page -- KALANCHOE -- Donkey's Ears
Mission
Cactus See
The "CACTUS" Page -- Prickly Pear Cactus
Mocambo,
Jaguar Tree, Peruvian Cacao Theobroma bicolor
This fruit is born on an evergreen tree that will reach about 90 tall in the
wild. It is much shorter in cultivation, but its fruits are
mostly
for
local
use
as
the
flavor
takes some getting used to.
Benefits: All of the interior is edible.
From: Central America
Photographed: At our home after having been purchased in the
local market.
Planting and Care: This tree is fast growing a great survivor
in
heavy
wet
soils at altitude. It produces enough fruit that it is sometimes used to adulterate
cocoa to produce a poor quality affordable chocolate.
Text and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2013/2018
Mock-Orange, Sweet Mock-Orange Philadelphus
coronarius syn. Philadelphus pallidus
I think this was a staple backyard shrub in almost all the homes I remember as
a child growing up in New England. These bushes aren't spectacular, but when
they are covered in sweet smelling flowers they are lovely for a good bit of
time.
Benefits: What I never knew about this old time favorite bush
is
its
gentle
soap
like
quality. Simply wet your hands and rub a few leaves vigorously until the light
lather makes them feel clean.
From: Southern Europe
Photographed: At
the Botanical Garden in Naples, Italy, in 2013 and 2014.
Planting and Care: In its northerly climate
it prefers to be planted in full sun where it will bloom beautifully
in early summer. Mock orange bushes also prefer well draining relatively
dry soil. At its best it will be about 10 feet tall.
Text
and Photographs ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2015/2018
Monkey
Pod See The "R" Page
-- RAIN TREE
Photographed: In
the (Ortobotanico ) Botanical Garden in Naples,
Italy, in 2013.
Monkey
Puzzle Tree, Chile Pine Tree Araucaria araucana C. Koch
This is an extremely puzzling tree and obviously its name is well earned. We
saw it first in Ushuaia, Argentina, and then surprisingly in Naples, Italy, in
the Botanical Garden. It is very intriguing and equally attractive. If you are
looking for a very special specimen tree for your garden this may be just the
ticket!
Benefits: The wood of this tree surprisingly has
both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial characteristics.
From: Chile/Argentina
Planting and care: Normally this tree grows
naturally
at altitudes of 600 meters and above, but these pictured were
both thriving at close to sea level. Eventually these trees will
reach
a height of about 150 feet growing best in moist loamy soil. The
monkey puzzle tree is endangered and available for planting only
in special gardens.
Text
and Photographs ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2015/2018
Photographed: On
the roadside in a personal garden in Ushuaia, Argentina,
gateway to Antarctica, in 2011.
Monkey
Puzzle Tree Detail
Photographed: In
the (Ortobotanico ) Botanical Garden in Naples, Italy, in 2013.
Photographed: In
the (Ortobotanico ) Botanical Garden in Naples, Italy,
in the spring of 2014.
Moringa
Tree, Drumstick Tree, Horseradish Tree, Ben Oil tree, Benzoil
Tree Moringa
oleifera
When we arrived in Tobago in November of 2017, both
of us were very ill having caught some type of cold or flu in
our time
in New England. Our friend Gerry who runs his hotel as a home
away from home for friends from Trinidad and from around the world
gave us some moringa leaves so that we could make a healthful tea.
We
did so and we did indeed begin to heal.
Benefits: Its young seed pods and leaves are used
as vegetables and they are high in nutrients across the board. Many
parts of the tree are also used in traditional herbal medicine. As
noted above, we made moringa leaf tea which had a fresh taste and
helped us recover from a cold or flu.
From: From southwestern India
Photographed: In Crown Point, Tobago, in 2017.
Planting and Care: This is a soft wood,
fast-growing and drought-resistant tree. Moringa
oleifera is tolerant of a wide
range of soils, but it does like a neutral or slightly acidic soil.
Like me, moringa loves sun and warmth, and will not accept freezing
or even frost.
Text and Photographs ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
**Morning
Glory Vine,
Bindweed, Moonflower Ipomoea
This is one of those great garden standbys. They twine themselves around everything
and bloom continually with flowers opening every morning and closing as evening
approaches.
In
Mexico
they
grow
wild by the roadsides and are called platos quebrados or broken plates.
Benefits: Morning glory plants and seeds have many useful characteristics.
Even the Aztecs used them for their hallucinogenic qualities.
From: Some morning glories are natives of the tropical Americas.
Others grow in cooler areas of Asia.
Planting and Care: Morning glories are either annual in cold
climates or perennials in warmer climates. Often they will self seed. Pick
a
sunny
spot
to
plant
the
seeds
and
provide routine watering or rainfall to keep them happy. They are fast growing
and come with purple, blue (my favorite), pink, red or white flowers.
Text
and Photographs ©KO 2009/2010/2011 and
©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2014/2018
Photographed: At
the Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum in Bristol,
Rhode Island, in 2014.
Photographed: At
the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, in 2010.
Photographed: In
our garden in Panajachel, Guatemala, in 2012.
Photographed: In
our garden in Panajachel, Guatemala, in 2012.
**Morning
Glory Bush Ipomoea carnea syn. Ipomoea
fistulosa
This soft looking flowering bush growing over 10 feet tall thrives in rough conditions
in Montserrat. It is more beautiful if cared for, but it seems to be one of those
plants that has a will of its own to survive and to be stylish while doing so.
We had one by the wall just inside our driveway entrance and its three inch lavender
flowers were a continual delight. We liked it enough to use it as a hedge. It
is fast growing and continually covered with flowers.
Benefits: Ipomoea carnea has traditional medicinal uses in
relatively
serious
medical
situations.
From: This glorious flowering bush originated in the tropical
areas
of the Americas.
Photographed: At our former home in Montserrat.
Landscaping ideas: As you can see in the photograph to the right, this
flowering bush will make a beautiful informal and carefree hedge. Ours in the
photograph replaced a very tall and very old red hibiscus hedge which died while
we were away in Greece. Surprisingly on a small island with folks who resist
giving compliments, our new hedge drew quite a bit of attention.
Planting and Care: Bright sun, not infrequent fertilizing, and
routine rainfall
or watering will keep this shrub/bush at its best.
Warning: The
seeds of this plant are toxic .
Text & Photographs ©Krika.com 2008/2010 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
Moses-In-The-Boat See
The "B" Page BOATLILY
**Mother-in-law
Plant See
The "S" Page SNAKE PLANT
**Mountain
Mahoe Tree, Blue
Mahoe, Tree Hibiscus Hibiscus elatus
Lost to the volcanic eruption in Montserrat on July 7, 2003, this was the
large-leaved
tree
with deep red orange flowers that grew beside our pool. Its leaves and especially
its flowers made for a bit of a mess in the pool which took a lot of extra cleaning,
but enjoying the tree’s beauty while lazing in the pool was well worth
the effort of a little more clean up. Swimming under the tree was lovely and
we missed it every day.
Benefits: The Mahoe has been used in traditional medicine and
as a source
of timber.
From: The Caribbean
Photographed: In our shady terrace garden at our former home
in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: In
many ways this might be considered a 'weed' tree. It will grow in almost any
soil type with and without a lot of rainfall.
Text & Photographs ©KO
2008 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2018
Mulberry
Tree, Black Mulberry Tree Morus nigr a
When living in Rhode Island I enjoyed a neighbor's mulberry
tree which backed into one of my garden areas. I especially loved
the bountiful fruits it provided.
Benefits: By far, the best use for mulberries can be found
in Sicily home of Italy's gelato. It is truly a moving experience
to have a cone of 'gelso' gelato with a pile of 'pana' or whipped
cream on top. Mulberries are loaded with good vitamins and may
also be useful in treating
or
preventing
illnesses
like
high
blood pressure.
They are also said to improve circulation and vision among other
things.
From: The best guess is in the mountains of Mesopotamia
and Persia
Photographed: In
the Botanical Garden in Naples, Italy.
Planting and Care: When mature this tree will
be about 40 feet tall and will spread almost that wide as well.
They are relatively easy to grow so when you purchase your small
tree, be sure to ask all the questions you may have about where
and how to plant it and how to care for it over time.
Text
and Photographs ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2012/2018
Mushrooms,
Edible and Poisonous Agaricus
Benefits of the Edible: This low calorie
food wonder is as good for you as it is good tasting. Added
raw
to salads
or
cooked with almost anything mushrooms will add a special
flavor boost along with significant nutrients. Most edible
mushrooms
provide us with potassium, vitamins B and D, fiber,
phosphorous and antioxidants. Buy them organically grown because
it is impossible to remove pesticide residues from the porous
surface of mushrooms.
Planting and Care: Mushrooms
like a warm, moist and dark environment and monitoring the
pH of
the
growing
medium is also important. Given a place to grow with these qualities,
mushrooms are said to be a self sustaining crop.
Text
©KO 2008 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2014/2018
Stinkhorn
Mushroom Clathrus sp.
This is yet another of our stinkhorn invaders, though
I don't recall that it smelled as bad as the others.
From: Tropical regions primarily
Photographed: In our upper vegetable garden
at our former home in Montserrat.
Planting and Care: This is not something you would
have in your garden if it
hadn't arrived on the wind.
Text
and Photographs ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2012/2018
Mushroom
Mystery solved by
Ursula G. living in Southern Germany
Elegant
Stinkhorn, Dog Stinkhorn, Headless Stinkhorn, Devil's Dipstick, "Stinky
fingers" Mutinus
elegans
When we first saw this one growing in our shady
terrace garden we had a good laugh about the shape and
coloring, naming it "stinky fingers" before running
quickly away from the truly awful smell. We took a photograph
the next morning of the new ones that had appeared overnight
and then with our noses in an uproar, we dug them out,
finding them connected to firm round white balls just under
the soil surface. We became very religious about the removal
every morning, because the smell was so bad and so strong
we couldn't spend any time in the terrace unless they were
removed. A good friend who recently left Montserrat for
a home in Oregon told us what they were and we now have
an answer to our long standing question about another stinkhorn
mushroom.
Benefits: This stinkhorn has anti-microbial and anti-bacterial
characteristics.
Text and Photograph ©Krika.com
2008 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
Lattice stinkhorn Clathrus
ruber
This apparition appeared in the area of our upper
vegetable garden about two years ago. About six inches high
and brightly colored, they smelled enough to attract flies,
but not enough to drive us from the garden as did the "Stinky
Fingers" described above. They seemed pretty creepy
and none of the local farmers we talked to would tell us
anything about them, claiming never to have even seen them
in their entire lives lived on island. That didn't seem too
credible and we did find out what they were from former Montserratian
expats now living in Oregon, Inge and Wolf Krebs. They also
had the stinkhorns in their garden when they lived in Montserrat.
Photographed: In our upper vegetable garden
at our former home in Montserrat.
For more information on stinkhorns, here is a good web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/phallaceae.html
Text and Photograph ©KO 2007/2010 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
MUSSAENDA
FAMILY
Ashanti
Blood, Red Flag Bush, Tropical Dogwood Mussaenda
erythrophylla
This is an absolutely glorious evergreen shrub as you
can see in the photographs.
Benefits:
From: West
Africa
Photographed: In Crown Point, Tobago in 2018.
Planting and Care:
Text & Photographs ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018/2019
Dwarf
Yellow Mussaenda Pseudomussaenda flava syns. Mussaenda
lutea, Mussaenda luteola, Mussaenda
glabra, and Mussaenda
incana
Benefits: This is a butterfly
and hummingbird attractant.
From: Tropical Africa or maybe the far east
Photographed: At the Hotel Atitlan Botanical
Garden in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: This
is a small member of this lovely family of plants so choose
its
place
in the
garden carefully to show it off at its best. It prefers a
bright semi-shady area or full sun and a good bit of rainfall
or watering. It is not winter hardy.
Text and Photographs ©KO 2010
and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com 2018
No
longer one of my many mysteries thanks to Beth in San Antonio, Texas.
Wild
Mussaenda, Flag Bush, Dhobi Tree Mussaenda
Frondosa
This large bush struck my eye from all the way across
a terrace filled with beautiful plants. It was so striking because
of the bright
white leaves you can see in detail in the photograph below on the right.
Surrounding the small flowers and lying against the deep green of the
other leaves these white leaves made something almost magical.
Benefits:
Its
leaves are edible and as well this plant has many traditional
medicinal uses.
From: Only the warmest areas of India,
Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines and
Indonesia
Photographed: In
the garden of the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Growing at its
happiest to about 7 feet tall in full sun in tropical or sub-tropical
climates in soil with a pH of about 7. Aside from that it prefers
moist
and well drained soil, humus-rich and sandy soil
Text and Photographs ©KO 2010 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
Tropical
Dogwood, Red Flag Bush, Ashanti Blood, Flame of the Forest Mussaenda
Doña Evangelina
At its happiest the tropical dogwood will grow to be 10
feet tall or more and all along the way will be attracting butterflies.
From: The tropical regions of West Africa
Photographed: In the garden of the Hotel San Buenaventura on
Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Like others in this family, this plant likes
full sun and routine rainfall or watering to be at its best, though it is fairly
tolerant of soil types and qualities. It is relatively immune to serious insect
damage and diseases. Prune it with abandon to keep the shape you want and it
will delight you by producing more flowers. It is truly tropical in nature, intolerant
of cold weather, much like myself.
Text
and Photograph ©KO 2010 and ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2018
Mustard
Brassica
Benefits: Mustard seeds and greens provide a long list
of very beneficial nutrients. The plant may also have medicinal
benefits
in the treatment or prevention of serious illnesses.
From: Europe
and western Asia
Photographed: In our garden at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala in
2014.
Planting and Care: The plants in this photograph grew while
I was long away. Before leaving I took several spice seed bottles and emptied
the left overs into an area of the garden where I hoped to have wildflowers.
Many of the seeds sprouted,
receiving
regular
rainfall
and
sunshine
and
did
beautifully.
Text and Photograph ©GreenGardeningCookingCuring.com
2014/2018
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