OUTDOOR COMMON SENSE TIPS: Treat all vegetation as harmful. Looks could be deceiving. Do not take chances in touching it, much less ingest it, unless you KNOW the plant personally.
Never ever touch and cook wild mushrooms. They look almost the same found in grocery stores and supermarkets yet exhibit different characteristics.
First seen on Facebook
December 14, 2017
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MAN MAY HAVE DOMINION over the animals and plants of this planet
but he has no complete control of all the plants that grew in his realm. What
could be toxic here could be a delicacy in another part of the world. He might
be a walking encyclopedia in a semi-arctic region but he would be a complete
idiot in the tropics.
Science, however, have resolved that large gap but, scientific research and volumes of books related to the plant kingdom are confined only to the few and, mostly, within walls; and what information that may be shared to the public, comes out after the fact, when a person or a family succumb to the fatal ingestion of harmful plants.
Fortunately for us we now have the Internet. We could learn plants from the tips of our fingers and the information are almost endless. Would that make you an instant expert? Your guess is as good as mine. On the other hand, what little knowledge you got would be dangerous. Me, I just give plants a wide berth when walking on a trail, making sure I do not touch the one that have caused so much grief to people.
The one I am talking here is the stinging tree (first photo) or what we know locally as "alingatong" or “lipa”. As long as the leaves are found as high as your head, you are safe. Watch out instead for the younger trees which grow level to your face, arms and legs. They sting when brushed and the more you rub the more torment you would receive. This last for 3 to 4 days without medical intervention.
During the flowering season, pollen and tiny fibers float from
the treetops and branches down to the ground in slow motion. Zillions of these
stay almost suspended in the air and carried off by wind higher or lower or sideways.
These tiny particles causes allergenic reaction to one who has asthmatic spells
and, sometimes, causes irritation to the skin which ran for days.
One of the most notorious plants to have this characteristic is the cowhage (second photo), or more locally known as “aninipay” or “nipay”. Its tiny fibers adhering to the flowers and fruit causes so much irritation. Folk tales suggest that because it is so light you could spot a beam of light over the “nipay” towards a person and it would ride that beam of light and inflict harm. Of course, it is unverified tale and made for entertainment only.
We may have other plants that are so toxic but it would not harm you for as long as you do not break a leaf or branch and smear your skin with its sap or ingest a part of it. We also do not know some plants are toxic and that is why we treat everyone as harmful. We do not experiment just because it looked like the ones demonstrated in YouTube or you saw a picture printed in a book.
Although not a plant, but still a member of the plant kingdom,
mushrooms ARE to be left alone. They almost looked the same with just a little
difference in their parts or color pigments. The safest mushrooms are still
those found in supermarkets and groceries. Let a real living person, especially
a grower, show you how. As much as possible, never discuss mushrooms if you are
not an expert.
Learning how edible plants looked like is best learned from a garden and on the public markets. Bring these to the kitchen and learn how to process and cook these in many ways. Seasonal edibles are always found in markets. If you visit a place, look for this kind and you would learn something; much better than those online instructional.
Skin irritations are best treated by washing the affected part
and apply Caladryl© or calamine ointment. Do not apply alcohol, oil or skin
lotion! If you do not have an ointment, alternative treatment but not a
treatment actually, is smearing it with petroleum jelly. It helps to cool the
affected skin and lessen the swelling.
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WARRIOR PILGRIMAGE BLOG, personified by this writer, is synonymous with the Outdoors, since Bushcraft and Survival is its niche. Safety and Security are its bedrock when it ventured into organizing outdoor events that involved people as in adventure/pilgrimage guideships and seminars; and explorations and expeditions.
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