Subject: [NAFEX] Tomato on horseweed,
common names, firemaking, etc.
Jerry, you're right about common names - in this discussion, we've had
participants weigh in with at least 4 VERY different plants, all from
different genera & families, that, in their own little corner of the
world, may be referred to as horseweed, horsetail, etc.
This whole discussion has certainly piqued my interest, regarding
what your friend used as a rootstock for tomato - I'm still holding out
for one of the wild, native nightshade(Solanum) species, though I've got my
doubts about horse nettle (S.carolinense) producing a strong enough stem to
support a vigorous tomato, as it's typically a low-growing, sprawling weed in
my pastures.
Incidentally, and I don't know if this was another source of common name
confusion, horse nettle is very different from stinging nettle.
I've had encounters with both, and while neither is a welcome
experience, I'd prefer the prickles of horse nettle over the intense
burning sensation of stinging nettle any day of the week.
Art talked about the dried horseweed stalks making great 'spears' for
chucking by kids.
The dried stalks of horseweed/mare's tail (Conyza- I've forgotten if that
is the correct genus name, already) can be utilized, with a bow and suitable
soft wood such as western cedar, and a little bit of pinestraw or shredded
redcedar bark, for starting fires by the friction method, if one happens
to be caught out without matches, or if you're just 'into' primitive
technologies like firemaking & flintknapping.
Lucky Pittman
Hopkinsville, KY
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