Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers

Elizabeth Silverthorne has gathered an intriguing bouquet of folklore about forty-four of Texas’ most fascinating wildflowers such as water lily, Queen Anne’s lace, honeysuckle, dogwood, and morning glory. Only recently have people again become aware that the lowliest wildflower may harbor an important secret. Native Americans reportedly made a weak tea from the paintbrush to treat rheumatism. Violets have been used to cure cancer, while sunflowers were planted by nineteenth-century pioneers to protect families from malaria. In ancient times when people were more aware of their dependence on plants to provide food, medicine, fuel, and materials for clothing, there grew up a vast amount of folklore, much of which is described in these wildflower profiles. For each flower in this book Silverthorne describes the significance and origin of its common name, identifies where the flower grows naturally, what uses it has had historically, and what legends are associated with it. She offers everyone who has admired the beauty of wildflowers a fuller appreciation of them.