November 2, 2009

What’s Blooming November 2009

Montanoa grandiflora is a woody, shrubby sunflower family member that produces copious daisy-like blooms in November. It is located on the south-east side of the pond located above Meyberg falls on Tallac Knoll. The Arboretum has several Montanoa species in its collection including Montanoa guatamalensis, an arborescent (tree-like) sunflower family member that is used in its naitive range in Central America as timber for telephone poles and fences.

Montanoa tomentosa, a closely related native of central Mexico, is used by healers there to induce labor, cut down bleading during childbirth, and increase milk flow in mothers. The active ingredient in the plant is a compound similar to oxytocin, the 'hug hormone,'  that besides inducing labor in pregnant women, is considered to be the reason that strong emotional bonds develop between mother & child, and husband & wife.