RAIN FOREST REMEDIES

Like the Native Americans who have occupied the rain forest for thousands of years, the small creatures used the native plants for a wide variety of medicinal purposes. They used both annual and perennial wildflowers to fill their medicine chest. Most plants were dried in the summer sun, then ground into a fine powder. Others were dried and used as herbal teas.

The oxalis that Mrs. Trowbridge painted above is one of the most common of the forest plant foods. I've actually eaten it many times. It has a mild peppery taste. The small creatures used it as a staple for their salads.