Intense heat has prevailed over the past week provoking Irelands first ever status orange weather warning for hot weather. The intensity is inescapable making nigh-time wrestlesness and day time temperatures soar relentlessly from sunrise to sunset. Many sea dips are required as well as cold-showers, ice cream and cold drinks.
In many this ways summer heat will begin the work of autumn and a drying process will later ease the work of decay to . I have notices this hint of Autumn almost from mid summer with little hints here and ther,Rowan berries ripening and the odd blackberry already in full deep black. The piles of fallen and dried leaves accumulating on pathways and in the gutters. Its hard to let go but this little by little process lets me let go of summer with a little more ease and I do in this heat find myself looking forward to Octobers crispness. It also puts the Chinese philosophical notion of ying and yang to mind and the notion of nothing being total and complete but always balanced with some of its opposite. In life there is death.
The colour palate now comprises the high summer deep reds, crimsons, purples and yellows with brown and rust creeping in to replace lush green. The bright yellow flowers of the Ragwort shine through the dried grass in an abandoned field that we like to bring the dogs too. All the grass has climaxed and gone tumbling over into folds of beige, gold and brown. Exhausted and heavy. Undeterred the ragwort pushes through. I have found myself increasingly drawn to this plant whose identity is synonymous with many misunderstood facts. Yes, it can be poisonous to cattle, horses, ponies and donkeys but generally they tend to leave it alone knowing that the bitter alkaloids give it a very unpleasant flavour. It tends only to be devoured when there is little else to graze. The consumption docent bring instant death but can cause much discomfort and if eaten regularly can cause more serious problems. The real problem here is human carelessness and when mowing hay more care and consideration should be given to what is being cut. Once the grass and other plants have been dried and presented as food the warning bright yellow of the flowers no longer signals danger to these poor animals. Now this can cause serious problems.
Today on my walk by the canal I noticed the magnificant yellow and black stripes of the Cinnabar Moth caterpillar whose preferred home is Ragwort. They absorb toxic and bitter tasting alkaloid substances from munching on these plants, and assimilate these bitter alkaloids, becoming unpalatable themselves.The bright colours of both the larvae and the moths act as warning signs, so they are seldom eaten by predators. Numbers of both caterpillar and moth have fallen much in recent years due to the irradiation of this plant. Ironically these creatures naturally do this task and larger numbers of caterpillar would keep Ragwort in check.
A glance at Mrs Grieves Modern Botanical gives rich information about the folk traditions and uses for ragwort.
“Ragwort was formerly much employed medicinally for various purposes. The leaves are used in the country for emollient poultices and yield a good green dye, not, however, permanent. The flowers boiled in water give a fair yellow dye to wool previously impregnated with alum. The whole plant is bitter and aromatic, of an acrid sharpness, but the juice is cooling and astringent, and of use as a wash in burns, inflammations of the eye, and also in sores and cancerous ulcers - hence one of its old names, Cankerwort. It is used with success in relieving rheumatism, sciatica and gout, a poultice of the green leaves being applied to painful joints and reducing the inflammation and swelling. It makes a good gargle for ulcerated throat and mouth, and is said to take away the pain caused by the sting of bees. A decoction of the root has been reputed good for inward bruises and wounds. In some parts of the country Ragwort is accredited with the power of preventing infection.”
A little further research uncovers fascinating associations with witchcraft. In many parts of Wales Scotland and Ireland it was imagined that Witches flew on steeds of ragwort and not on the more common broomstick. Also balms incorporating hallusnagenichallusnagenic herbs were used ceremonially. And although Ragwort itself dose not have any such offering it is suggested that it could in fact increase bloodflow to the skin thus bringing on a more rapid and efficiant trip.
The Irish name for this plant is Buchalli or Buchalan Bui, Yellow Boy an instantly and distinctially familiar name that conjures perhaps something of an anthropomorphic presence. And like our bovine and equine friends much respect is traditionally shown for this plant. And understandably so as not just Witches favoured riding this plant so to it would appear did fairies. A Sligo saying reflects the caution and respect shown for this plant in most of the country
“Don’t call it a weed though a weed it may be, this the horse of the fairies the Buachalan Bui”