I’ve written about jewel weed often over the years. The lovely orange variety grows prolifically throughout my mountain holler.

For many years I’ve known the plant is good for bee stings, bug bites, and plants that cause skin irritation like poison oak. Interestingly it often grows near those pesky itch filled plants.

Since I was a small girl I’ve taken great delight in the way the seed pods pop open at the slightest touch when they are full. The flinging of all those tiny seeds is one reason the plant is so common. Another name for the plant describes that process: wild touch me nots.

I’ve taken many a child here in Wilson holler to a handy jewel weed patch and taught them the wonderful game of touching the pods and watching the seeds fly here and yon.

I can’t wait to show Woodrow and Ira.

As familiar as I am with jewel weed I did not know the seeds are edible. They have a wonderful walnut flavor. Granted it would take a whole lot of seeds to fill you up since they are so small, but I’m thrilled to have found another reason to admire the beautiful orange blooms and the succulent stems that hold the plant upright as it grows throughout the summer.

Tipper

Subscribe for FREE and get a daily dose of Appalachia in your inbox