#27. Youth-on-age
Family Name:
Saxifrage Family
Habitat:
Moist woods & stream banks.
Characteristics:
1. Leaves are heart-shaped, coarsely toothed, and found mainly in clumps
at the base of the plant.
2. Flower stalks taller (about double the height) than leaves.
3. The flowers are tiny, tube-shaped, with brownish-purple petals. The petals
curve bacwards from the mouth of the flower.
4. Tiny baby leaves often form at the base of each leaf. If such a leaf breaks
off of the parent leaf, it may develop into another whole plant!
Uses or Importances:
1. Young sprouts were eaten raw by local Indians & early settlers.
2. Fresh leaves may be applied to boils as an antidote.
3. Youth-on-age may be planted as an ornamental plant in shady gardens.
4. It is very similar to the Piggy-back plant sold in stores.
Paul Slichter