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Nettle
Description: These plants grow several feet high. They have small, inconspicuous flowers.
Fine, hairlike bristles cover the stems, leafstalks, and undersides of leaves. The bristles
cause a stinging sensation when they touch the skin.
Habitat and Distribution: Nettles prefer moist areas along streams or at the margins of
forests. They are found throughout North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and
northern Europe.
Other Uses: Mature stems have a fibrous layer that you can divide into individual fibers
and use to weave string or twine.
Oak
Description: Oak trees have alternate leaves and acorn fruits. There are two main groups
of oaks: red and white. The red oak group has leaves with bristles and smooth bark in the
upper part of the tree. Red oak acorns take 2 years to mature. The white oak group has leaves without bristles and a rough bark in the upper portion of the tree. White oak acorns mature in 1 year.
Habitat and Distribution: Oak trees are found in many habitats throughout North
America, Central America, and parts of Europe and Asia.
Other Uses: Oak wood is excellent for building or burning. Small oaks can be split and cut
into long thin strips (3 to 6 millimeters thick and 1.2 centimeters wide) used to weave
mats, baskets, or frameworks for packs, sleds, furniture, etc. Oak bark soaked in water produces a tanning solution used to preserve leather.
Pine
Description: Pine trees are easily recognized by their needlelike leaves grouped in
bundles. Each bundle may contain one to five needles, the number varying among species.
The tree's odor and sticky sap provide a simple way to distinguish pines from similar looking trees with needlelike leaves.
Habitat and Distribution: Pines prefer open, sunny areas. They are found throughout
North America, Central America, much of the Caribbean region, North Africa, the Middle
East, Europe, and some places in Asia.
Other Uses : Use the resin to waterproof articles. Also use it as glue. Collect the resin
from the tree. If there is not enough resin on the tree, cut a notch in the bark so more sap
will seep out. Put the resin in a container and heat it. The hot resin is your glue. Use it as is or add a small amount of ash dust to strengthen it. Use it immediately. You can use hardened pine resin as an emergency dental filling.
Rattan palm
Description: The rattan palm is a stout, robust climber. It has hooks on the midrib of its
leaves that it uses to remain attached to trees on which it grows. Sometimes, mature stems
grow to 90 meters. It has alternate, compound leaves and a whitish flower.
Habitat and Distribution: The rattan palm is found from tropical Africa through Asia to
the East Indies and Australia. It grows mainly in rain forests.
Other Uses: You can obtain large amounts of potable water by cutting the ends of the long
stems. The stems can be used to make baskets and fish traps.
Sugar palm
Description: This tree grows about 15 meters high and has huge leaves up to 6 meters
long. Needlelike structures stick out of the bases of the leaves. Flowers grow below the
leaves and form large conspicuous dusters from which the fruits grow.
Habitat and Distribution: This palm is native to the East Indies but has been planted in
many parts off the tropics. It can be found at the margins of forests.
Other Uses: The shaggy material at the base of the leaves makes an excellent rope as it is
strong and resists decay.
Ti
Description: The ti has unbranched stems with straplike leaves often clustered at the tip
of the stem. The leaves vary in color and may be green or reddish. The flowers grow at the
plant's top in large, plumelike clusters. The ti may grow up to 4.5 meters tall.
Habitat and Distribution: Look for this plant at the margins of forests or near
homesites in tropical areas. It is native to the Far East but is now widely planted in tropical
areas worldwide.
Other Uses: Use the leaves to cover shelters or to make a rain cloak. Cut the leaves into
liners for shoes; this works especially well if you have a blister. Fashion temporary
sandals from the ti leaves. The terminal leaf, if not completely unfurled, can be used as a sterile bandage. Cut the leaves into strips, then braid the strips into rope.
Wild grape vine
Description: The wild grape vine climbs with the aid of tendrils. Most grape vines
produce deeply lobed leaves similar to the cultivated grape. Wild grapes grow in pyramidal,
hanging bunches and are black-blue to amber, or white when ripe.
Habitat and Distribution: Wild grapes are distributed worldwide. Some kinds are found
in deserts, others in temperate forests, and others in tropical areas. Wild grapes are
commonly found throughout the eastern United States as well as in the southwestern desert areas. Most kinds are rampant climbers over other vegetation. The best place to look for wild grapes is on the edges of forested areas. Wild grapes are also found in Mexico. In the Old World, wild grapes are found from the Mediterranean region eastward through Asia, the East Indies, and to Australia. Africa also has several kinds of wild grapes.
Other Uses: You can obtain water from severed grape vine stems. Cut off the vine at the
bottom and place the cut end in a container. Make a slant-wise cut into the vine about 1.8
meters upon the hanging part. This cut will allow water to flow from the bottom end. As water diminishes in volume, make additional cuts further down the vine. |
