Bluebell

There are many types of blue bells. The type in our garden is known as Lungwort, king's plant, and chiming bells.  Its leaves are quite large.  Maria told us to plant them in groups of about five because that's how they grow in the wild.  She used to gather them for her grandmother when she was a little girl. (Campbell, 2018)  We planted some around the circle gathering place, at shoulder level at the brick wall.  

Another type of Bluebell that is popular but not in our garden is Harebell which has slender leaves and is more grasssy-looking. Harebell's name in nêhiyawêwin (Cree) is kaskwȃsonȃpiskos ("thimble plant") and its Latin name is Campanula rotundifolia L. Harebell is also known as Scottish Bluebell (McHaffie, 2013).

Yet a third type of Bluebell is also called Wild Hyacinth and its Latin name is Hyacinthoides non-scripta (McHaffie, 2013).  This one is known for growing in the woods and is an ‘indicator species’ to identify European ancient woodland due to its' roots ability to penetrate thick layers of leaf litter (Wikipedia, n.d.).

• Is a perennial bulb, growing from black seeds that germinate on the soil surface
• Has violet-blue petals in spring – May/June
• Has cream-coloured pollen that bumblebees and others are attracted to
• Is strongly and sweetly scented
• Normally likes partial shade and prefers slightly acidic soil; though it prefers to grow under a canopy, it can also be found in fields and meadows in drier, rocky, hilly, sandy soil
• Does well in herbaceous areas
• Has 15 biologically active compounds that protect them against insects and animals
• Has certain water soluble alkaloids (extracts) similar to compounds tested for use in combatting HIV and cancer
• Can be found alongside lily of the valley, day lilies, ferns, primrose

Lungwort is good for coughs because it stimulates the respiratory system.  It can also releive diarrhea and hemorrhoids because it's an astringent (Gray, p. 116).  An astringent plant causes cells to contract.

It shares something in common with Comfrey; both contain allantoin which gives comfrey its name 'knitbone'.  It helps to heal tissue and mend bones.  (Gray, p. 116)

Lungwort is one of the ingredients in a compund medicine for heart trouble (Métis Elder in Marles, p. 151).

The Harebell (Scottish Bluebell) bulbs and roots are dug up and dried for use (Mikisew Cree First Nation, n.d.). Medicinal applications of Harebell include: leucorrhoea (chemical imbalance in women, common in pregnancy, to help increase estrogen), the bulbs as a diuretic (to flush out the system, treat flu, heart failure, kidney diseases, hypertension, water poisoning, liver cirrhosis and to flush out overdoses such as too much aspirin), as a styptic/anti-hemorrhagic/hemostatic agent (to promote hemostatis), and as an adhesive (sap of the plant).  ("Hyacinthoides non-scripta", Wikipedia)

You can eat the leaves.  Enjoy them raw in a salad, steamed, or added to soup or stew. (Gray, p. 116)

The leaves can also be dried and mixed with tobacco for smoking. (Lamont as cited in Marles, p. 151)