In Praise of Dogfennel

In Praise of Dogfennel. . , How did early inhabitants of Florida deal with mosquitoes and sand flies?, A common practice, employed by native people, was the practice of creating an outdoor "smudge fire." Smudge in this use means "smoky." Across glowing coals of a fire the gathered green aromatic branches of dogfennel, Eupatorium capillifolium, were laid. This produced a "smudge" that hung in the air and discouraged the "bite-y bugs.", Other native plants utilized by pioneers: , . Wax Myrtle leaves were boiled, the wax skimmed, cooled, formed into candles around a string wick , . A few slivers of "lighter wood," heavy with resin from heart of pine, made a fire easy to ignite , . Sea grape leaves served as disposable plates , . Edible Greens from particular native plants: dandelion, sea mustard, pokeberry , . Spanish Moss, gathered, dried in the sun, was used to stuff cushions and mattresses , . Saw palmetto fronds, stacked like shingles, became a roof shelter from sun or rain , . Fibers from palms was twisted into twine , . Turpentine, a product of Slash pine, widely used as an ingredient in salves, is still an ingredient today for topical use