Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers » (1st Edition)

Elizabeth Silverthorne is the author of three award-winning books, Ashbel Smith of Texas, Plantation Life in Texas, and Christmas in Texas, published by Texas A&M University Press, as well as a number of other books on Texas history. A free-lance writer, she lives in Salado, Texas.

In Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers, Elizabeth Silverthorne offers a charming selection of these botanical treasures, explaining the significance and origin of the name, identifying where the flower and its family members are located, and colorfully describing each one's legends and uses. Complemented by eighteen delicate drawings, legends and facts about forty-four of Texas' most interesting flowers, such as the water lily, Queen Anne's Lace, poinsettia, dogwood, and morning glory, are delightfully detailed. Violets have been used to cure cancer. Sunflowers were planted by nineteenth-century pioneers to protect families from malaria. Indian Blankets were used to increase fertility. Buttercups were used, in ancient time, to treat leprosy, plague, and insanity and, more recently, to remove warts or raise blisters. Silverthorne's text offers folklore enthusiasts, gardeners, and Texas history buffs an enchanting reading experience and an invitation to discover the legends growing in their own backyard.

Booknews

Alphabetical entries identify and locate Texas wildflowers, including buttercup, lily, iris, and yucca, explain the significance and origins of their names, and describes uses and legends associated with them. Includes b&w drawings. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)