This site requires Javascript to be turned on. Please enable Javascript and reload the page.

Herbarium: Medicinal Plants as Information Worthy Worts: Comprehensive Comparison of the Histories, Structures, and Therapeutic Uses of Plants in the Scrophulariaceae and Asteraceae Families In order to better understand the “worts'” categorization, an analysis of the plants within the Scrophulariaceae family (Scrophularia californica, Scrophularia scorodonia, and Galvezia juncea) and two plants within the Asteraceae family (Artemisia douglasiana and Artemisia campestris) was conducted. Through research thus far, it was found that these aforementioned plants share structural similarities in terms of aspects that include venation of the leaves. The most prominent common denominator of the wort category is that they all have therapeutic uses. Among the historical therapeutic uses found in the literature are anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and antioxidant uses. These benefits have been utilized from societies ranging from the American Indians to the Europeans. -By Chris Leung, Catly Do, Fady Tawfik, and Sean Jamali. Exploring the Sages: Medicinal Properties and Appearances of Artemisia Californica and Salvia Apiana Both plants Artemisia Californica and Salvia apiana under the category of sages play important roles in maintaining the growth of their local ecosystems with similar habitats, medicinal properties, and flowering appearances during the times of collection. However, they also share important differences in their flowering and growth patterns as well as the active agents used for their medicinal properties. In analyzing the similarities and differences between these two plants regarding appearances, climate, medicinal properties, and growth patterns, the similarities in how they are able to provide and support their local ecosystems is the big picture idea that can be understood. - By Stephanie Bottomley, Rasika Obla, Tony Ong, and Balpreet Sond. Tea Time: Exploring the Medicinal Properties of Bark-Use Plants from a Traditional Ecological Knowledge Context This page discusses three different plants that contain significant medicinal properties in their bark and have been historically used by indigenous communities throughout North America: Populus tremuloides, Frangula californica subsp. californica, and Amelanchier alnifolia. These species will be compared on a global scale by examining the bark-based applications of two related species from Africa and East Asia: Dovyalis caffra and Rhaphiolepis umbellata. Despite their phenotypic differences and the differences in their medicinal properties, all five of these plants have been used to help relieve symptoms of communicable and chronic diseases through the direct digestion of tea like remedies made from the boiled bark of these plants. -By Saja Zidan, Maha Ulhaq, Kate Santoso, Gillian, Miller, Anna Jovin, and Luc Lorain The History, Comparison, and Analysis of Parasitic Plants Our project presents the process of collecting and researching the special characteristics of parasitic plants. We explore each plant's respective medical practices and compare them to epiphytic plants that are similar to our original plants of interest. In each project, we individually explain how the plants were collected, identified, translated, and classified. The contextual reasons behind this process are also presented and connected to the general unique characteristics of parasitic plants. Each page provides a collection of media images that visually represent the main plant of interest, the epiphytic plant, the historical materia medica image, and the individual journal observations that we made of our respective plants. We offer comparative analysis and highlight important parts of each specimen throughout these photos. - By Khang Vo, Jessica McLaughlin, Alastair Sterns, and Dania Alkoraishi Combating Coughs: The Respiratory Remedies across North America Bioprospecting and the application of materia medica have played central roles in the remedy of physical ailments in humans throughout history. From ancient cultures utilizing extracts from leaves and roots to modern medicinal practices extracting medicinal properties from plants to put into pills and other therapies, materia medica has and remains a relevant and growing practice. Here, we examine various plants from North America and their varied characteristics, though they share similar medicinal properties.- By Raymond Ko, Mari Williams, Elizabeth Pham, Julia Tang, Cienna Henry Milton, and Emma Barrall Antiseptics in Nature: An exploratory analysis of Coptis trifolia and Larrea tridentata The following research studies common properties of plants used as potential antiseptic medicinal use. Explained more in depth later on, the first page introduces the plant Coptis trifolia, and its common characteristics with a similar plant, Thalictrum fendleri. The second page studies Larrea Tridentata found at the UCLA Herbarium and its living species at the UCLA Botanical Garden. The pages also examine other species found at the UCLA Botanical Garden, with references of possible characteristics which may allude to the specificity and uniqueness of the plants and objects. These three species studied share a common use as an antiseptic. - By Neha Shetty, Simran Athwal, Mariah Ghodrat, Madeline Huttie, and Liam Kordmahale-Izaddoust Plant Specimen and their Alias : Exploring the Identity of Plants with Animal in the Name Lycium torreyi and Equisetum laevigatum, both plant species with an animal in their name, were explored for their characteristics and relationship to their respective animals. Through extensive research, we deduce several similarities and differences between our plants that led us to an understanding of why each plant earned their colloquial name, or alias. Lycium torreyi and Equisetum laevigatum, alias Wolfberry and Smooth Horsetail, respectively, have several commonalities and differences to their corresponding animal including physical and character traits as well as their medicinal qualities. Images, observations and outside research portray the many queries and answers to their common name. By Frieda Anastopulos, Alexa Hernandez, Denise Llera, Chelsea Okoro, Grace Randall Precious Polygonaceae: Insight into the Historical Collection and Therapeutic Uses of Polygonum, Eriogonum, and Rumex Genera This comparative analysis took to exploring six species under the Polygonaceae plant family, half of which are housed in the UCLA Herbarium and half of which are located in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden at UCLA. Although they shared a meaningful commonality, these plants fell under a total of three genuses, which seems to explain their differences in morphology - as observed in the physical herbarium specimen sheets and the botanical garden visit - and utility, as unveiled by various Materia Medica entries. However, with an understanding of both historical and modern collection processes, this analysis also postulated that such differences could relate to how these plants were collected and their associated metadata. - By Moryel Yashar, Lexie Baughman, Nicole Cohen, Yair Tabibi, Tabetha Sanchez, and Leah Tabibi Bidens pilosa, Crataegus douglasii, and Urtica dioica effects on Cardiovascular System Bidens pilosa, Crataegus douglasii, and Urtica dioica are medicinal plants that have been found to contain a myriad of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, antioxidants, and polyphenol compounds. These compounds are known to have significant effects on the cardiovascular system by primarily targeting systolic hypertension. Plant extracts and their derivatives ameliorate oxidative stress, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension associated with cardiovascular disease. This association is due to the characteristics of anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxant, and antiviral activity within the specimen. These medicinal outcomes are elicited to prevent the onset of cardiovascular diseases risk factors. Overall, Bidens pilosa, Crataegus douglasii, and Urtica dioica play a crucial role in cardioprotective effects and health benefits. - By Salma Fawzi, Anaeli Guzman, Rere Huang, Lilliane Martin, Isabel Nakoud, and Sriha Srinivasan A History and Analysis of Antiviral Medicinal Plants Medicinal plants vary wildly among cultures around the world, and proper identification, collections, and bioprospecting of these plants expand upon modern medicine and provide new possibilities of drugs. Exploration of historical materia medica, preserved herbarium specimens, and observation of plants both in adaptations and chosen environment allow for the discovery of new medical leads. Three plants in particular, Eclipta prostrata, Astragalus nuttallii var. Nuttallii, and Sambucus canadensis, have historically been documented and used in medicine for their antiviral properties. Through the process of observation as well as investigation of historic cultural uses, much can be learned about these medicinal plants that carry these critical properties. - By Allison Wang, Joanne Kwak, Nina Do, Nicolo Villasis, Sabrina Huang, and Hamza Mojadidi

Rhus ovata (Detail)

This page has annotations:

Contents of this annotation:

This page has paths:

The Rhus ovata is an evergreen shrub that is native to Southern California, Baja California, and Arizona. Commonly known as sugarbush, the Rhus ovata has characteristic white flower clusters and deep red berries during the Spring. The alluring shrub is a member of the Anacardiaceae family. It proliferates on dry slopes away from the coast and can survive with little water. These conditions are frequently met in desert conditions hence their prominence in Mediterranean climate. The Rhus ovata’s low maintenance status makes it widely available for collection. It has been collected and recorded over one thousand times in the CCH2.
Contents of this path:

This page is referenced by:

From Vibrant Flowers to Cough Suppressants: The Rhus Ovata Has It All The Rhus ovata is an evergreen shrub that is native to Southern California, Baja California, and Arizona. Commonly known as sugarbush, the Rhus ovata has characteristic white flower clusters and deep red berries during the Spring. The alluring shrub is a member of the Anacardiaceae family. It proliferates on dry slopes away from the coast and can survive with little water. These conditions are frequently met in desert conditions hence their prominence in Mediterranean climate. The Rhus ovata’s low maintenance status makes it widely available for collection. It has been collected and recorded over one thousand times in the CCH2.
Rhus Ovata Collection History
Jane Turner is credited for the Rhus ovata specimen collected for the UCLA Herbarium. On November 16th, 1958, Turner found herself in the Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles, California. Faced with a wide array of wildlife, Turner focused on the Rhus ovata S. Watson. She knelt onto Mulholland Road in Mandeville Canyon and collected the specimen held in the UCLA Herbarium to this day. The exact location was said to be 2.2 miles west “of Fire Station,” with the geographic coordinates 34.129029, -118.513369. The exact fire station Turner was referring to is unclear and may even cease to exist.

Rhus Ovata at UCLA
The Rhus ovata specimen in the UCLA Herbarium features dozens of leaves connected by four stems. It exhibits small, immature leaves as well as wilting leaves; thus thoroughly representing the stages of life the Rhus ovata endures. The leaves feature pointed tips throughout that are theorized to increase water runoff since the plant survives on such little water. The stems are quite thin and do not seem to provide much structural support. The leaves are an average of about 60 square centimeters and are also very thin, There are no flowers present on the collected specimen.

Like its record in the UCLA Herbarium, the Rhus ovata plant in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden featured zero flowers.
However, this is believed to be due to the time of year. Our visit to the herbarium was in January during the winter season outside of its flowering period. We found the shrub sitting atop a large wooden trunk. We theorized that this is how the Rhus ovata compensates for its low structural support: using other plants for support. As described in the literature, the Rhus ovata was located on a slope away from water. It received plenty of sunlight on the clear skied day we visited.

.

Rhus ovata: A Closer Look

Rhus Ovata Healing Properties
Have a cough or cold? The Rhus ovata may be able to help. Native American people by the name of Cahuilla are known to treat flu symptoms with the plant. They sue the leaves to make a medicinal tea as well as eating the fruits either raw, dried, boiled or ground. Kumeyaay people also use the plant medicinally by eating the plants to treat pain for women in labor. These tribes were careful not to eat the seeds as they are reportedly inedible. Its antihistamine and analgesic properties have been used for centuries to treat ailing community members.

Overall, the Rhus ovata is more than just a pretty cluster of flowers. It is known to strategically place itself in low water areas while controlling for instances of excess water. It has found ways to support itself physically without increasing the resources it must take in. Most importantly, the healing properties of R. ovata have helped bring life to this world as well as ease coughing symptoms of those who are already living. This is true via the many modes of consumption that the Rhus ovata allows. This plant has contributed so much to the planet and its importance cannot be overstated. Jane Turner clearly had an eye for beauty, inside and out.
Works Cited
Ethnobotany of southern California native plants: Sugar Bush Rhus ovata (2020). EthnoHerbalist. http://www.ethnoherbalist.com/southern-california-native-plants-medicinal/sugar-bush/
~~~~~ Cienna Henry Milton & Emma Barrall ~~~~~