Ever heard of a Sneezewort, or a Monkey Puzzle Tree? We’ve got a whole list of wonky plants and the inside scoop on where they got their funny names!
#1 Sneezewort Yarrow (Achillea ptarmica)
Sneezewort
Also known as: Sneezeweed
I’m named this because… I was once used as a sneezing powder. Sneezeweed was dried up and used to get people to sneeze to clear out their sinuses!
Fun fact: This plant doesn’t just make people sneeze; it can also be eaten in salads or used as an insect repellent.
http://www.eol.org/pages/467230
#2 Hooded Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata)
Hooded Skullcap. Photo Credit: Fornax
Also known as: Marsh Skullcap
I’m named this because… my flowers look like caps
Fun fact: The Hooded Skullcap is part of the mint family but it doesn’t taste like mint! One of its relatives is also famous, the plant, called mad-dog weed, was used in medieval times as a remedy for rabid-dog bites.
http://www.ontariowildflower.com/lakeedge.htm#skullcapmarsh http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/skullcap-000273.htm
