Brambles” (Rubus spp) Many are the legends of a Celtic hero being trapped by a magical bramble patch, the gnarled vines grasping his arms and legs like talons. As any farmer or gardener who has tried to remove these wild plants can attest, no magic is really needed to make them a real pain. But once the fruit ripens – what bliss! In Celtic regions the most common brambles are the Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Raspberry (Rubus idaeus), and Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus). The fruits of all three have long been used to make an amazing variety of wines, jams, and preserves. They have also served as medicines: their roots are very astringent and have served to alleviate diarrhea and dysentery; chewing of Blackberry leaves was thought to heal bleeding gums; and boiled Raspberries were mixed with mint and served to people recovering from jaundice. Brambles represent the eleventh letter (Muin) of the Ogham Alphabet.
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 08:32:40 +0000
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