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| When a carnivorous plant catches an insect, the leaves serve as the stomach that digests it. Parts of or all of the trapped animal is broken down into a liquid by the leaves' special bacteria or digestive juices. This mixture of proteins, minerals and digestive juices is called a 'broth' or soup. The plant's leaves take in all the nutrients necessary for growth from the dead animal. |  |
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Medicinal Plant Resources of the Secwepemc First Nation
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Identification of medicinally beneficial plants
The investigation of plants for medicinal properties is important for medical, ecological, and economic reasons. The cultural knowledge of indigenous peoples can greatly assist in this process, as many native societies have maintained direct relationships with plants for nutritional, medicinal, material and spiritual purposes over generations. Researchers from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria, British Columbia, are working in collaboration with indigenous peoples to investigate how traditional Secwepemc processing methods alter the chemistry and medicinally beneficial activities of balsamroot when it is prepared as a traditional food and medicine. Results from the study will assist in furthering an understanding and appreciation of the value of indigenous knowledge and in identifying plants that may have widely beneficial medicinal properties.
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