Plant ID, please (used in south Portugal for making fire)

[Rui]

This plant was used in Algarve (South Portugal) for making fire. But I have no idea of the species designation.

The fruit:

 

[Laughoutlouder]

No clue but check this out, it is excellent!!!

http://www.botanicalkeys.co.uk/flora/content/SEARCH.ASP

 

[Rui]

Founded
It´s
Prangos trifida

 

[Toddy]

A genuine Trifid

How do you use it to make fire ?..........and will it grow in a soggy wet Scotland


cheers,
M

 

[Rui]

When dried and smashed it catch sparks. When burning it´s almost impossible to extinguish without water.

I collected some fruits, they have a small single seed. I didn´t try yet to sow them.

 

[Galemys]

When dried and smashed it catch sparks. When burning it´s almost impossible to extinguish without water.

I collected some fruits, they have a small single seed. I didn´t try yet to sow them.

Thank´s for posting Rui, I had never heard of this plant.

Here are two other plants that were used for flint and steel firestarting:
Ferula communis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferula) was used in ´the mediterranean´ and Staehelina dubia (http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staehelina_dubia) was until quite recently used in Southern spain so there is a chance that this last one grows in mainland Portugal as well.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Rui]

SOme times my father told me abot the use of this plant as tinder.

Today I've open a plastic bag where I have some fruits gadered in March. Then I tested with a Clipper sparkler.

[video=youtube;Sqe6iCqwvrA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqe6iCqwvrA[/video]

This apiacea is from Mediterranean region. Didn't found any writen references about the use as tinder.

 

[Galemys]

Thank's for posting this Rui.

I found a spanish bushcraft-site where this plant is mentioned:
http://paleoforo.foroes.net/t427-hierba-yesquera-bugalho-o-erva-isqueira

And am I right in thinking that the Portuguese word isqueira means something like igniting?

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Toddy]

Oh that's impressive
Is the seed casing filled with a kind of down ?

I wonder if any of our plant seed cases would burn like that ?

cheers,
M

 

[Rui]

And am I right in thinking that the Portuguese word isqueira means something like igniting?

Cheers,

Tom

It´s true.

Isca = tinder
Isqueiro = lighter

 

[Rui]

Is the seed casing filled with a kind of down ?

Sorry. I didn't understand the question.

What do you mean with "kind of down"?

 

[Galemys]

Rui,

The word Down also means the soft feathers of a bird. Some plants have equally fluffy material on or inside their parts that can be ignited.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Rui]

OK, so it means something like cotton.

No. Is a harder thing. More like marshmallows.

 

[Toddy]

So more like some of the tinder fungus ? Looks really good stuff

I've been googling and it seems that the plant likes full sun but will tolerate frost. It doesn't say it'll tolerate cold and wet and cloudy though

If you ever get across to a Moot Rui, stuff your pockets

cheers,
M

 

[eraaij]

Cheers for the post - very interesting. I never even considered examining fruits for this purpose.