Wild Plant Industry of the Southern Appalachians

Abstract

T NHE major industry in many parts of the Southern Appalachian Mountains is the gathering of indigenous wild plants which nature provides in quantity throughout this region where the lumberman has not been too active in his exploitation of timber resources. The roots, stems, branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits of the wild flowers, the weeds of the waste places, the shrubs and trees of this section, each make a contribution to the wellbeing or the happiness of man somewhere throughout the civilized world. Two seasons of the year supply products for this industry--summer, when botanical drugs are gathered, and winter, when decorative greens are gathered for the floral markets. There is some overlapping of the two seasons as will be explained later.