Yerba Buena-Good Herb

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SF-1846-yerba-buena-cove-watercolor.jpg

The village of Yerba Buena in 1846, three years before the Gold Rush and the name change to San Francisco. Montgomery St. between Clay & Washington is the shoreline.

Yerba buena (Satureja douglasii)

Until 1847, San Francisco was known as Yerba Buena, after the fragrant plant that was so abundant here. Still found on the Presidio and elsewhere in the city, yerba buena ("good herb") has been used medicinally for centuries by Ohlone Indians.

Ecology1$yerba-buena-cove-1847$yerba-buena itm$yerba-buena.jpg

"Yerba Buena" is a local herb similar to spearmint.

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