| Staghorn Sumac
We hadn't even stepped into the park before Wide Eyed Lib (WEL for short) spotted some staghorn sumac. She said she was going to take home the part pictured above to make sumac lemonade. Then she told us a few ways to recognize the plant - fuzzy branches (like a stag's horn) and compound leaves, both pictured below.
Poke or Pokeweed
This is a food that is sometimes poisonous unless you know what you're doing. I've been advised by one person to boil it TWICE and pour off the water both times - then it's edible. WEL said it's OK in the spring but poisonous now.
Don't Eat This Plant
It's bittersweet nightshade - and poisonous.
Burdock
Burdock is a biennial. It grows for two years, and you eat the root during the first year of its growth. I've got a great burdock root soup recipe, but it's expensive if you're buying it. Here's first year burdock:
And here's second year burdock:
Crabapples
These grew in my yard when I was a kid but we never ate them. Turns out you can eat them, no problem.
Rosehips
This is the fruit of the rose - you won't see it on a rosebush while the roses are in bloom, only after the roses are long gone. Notice below how similar rosehips and crabapples look? That's because they are related:
Black Cherry
An easy way to find these guys is to look down until you see these on the ground. Then look up and there's your black cherry tree. They taste a bit grapefruity, not entirely like a cherry, but they have a pit in the middle just like a cherry. Another way to recognize black cherry is by the red on the inside of the bark. The bark is flaky and has medicinal value.
Lady's Thumb
The leaves and flowers are edible.
Common Plantain
The seeds are a constipation cure and the leaves are edible. The leaves are best in the spring, but you can use them as a veggie stock later in the year.
Wood Sorrel
Wood sorrel is shown here with and without its flower. This plant has heart shaped leaves and a lemony flavor. It's great for a salad or for lemonade. Don't eat too much though, because it contains oxalic acid.
Blackberries
Easy to recognize for even the newest novice (like me). The ones near the trails get eaten quickly but if you're willing to wade into the woods a bit you'll find plenty. Of course, remember that you're sharing with all kinds of wildlife... these yummy berries are in high demand!
Common Blue Violet
The leaves and flowers are edible.
Lamb's Quarters
Just don't eat the red ones (not in the picture)... that's actually an insect.
Spice Bush
It's the dark green leaves in the pic, not the bright green vine. You can make tea with the twigs and leaves.
White Clover
Recognize this by its round leaves and white flowers (not pictured). The flowers and leaves are edible and they also make a nice tea.
Mugwort
Use this for tea. It's an invasive species and it used to flavor beer when hops were unavailable. It's good together with green or oolong tea.
Asiatic Dayflower
The flower (first picture) and leaves (second picture) are edible.
Honewort
Everything above ground is edible. |
