A Little Foraging Today !

pitdog

pitdog

Joined
Apr 13, 2007
Messages
12,294
I'm never sure whether to post wild edible threads on here. People often say that it's one aspect of survival that they really want to learn about but when I post about the stuff it hardly ever gets any response ?
Anyway I'll give it another go!!!!

First edible up is one that I have only recently discovered and even after reading up on it I'm still a little confused ! It's called Heracleum Lanatum, or more commonly Indian Celery.

One statement says: The young stalks and leaf stems were peeled and eaten raw.

Another says:Poisonous: Will cause blisters .

The more I read the more unsure I am to try it !!!!!

P6230001.jpg


The next one is one that I have eaten and can highly recommend:

Tiger Lily: The bulbs can be steamed, boiled or I have even eaten them raw, they taste like wild rice !

P6230003.jpg


I then gathered some Salmon berries, Indian plums and some Liqorice root to make a drink:

P6230007.jpg


The licorice root might not look much but can add quite a bit of flavour and also has some good medicinal properties, here it is after peeling it with my WSK:

P6230008-1.jpg


Add water and wait for tea !

P6230009.jpg


Snicker was in full on hunting mode today !

P6230014.jpg


I wasn't the only one foraging today:

P6230016.jpg
 
I just collected some Salmon berries
I wonder what the rest of the licorice plant looks like... I am not familiar with it.
Thank you Pitdog, for the useful info!
 
pitdog said:
I'm never sure whether to post wild edible threads on here. People often say that it's one aspect of survival that they really want to learn about but when I post about the stuff it hardly ever gets any response ?
Anyway I'll give it another go!!!!

First edible up is one that I have only recently discovered and even after reading up on it I'm still a little confused ! It's called Heracleum Lanatum, or more commonly Indian Celery.

One statement says: The young stalks and leaf stems were peeled and eaten raw.

Another says:Poisonous: Will cause blisters .

The more I read the more unsure I am to try it !!!!!

P6230001.jpg
Click to expand...

Hey pitdog,

Nancy J. Turner in 'Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America', says, "young leafstalks and budstalks peeled and eaten in spring by many Native peoples in North America. However, plants contain several phototoxic furanocoumarins that can cause Poison Ivy-like dermatitis and discolouration of the skin if the plants are touched or handled followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight." (Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America, Nancy J. Turner/Adam F. Szczawinski, Timber Press, 2001, ISBN# 0-88192-312-5 page 267)

We have a similar plant (or the same plant :rolleyes:) here - Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum).

As far as whether or not you should try it, my feeling is, "When in doubt, leave it out." YMMV, of course.

And as far as whether or not you should post wild edible threads - they are one of the few threads that actually live up to the title, Wilderness and Survival Skills, (as compared to 'See my new knife' thread).

Doc
 
The indian celery looks a lot like Queen Anne's lace.

Keep up with the edible threads I love em. I just don't have anything to contribute most of the time. Maybe that's why no one else posts either.:confused:
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Hey pitdog,

Nancy J. Turner in 'Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America', says, "young leafstalks and budstalks peeled and eaten in spring by many Native peoples in North America. However, plants contain several phototoxic furanocoumarins that can cause Poison Ivy-like dermatitis and discolouration of the skin if the plants are touched or handled followed by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight." (Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America, Nancy J. Turner/Adam F. Szczawinski, Timber Press, 2001, ISBN# 0-88192-312-5 page 267)

We have a similar plant (or the same plant :rolleyes:) here - Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum).

As far as whether or not you should try it, my feeling is, "When in doubt, leave it out." YMMV, of course.

And as far as whether or not you should post wild edible threads - they are one of the few threads that actually live up to the title, Wilderness and Survival Skills, (as compared to 'See my new knife' thread).

Doc
Click to expand...

Thanks Doc, I was kinda thinking I'd give this one a miss. I guess if you were really in a survival situation and could find nothing else then it might be worth trying a small amount.

By the way Doc, did ya ' see my new knife !' :D
 
Pit,

I am just getting interested in wild edibles, as matter of fact I am getting ready to order a book on them for my area so I can identify for certain what can be eaten. Your threads are appreciated and educational, keep it up bro!
 
revolverman357 said:
Pit,

I am just getting interested in wild edibles, as matter of fact I am getting ready to order a book on them for my area so I can identify for certain what can be eaten. Your threads are appreciated and educational, keep it up bro!
Click to expand...

Cheers buddy I've just ordered yet another book on them myself. What I'm going to do next year is get a notebook and jot down which edibles appear at which times and in what areas so I have a reference guide specific to my location. Wish I'd done it ages ago !
 
Don't want you to feel ignored ... :)

Of the lot, I've only tried the salmon berries. Rather like them! Wouldn't be against trying the others.

Around my neck of the woods (literally), I'm mostly hunting mushrooms, the occasional fiddlehead (at the right time of the year), and wild nuts/berries. Not very adventurous by this lot's standards.
 
I'm all for wild edible threads - please keep posting them!

I don't like the taste of salmonberries - they are bitter (at least the ones around here).
 
Wild edible threads are great, Pit. The more the merrier. One of those aspects you can just never learn enough about. I am also with Doc on the 'when in doubt, leave it out'. I wouldn't want anything to happen to me if I was out and away from anyone. Or around anyone, for that matter.
 
Pitdog great pics. I love the plant threads too, and the pics you post of your adventures. I to might not say much but I still like to see your area and the pics you take and post.

Great job man,

Bryan
 
Shotgun said:
The indian celery looks a lot like Queen Anne's lace.

Keep up with the edible threads I love em. I just don't have anything to contribute most of the time. Maybe that's why no one else posts either.:confused:
Click to expand...

Hey Shotgun,

The flower umbel is similar, but the leaves aren't even close, either in shape or size.

Doc
 
I like these edible threads. Does anyone know (can recommend) a book on wild edibles for the southern California area, Los Angeles area?
 
great stuff Pit...:thumbup: looks like a nice day out..:) i am loving that "booshway" knife more and more too...
 
mtnfolk mike said:
great stuff Pit...:thumbup: looks like a nice day out..:) i am loving that "booshway" knife more and more too...
Click to expand...

I'm lovin it Mike. Usually I start finding some faults but other than trying to thin the grind down a little bit as I sharpen it it seems perfect ! I can finally head out without thinking " Ooh what shall I take today ????" .:thumbup:
 
Nice thread Pit, there are several plants I won't eat because I don't know enough about identifying them and I'd rather error on the side of caution until I'm starving.

We have a lot of dragonflies here too right now, I noticed that on a little short hike today.
 
Definately not queen annes lace. Queens flower is more dense and flattened than that one. I don't think it's umbels branch out that far. Sometimes queens flower will begin to close and form a bird nest like shape. There is also sometimes a tiny dark puple flower in the middle of the queens flower and the stem is hairy. The root actually smells like a regular carrot.
To me, and I'm no expert, that flower with it's umbel looks alot like one of the hemlocks but the leaf is not a water or poison hemlock leaf and the stem appears hairy from the photo. Is the stem hollow and does it have any purple tinges to it? I'm crazy allergic to poison ivy so i avoid anything that may cause dermatitis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top