Edible Wild Plants

Well then, Montana Native Plants and Early Peoples probably wouldn't hold much value to you...unless you enjoy reading about Montana Indians and what they used.
 
Get the book called Nature Bound by Ron Dawson It is one of the best I think. It has color photos and some survival info to. This is the main one I use and it covers many, many plants.

Amzon had it the last time I looked but if you have trouble finding one let me know and I will get you a copy they are about $15.00 or so. Yesterday I was at the store that sells them in lincoln Ne. This is a awesome book and easy to use and just plain some of the best color photos that I have found in over 30 years of looking up edible wild plants.

Bryan
 
I have and use a book called Edible Wild Plants, A North American Field Guide. It has color pics for virtually every plant they talk about. The book itself is organized according to season, and has a seasonal key with regions in the front. Its about $18 from Amazon.
 
on_the_edge said:
I have and use a book called Edible Wild Plants, A North American Field Guide. It has color pics for virtually every plant they talk about. The book itself is organized according to season, and has a seasonal key with regions in the front. Its about $18 from Amazon.
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Hey o t e,

Is that the one by Elias and Dykeman? If so, it is quite a good book.

Doc
 
Hi all, That is a good one to. that on the edge and Doc said.
Edible wild plants a North American Field Guide. Is very good to.
Get both Books you will not be disappointed I have both of them in my truck and car. The photos of both are just awesome and the info and how to use them is like no others.

Bryan
 
Sivart - I am in the western Suburb of Philadelphia. Are you anywhere nearby?

The Peterson Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America is a great place to start.

Edible Wild Plants, A North American Field Guide byElias and Dykeman is not as encyclopedic but is great in the way it is organized by season.

I just got Edible Wild Plants of Pennsylvania and Neighboring States
by Richard, J. Medve (Author), Mary, Lee Medve (Author), Kimball, S. Erdman (Illustrator)
I it looks like it might be very useful but I have not had a chance to get out and field test it yet.
 
Sivart said:
I wanted to get a book or two on edible wild plants. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Sivart
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Here's my most important suggestion. If you're going to learn wild foods from a book, you need more than a 'book or two'. Whenever learning a new food, you want to reference it through several books. Here's why:

"The blue berries of woodbine (Virginia Creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia) are edible" - (page 16, Guide To Northeastern Wild Edibles, E. Barrie Kavasch, Hancock House, 1994, ISBN# 0-88839-090-4)

"Berries (from P. quinquefolia) which may be attractive to children, have been reported to cause poisoning in a number of cases. Results ranging from gastric upset to death have been reported". - (page 190, Venomous Animals & Poisonous Plants, Steven Foster / Roger Caras, Peterson Guides, 1994, ISBN# 0-395-35292-4)

Now what do you do?

If you owned the Guide to Northeastern Wild Edibles, you'd eat them. If you owned Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants, you wouldn't.

With several books, you cross reference them all, and if any mention a caution, you "When in doubt, leave it out!"
It's true that you may not try everything that is edible, but you also won't make yourself sick!

Just my two cents worth.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Here's my most important suggestion. If you're going to learn wild foods from a book, you need more than a 'book or two'. Whenever learning a new food, you want to reference it through several books. Here's why:

"The blue berries of woodbine (Virginia Creeper - Parthenocissus quinquefolia) are edible" - (page 16, Guide To Northeastern Wild Edibles, E. Barrie Kavasch, Hancock House, 1994, ISBN# 0-88839-090-4)

"Berries (from P. quinquefolia) which may be attractive to children, have been reported to cause poisoning in a number of cases. Results ranging from gastric upset to death have been reported". - (page 190, Venomous Animals & Poisonous Plants, Steven Foster / Roger Caras, Peterson Guides, 1994, ISBN# 0-395-35292-4)

Now what do you do?

If you owned the Guide to Northeastern Wild Edibles, you'd eat them. If you owned Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants, you wouldn't.

With several books, you cross reference them all, and if any mention a caution, you "When in doubt, leave it out!"
It's true that you may not try everything that is edible, but you also won't make yourself sick!

Just my two cents worth.

Doc
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That bit of advice is worth more than 2 cents for sure! I couldn't agree more as I have noticed those kinds of discrepancies with the Elias and Dykeman book compared to the Easter/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs guide by Foster and Duke I have.
 
ejes said:
That bit of advice is worth more than 2 cents for sure! I couldn't agree more as I have noticed those kinds of discrepancies with the Elias and Dykeman book compared to the Easter/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs guide by Foster and Duke I have.
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I agree. I have not run into any discrepancies yet, but I use my suggested book above in conjunction with The Field Guide to Medicinal Wild Plants by Bradford Angier (Revisions by David Foster). Again, about $21.95.
 
ejes said:
That bit of advice is worth more than 2 cents for sure! I couldn't agree more as I have noticed those kinds of discrepancies with the Elias and Dykeman book compared to the Easter/Central Medicinal Plants and Herbs guide by Foster and Duke I have.
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Hey ejes,

Do you remember which discrepancies they were? I like to keep track of them for times like this.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Hey ejes,

Do you remember which discrepancies they were? I like to keep track of them for times like this.

Doc
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Oh boy, I have looked at sooooo many I can't keep track. I will have to try and look at some again. I have them laying by the bed and when I find a plant when I'm out that I'm not familiar with, I look for it before I go to sleep. Normally, they are a caution that something could make some people sick in one or the other. The last one I remember was Red Mulberry. The EWP cautions that the raw shoots and unripe berries contain hallucinogens. No mention of the ripe berries causing problems. The MPH only states that eating large quantities ( I assume this means the ripe berries, but it could mean the root tea it references; it is vague) can cause vomiting, which large quantities of just about anything can cause.

Another was wintercress. MPH warns that some studies suggest it can cause kidney malfunction. No warning at all in EWP.
 
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ejes said:
Oh boy, I have looked at sooooo many I can't keep track. I will have to try and look at some again. I have them laying by the bed and when I find a plant when I'm out that I'm not familiar with, I look for it before I go to sleep. Normally, they are a caution that something could make some people sick in one or the other. The last one I remember was Red Mulberry. The EWP cautions that the raw shoots and unripe berries contain hallucinogens. No mention of the ripe berries causing problems. The MPH only states that eating large quantities ( I assume this means the ripe berries, but it could mean the root tea it references; it is vague) can cause vomiting, which large quantities of just about anything can cause.

Another was wintercress. MPH warns that some studies suggest it can cause kidney malfunction. No warning at all in EWP.
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Thanks ejes. I just meant which plants. I have both those books. As far as some have warnings and some don't. I think liability comes into play there.



One more cautionary note that I should have posted above: If you're going out foraging new plants, it's a good idea to have a current epipen along. Because you have never eaten those plants before, you have no way of knowing if you're hypersensitive. A guy I met, developed anaphalaxis from eating Yellow Fawn Lily (Erythronium americanum) which is an edible plant, though not for him! :( Fortunately, his wife is a nurse, recognized what was happening, and rushed him to the hospital (in time).

The only problem, as has been pointed out in another thread, epipens don't have a long shelf life and it can get expensive. Of course, so are funerals! :rolleyes:

Anyway, if anybody else spots discrepancies, I would appreciate a heads up.

Doc
 
hey, sivart. Regardless of books, I know there are some good classes out there, too. Check out the libraries for regonal books you may get surprised at what's out of print and good (then search ABE for used copies)

Don't forget invasives, as well. There are a few books specifically on non native edible invasives.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Sharp Eye said:
Sivart - I am in the western Suburb of Philadelphia. Are you anywhere nearby?
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Not really, I live at least 4-5 hours away from Philadelphia. About an hour east of Pittsburgh.


The discrepancies and or misinformation between books is definitely something to be aware of.

Any other advice in the subject of edible wild plants would be welcomed.
 
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