Some wild edibles, and some not-so-edible-anymore

[John G]

My education continues. Here's a few pics from this afternoon's walk in the woods. First, a pic of the top of a field garlic stalk. They're starting to open up already.

Then, some spearmint! I've been hoping to find some for weeks now. Smells great. It reminds me of the bush my grandparents had behind their house. When I was little, I'd pluck a leaf and chew on it while helping Grandpa in the garage.

Oh, and the knife in the pic is my Grandpa's old PAL pocketknife. I started carrying it on Father's Day, in memory of him. Must have brought me luck, I suppose.

Some field garlic pods yet to open, and some cattail seed heads. I'm going to try cooking the cattails like "mini corn on the cob." I picked a dry cottony one too, for tinder.

And now the not-so-edible-anymore portion of our tour. Who likes their venison rare? :barf: :barf:

And a question: Is this plant Chokecherry?

 

[riz_aaroni]

Cool pics. I'm not a expert in any way on edible foods, but the plant kind of looks like Chokecherry. Though the plant above is fuzzy it seems and it doesn't look like Chokecherry has fuzzy leaves. Could be though. http://www.wildfoods.info/wildfoods/chokecherry.html That may help.

 

[cgjones]

That last plant might be Honeysuckle.

 

[pitdog]

Great post buddy, I love seeing wild edibles !

That last plant looks a little like Red Huckleberries but the leaves don't quite look right !

 

[John G]

Thanks Pitdog! I always enjoy your updates on the adventures of Maisy and the Tiny Terror.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Hey John, that is not Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). Looks like Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) to me, as well. A couple of aids to differentiate.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) has opposite leaves, Chokecherry (P. virginiana) has alternate leaves.

The leaf margin (edge of the leaf) of Chokecherry have teeth, Honeysuckle does not.

Chokecherry flower and fruit grow in a raceme, Honeysuckle fruit are usually either in pairs or in terminal clusters.

Hope this helps.

Doc

 

[pitdog]

Hey John, that is not Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). Looks like Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) to me, as well. A couple of aids to differentiate.

Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) has opposite leaves, Chokecherry (P. virginiana) has alternate leaves.

The leaf margin (edge of the leaf) of Chokecherry have teeth, Honeysuckle does not.

Chokecherry flower and fruit grow in a raceme, Honeysuckle fruit are usually either in pairs or in terminal clusters.

Hope this helps.

Doc

Yeah your dead right Doc, I didn't realise there were diffrent kinds of Honeysuckle ! That one looks like it might be Fly Honeysuckle-
Lonicera canadensis !!!

 

[John G]

Thanks Doc! Looks like cgjones got it right early on. I hit the library, borrowed some of the books you recomended, including one on common poisonous plants. Tons of good info for me to (hopefully) absorb.

 

[DOC-CANADA]

Pitdog, you're at a disadvantage, living on the other side of God's country, whereas JohnG's plants will be pretty much the same ones as I have.

Doc

 

[John G]

Yeah, I'm just across the lake.

 

[cgjones]

I'm in central New York and there are a few Honeysuckle shrubs in our yard. I'm not sure what species though.

 

[TheGame]

More wild edibles! I always seem to like these threads. I suppose I learn a little more from each one of them.

 

[John G]

I boiled the cattail seed heads in lightly salted water, served them with butter. My girlfriend walked into the room and said "are you cooking corn on the cob?" That's how similar the smell is. Best of all, they were tasty! Just like tiny corn on the cob.:thumbup: