Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
Plants Listed by Environment Type 3
Collecting and Harvesting Wild Foods 8
How Much Wild Food Is Out There, Anyway? 10
Are Wild Foods Nutritious? 12
Seaweeds 15
Marine Green Algae (Chlorophyta); Brown Algae (Phaeophyta); Red Algac (Rhodophyta) 16
Ferns 19
Bracken Family (Dennstaedtiacea) 20
Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) 20
Gymnosperms 23
Ephedra Family (Ephedraccae) 24
Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.) 24
Pine Family (Pinaceae) 27
Pine (Pinus spp.) 27
Magnoliids 29
Laurel Family (Lauraceae) 30
California Bay (Umbellularia californica) 30
Eudicots 33
Muskroot Family (Adoxaceae) 34
Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) 34
Fig Marigold Family (Aizoaceae) 38
New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) 38
Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae) 41
Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) 41
Carrot Family (Apiaceae) 44
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) 44
Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) 47
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) 47
Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola and others) 50
Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus and others) 53
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 56
Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) 59
Mustard (Brassica spp.) 59
Sea Rocket (Cakile edentula and C. maritima) 62
Indian Cabbage (Calanthus inflatus) 65
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) 68
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) 70
Radish, Wild (Raphanus sativus and R. raphanistrum) 73
Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium irio and S. officinale) 76
Cactus Family (Cactaceae) 79
Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.) 79
Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae) 83
Chickweed (Stellaria media) 83
Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) 87
Orach (Atriplex californica) 87
Lamb's Quarter, White and Green (Chenopodium album and C. murale) 90
Glasswort or Pickleweed (Salicornia spp.) 93
Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus) 96
Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae) 99
Live-Forever (Dudleya spp.) 99
Heath Family (Ericaceae) 101
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) 101
Legume Family (Fabaceae) 101
Acacia (Acacia spp.) 104
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) 107
Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla and P. florida) 110
Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Screwbean (P. pubescens) 113
Oak Family (Fagaceae) 116
Oak Tree (Quercus spp.) 166
Geranium Family (Geraniaceae) 120
Filaree (Erodium spp.) 120
Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae) 122
Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.) 122
Walnut Family (Juglandaceae) 125
Black Walnut (Juglans californica and J. hindsii) 125
Mint Family (Lamiaceae) 128
Mint (Mentha spp.) 128
Chia (Salvia columbariae) 130
Mallow Family (Malvaceae) 133
Mallow (Malva neglecta) 133
Miner's Lettuce Family (Montiaceae) 136
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) 136
Oxalis Family (Oxalidaceae) 139
Sour Grass/Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.) 139
Passionflower Family (Passifloraceae) 142
Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea and P. tarminiana) 142
Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae) 145
Common Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus) 145
Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae) 147
Veronica (aka Speedwell) (Veronica americana) 147
Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) 149
California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) 149
Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) 151
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) 154
Wild Rhubarb (Rumex hymenosepalus) 156
Purslane Family (Portulacaceae) 158
Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) and Desert Portulaca (P. halimoides) 158
Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceac) 161
California Coffee Berry (Frangula californica and F. purshiana) 161
Rose Family (Rosaccae) 163
Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) 163
Wild Cherries (Prunus spp.) 165
Wild Rose (Rosa spp.) 168
Blackberry (Rubus spp.) 171
Jojoba Family (Simmondsiaceae) 173
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) 173
Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) 175
Western Nightshade, Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum [aka S. nodiflorum], S. douglasii, S. nigrum, and S. xanti) 175
Nasturtium Family (Tropaeolaceae) 178
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) 178
Nettle Family (Urticaccae) 181
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) 181
Grape Family (Vitaceae) 184
Wild Grape (Vitis spp.) 184
Monocots 187
Century Plant Family (Agavaceae) 188
Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) 188
Onion or Garlic Family (Alliaceae) 192
Wild Onions et al. (Allium spp.) 192
Palm Family (Arecaceae) 196
California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) 197
Spiderwort Family (Commelinaceae) 200
Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis) 200
Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis) 202
Rush Family (Juncaceae) 204
Rush (Juncus textilis et al.) 204
Grass Family (Poaceae) 206
Cattail Family (Typhaceae) 209
Cattail (Typha spp.) 209
Other Edibles 213
Getting Started 215
Test Your Knowledge of Plants 220
The Study of Mycology 224
The Dozen Easiest-to-Recognize, Most Widespread, Most Versatile Wild Foods of California 225
Staff of Life: Best Wild-Food Bread Sources 228
Sweet Tooth: Best Wild-Food Sugars and Desserts 232
Useful References 235
Index 237
Recipe Index 243
About the Author 244
