Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Preface xiii
Introduction: How to Become a Competent, Curious, and Joyous Forager xv
Warnings and Safety xvii
Extra Warnings for Our Wise Elders, Our Life-Giving Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women, Our Friends with Medical Conditions, and Those Taking Pharmaceutical Medications xviii
Oxalates Warning xviii
Supplies to Bring Foraging xx
Forager's Checklist xxi
How to Identify Plants xxii
Plant Names xxii
Leaf Identification xxiii
Fruit and Flower Identification xxvi
Life Cycle, Root, Stem, and Special Features Identification xxvi
Whereto Find Wild Edible Plants: Ranges, Habitats, and Legalities xxviii
Ranges and Habitat xxix
Zones Used in This Book xxix
Check Local Regulations xxx
Sustainable Harvesting Guidelines xxxi
How to Forage Sustainably xxxi
General Rules for Harvesting Sustainably xxxii
Start Foraging and Have Fun With It xxxiii
Poisonous Plants 1
Learn to identify these plants first so that you can avoid them.
Baneberry (Ranunculaeae / Buttercup Family) 2
Golden Banner (Fabaceae / Pea Family) 4
Larkspur (Ranunculaeae / Buttercup Family) 6
Monkshood (Ranunculaeae / Buttercup Family) 8
Poison Hemlock (Apiaceae / Carrot Family) 11
Water Hemlock (Apiaceae / Carrot Family) 14
Western Poison Ivy (Anacardiaceae / Sumac Family) 16
Edible and Useful Plants 18
Enjoy edible plants with caution as you learn. Always harvest mindfully and sustainably.
Agavaceae / Century Plant Family 20
Yucca, Narrowleaf 20
Amaranthaceae / Amaranth Family 23
Amaranth, Common 23
Amaranth, Creeping 26
Anacardiaceae / Sumac Family 29
Sumac, Smooth 29
Sumac, Three-Leaved / Skunkbush 32
Apiaceae / Umbelliferae/Carrot Family 35
Marked by usually white umbrella-like flower clusters. Do NOT mistake with similar poisonous relatives.
Caraway 35
Cow Parsnip 38
Osha 41
Queen Anne's Lace 45
Asclepiadaceae/Milkweed Family 48
Milkweed 48
Asparagaceae / Asparagus Family 52
Asparagus 52
Asteraceae/Aster or Daisy Family 55
Flowering plants often with showy flowers or composite florets.
Arnica, Heart-Leaved 55
Big Sagebrush 59
Burdock 63
Chamomile 66
Chicory 69
Cutleaf Coneflower 72
Dandelion 74
Fleabane 78
Goldenrod 81
Pearly Everlasting 84
Pineapple Weed 86
Rabbitbrush, Common 88
Sage, Fringed 91
Sage, White 93
Salsify 96
Sunflower, Common 100
Thistle, Bull / Spear Thistle 103
Thistle, Creeping 106
Thistle, Nodding 109
Yarrow 111
Berberidaceae / Barberry Family 114
Oregon Grape 114
Brassicaceae / Mustard Family 117
Bittercress, Heart-Leaved 117
Pennycress 120
Shepherd's Purse 122
Cactaceae / Cactus Family 124
Prickly Pear 124
Campanulaceae / Bellflower Family 127
Harebell 127
Caprifoliaceae / Honeysuckle Family 129
Elderberry 129
Chenopodiaceae/ Goosefoot Family 132
Marked by leaves shaped like the foot of a duck or goose.
Lamb's-Quartet 132
Strawberry Blite 135
Crassulaceae / Stonecrop Family 138
Roseroot 138
Stonecrop 140
Cupressaceae / Cypress Family 142
Juniper, Common 142
Juniper, Rocky Mountain 145
Elaeagnaceae / Oleaster Family 148
Canada Buffaloberry 148
Russian Olive 150
Ephedraceae / Mormon Tea Family 153
Mormon Tea 153
Equisetaceae / Horsetail Family 155
Horsetail 155
Scouring Rush 157
Ericaceae / Heath Family 159
Kinnikinnick 159
Fabaceae / Pea Family 162
Seeds look similar to pea pods, but beware; there are many poisonous species in this family.
Alfalfa 162
Clover, Red 165
Clover, Sweet 168
Clover, White 171
Licorice, Wild 174
Fagaceae / Beech Family 177
Gambel Oak 177
Grossulariaceae/Currant Family 180
Currant 180
Currant, Prickly 184
Lamiaceae / Mint Family 186
Giant Hyssop 186
Mint 189
Liliaceae / Lily Family 192
Nodding Onion 192
Linaceae / Flax Family 195
Western Blue Flax 195
Malvaceae / Mallow Family 197
Mallow 197
Onagraceae / Evening Primrose Family 200
Evening Primrose 200
Fireweed 203
Pinaceae / Pine Family 206
Blue Spruce 206
Douglas Fir 209
Pine, Pinon 212
Pine, Ponderosa 215
Plantaginaceae / Plantain Family 218
Common Plantain 218
Polygonaceae / Buckwheat Family 220
Bistort 220
Curly Dock 223
Sorrel, Alpine 227
Sorrel, Sheep 229
Portulacaceae / Purslane Family 232
Purslane 232
Rosaceae / Rose Family 235
Apple 235
Chokecherry 238
Plum, American 241
Raspberry 244
Rose, Wild 248
Serviceberry 252
Strawberry 256
Thimbleberry 259
Rubiaceae / Madder Family 262
Northern Bedstraw 262
Scrophulariaceae / Figwort Family 265
Great Mullein 265
Typhaceae / Cattail Family 268
Cattail 268
Urticaceae / Nettle Family 271
Stinging Nettle 271
Violaceae / Violet Family 275
Violet 275
Honeybees 278
Honeybees 278
Index 281
About the Author 286
