Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction x
Plants Listed by Environment Type 1
Collecting and Harvesting Wild Foods 10
How Much Wild Food Is Out There, Anyway? 13
Are Wild Foods Nutritious? 16
Seaweeds 20
Marine Green Algae (Chlorophyra) 21
Brown Algae (Phaeophyta) 21
Red Algae (Rbodophyta) 21
Ferns 24
Bracken Family (Dennstaedtiaceae) 25
Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) 25
Gymnosperms 29
Pine Family (Pinaceae) 30
Pine (Pinus spp.) 30
Eudicots 32
Muskroot Family (Adoxaceae) 33
Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) 33
Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum edule) 36
Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae) 38
Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) 38
Carrot, aka Parsley Family (Apiaceae) 42
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) 42
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) 45
Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum, formerly H. lanatum) 47
Biscuit Root (Lomatium spp.) 49
Yampa (Perideridia gairdneri, formerly P. Montana) 52
Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) 56
GROUP 4 56
Burdock (Arctium minus and A. lappa) 56
Thistle (Cirsium spp.) 60
GROUP 5 62
Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea, formerly M. matricarioides) 62
GROUP 7 64
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) 64
Cat's Ear (Hypochaeris radicata) 66
Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola and others) 69
Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) 72
Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleruceus and others) 74
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 77
Salsify (Tragopogon spp.) 79
GROUP 9 82
Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) 82
Barberry Family (Berberidaceae) 85
Oregon Grape, alia Barberry (Berberis aquifolium, formerly Mahonia aquifolium) 85
Birch Family (Betulaceae) 87
Hazelnut, aka Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) 87
Borage, aka Waterleaf Family (Boraginaceae) 89
Mountain Bluebells (Mertensia ciliata) 89
Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) 91
Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris and B. verna) 91
Mustard (Brassica spp.) 94
Sea Rocker (Cakile edentula and C. maritima) 97
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) 100
Bittercress (Cardamine spp.) 101
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) 104
Wild Radish (Raphanus sativu and R. raphanistrum) 107
Hedge Mustard, aka Tumble Mustard (Sisymbrium spp.) 111
Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae) 116
Chickweed (Stellaria media) 116
Gooseloor Family (Chenopodiaceae) 120
Lamb's Quarter, White and Green (Chenopodium album and C. murale) 120
Glasswort, aka Pickleweed (Salicornia spp.) 123
Heath Family (Ericaceae) 126
Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) 126
Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) 129
Salal (Gaultheria shallon) 132
Huckleberry and Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) 134
Oak Family (Fagaceae) 138
Oregon Oak (Quercus garryana) 138
Geranium Family (Geraniaceae) 141
Filaree (Erodium spp.) 141
Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae) 144
Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.) 144
Mint Family (Lamiaceae) 146
Mint (Mentha spp.) 146
Mallow Family (Malvaceae) 148
Mallow (Malva neglecta) 148
Miner's Lertuce Family (Montiaceae) 151
Spring Beauty (Claytonia lanceolata) 151
Miner's Lettuce and Siberian Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata and Claytonia sibirica) 153
Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) 156
Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) 156
Oxalis Family (Oxalidaccae) 159
Sour Grass, aka Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.) 159
Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae) 162
Yellow Monkey Flower (Erythranthe guttata formerly Mimulus guttatus) 162
Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae) 164
Plantain (Plantage major and P. lanceolata) 164
Veronica, aka Speedwell (Veronica americana) 166
Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) 169
American Bistort (Bistorta bistortoides) 169
Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria digyna) 170
Sheep Sorrel (Ritmex acetosella) 173
Curly Dock and Broad-Leaved Dock (Rumex crispus and Rumex obtusifolius) 175
Purslane Family (Portulacaceae) 179
Purslane (Portulaca oleraceac) 179
Rose Family (Rosaceae) 182
Serviceberry, aka Saskatoon, Juneberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) 182
Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) 183
Crabapple (Malus fusca) 185
Indian Plum (Oemleria cerasiformis) 189
Wild Cherries (Prunus spp.) 191
Wild Rose (Rosa spp.) 194
Blackberry (Rubus spp.) 196
Saxifrage Family (Saxifragaceae) 199
Brook Saxifrage (Micranthes odontoloma formerly Saxifraga odontoloma, Saxifraga arguta) 199
Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) 201
Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum and S. Ajnericanum) 201
Nettle Family (Urticaceae) 204
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica and U. urens) 204
Violet Family (Violaceae) 208
Violet (Viola spp.) 208
Monocots 210
Water Plantain Family (Alismataceae) 211
Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia) 211
Onion (or Garlic) Family (Alliaceae) 213
Wild Onions and others (Allium spp.) 213
Asparagus Family (Asparagaceae) 217
Wild asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) 217
Camas (Camassia quamash and C. leichtlinii) 219
Rush Family (Juncaceae) 224
Rush (Juncus textilis and others) 224
Lily Family (Liliaccae) 226
Avalanche Lily, aka Glacier Lily, aka Dogtooth Violet (Erythronium grandiflorum) 226
Grass Family (Poaceae) 228
Cattail Family (Typhaceae) 232
Cattail (Typha spp.) 232
Other Edibles 237
Getting Started 239
Test Your Knowledge of Plants 242
The Dozen Easiest-to-Recognize, Most Widespread, Most Versatile Wild Foods of Washington 246
Staff of Life: Best Wild-Food Bread Sources 249
Sweet Tooth: Best Wild-Food Sugars and Desserts 252
Useful References 255
Index 257
About the Author 260