Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Scope of This Book xiii

Organization xiv

Plants Listed by Environment Type xv

Collecting and Harvesting Wild Foods xviii

How Much Wild Food Is Out There, Anyway? xx

Are Wild Foods Nutritious? xxii

Ferns 1

Bracken Family (Dennstaedtiaceae) 2

Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) 2

Gymnosperms 7

Pine Family (Pinaceae) 8

Pine (Pinus spp.) 8

Eudicots 11

Musktoot Family (Adoxaceae) 12

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) 12

Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum edule) 17

Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae) 19

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) 19

Carrot (or Parsley) Family (Apiaceae) 22

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) 22

Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum, formerly H. lanatum) 26

Biscuit-Root (Lornatium spp.) 28

Sweet Cicely (Osmorhiza berteroi, O. occidentalis) 32

Yampa (Perideridia gairdneri) 34

Dogbane Family (Apocynaceae) 37

Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) 37

Pipevine Family (Aristolochiaceae) 41

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) 41

Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) 43

Group 4

Burdock (Arctium minus) 43

Thistle (Cirsium spp.) 47

Group 5

Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea, formerly M. matricariodes) 49

Group 7

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) 52

Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola, et al.) 54

Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus, et al.) 57

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 60

Salsify (Tragopogon spp.) 63

Group 9

Arrowleaf Balsamroot (Balsaworhiza sagittata) 66

Common Sunflower (Helianthus annus) 69

Barberry Family (Berberidaceae) 72

Oregon Grape (Barberry) (Berberis aquifolium, formerly Mahonia aquifolium, et al.) 72

Birch Family (Betulaceae) 75

Hazelnut (Beaked Hazelnut) (Corylus cornuta) 75

Borage (or Waterleaf) Family (Boraginaceae) 77

Mountain Bluebell (Mertensia ciliata) 77

Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum spp.) 79

Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) 82

Mustard (Brassica spp.) 82

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) 86

Bittercress (Cardamine spp.) 89

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) 92

Hedge Mustard (Tumble Mustard) (Sisymbrium spp.) 95

Cactus Family (Cactaceae) 98

Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.) 98

Bellflower Family (Campanulaceae) 102

Harebells (Campanula spp.) 102

Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae) 104

Chickweed (Stellaria media) 104

Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) 108

Lamb's-quarter, White and Green (Chenopodium album, C. murale) 108

Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus, formerly S. Kali) 112

Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae) 115

Stonecrop (Sedum spp.) 115

Heath Family (Ericaceae)!117

Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) 117

Huckleberry and Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) 120

Bog Blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) 121

Geranium Family (Geraniaceae) 122

Filaree (Erodium cicutarium) 122

Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae) 125

Currant and Gooseberry (Ribes spp.) 125

Walnut Family (Juglandaceae) 129

Black Walnut (Juglans spp.) 129

Mint Family (Lamiaceae) 132

Mint (Mentha spp.) 132

Mallow Family (Malvaceae) 135

Mallow (Malva neglecta) 136

Miner's Lettuce Family (Montiaceae) 138

Spring Beauty (Claytonia lanceolata) 138

Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) 140

Siberian Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia sibirica) 140

Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) 143

Mulberry Family (Moraceae) 146

Mulberry (Morus alba) 146

Evening Primrose Family (Onagraceae) 149

Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) 149

Evening Primrose (Oenothera, abucaulis, O. biennis, O. elata) 152

Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae) 154

Yellow Monkey Flower (Erythranthe guttatus, formerly Mimulus guttatus) 154

Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae) 156

Plantain (Plantago major, P. lanceolata) 156

Veronica (Speedwell) (Veronica americana) 161

Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) 163

American Bistort (Bistorta bistortoides) 163

Mountain Sorrel (Oxyria dignya) 165

Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) 167

Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) 170

Broad-Leafed Dock (Rumex obtusifolius) 170

Purslane Family (Portulacaceae) 174

Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) 174

Primrose Family (Primulaceae) 177

Shooting Star (Dodecatheon spp.) 177

Rose Family (Rosaceae) 179

Serviceberry (Saskatoon; Juneberry) (Amelanchier alnifolia, A. pallida, A. utahensis) 179

Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) 181

Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) 183

Apple (Malus pumila, Malus hybrids) 186

Wild Cherries and Stone Fruits (Prunus spp.) 188

Wild Rose (Rosa spp.) 191

Blackberry/Brambles (Rubus spp.) 193

Mountain Ash (Sorbus spp.) 196

Saxifrage Family (Saxifragaceae) 199

Brook Saxifrage (Micranthes odontoloma, formerly Saxifraga odontoloma, Saxifraga arguta) 199

Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) 201

Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum, S. americanum) 201

Elm Family (Ulmaceae) 204

Siberian elm tree (Ulmus pumila) 204

Nettle Family (Urticaceae) 206

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica, U. urens) 206

Violet Family (Violaceae) 209

Violet (Viola spp.) 209

Monocots 211

Water Plantain Family (Alismataceae) 212

Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia, S. cuneata) 212

Onion (Garlic) Family (Alliaceae) 214

Wild Onions, et al. (Allium spp.) 214

Asparagus Family (Asparagaceae) 218

Wild Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) 218

Camas (Camassia quamash) 220

Death Camas (Zigadenus elegans, Z. venenosus) 222

Rush Family (Juncaceae) 224

Rusk (Juncus textilis, et al.) 224

Lily Family (Liliaceae) 226

Avalanche Lily (Glacier Lily; Dogtooth Violet) (Erythronium grandiflorum) 226

Yellow Bell (Fritillaria pudica) 228

Mariposa Lily/Sego Lily (Calochortus spp.) 230

Grass Family (Poaceae) 232

Cattail Family (Typhaceae) 235

Cattail (Typha spp.) 235

Sedge Family (Cyperaceae) 239

Nut Sedge (Cyperus esculenta) 239

Other Edibles 240

Getting Started 241

Test Your Knowledge of Plants 244

The Easiest-to-Recognize, Most Widespread, Most Versatile Wild Foods of Idaho 248

Staff of Life: Best Wild-Food Bread Sources 251

Sweet Tooth: Best Wild-Food Sugars and Desserts 254

Useful References 257

Index 259

About the Author 264