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