Edible Plants List-gctid25460

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Wild Strawberry


Wild Strawberry Common in early fall. Note the serrated leaves in clusters of three as opposed to the plant below which has clusters of five leaves. The blossoms of the wild strawberry are always white. The berry is much smaller than the domesticated version. However, this berry is much sweeter.



False Wild Strawberry


This plant is commonly confused with wild strawberries. Wild strawberries always have a white blossum, not yellow. The leaves of a wild strawberry plant are in clusters of 3, not 5 like the plant pictured. This plant is sometimes called snake berry, and is potentially toxic.

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Wild Onion



Wild Onion Edible and works well as an additive to foods.
Note: One can tell the difference between wild onion and garlic by the round leaves of onion vs. the flat leaves of the garlic plant below.

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Wild Garlic



Wild Garlic Edible; please note the flat leaves of wild garlic.

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Solomon's Seal



Solomon's Seal A perennial and a member of the Lily family. Has been used for medicinal purposes; however, all parts of this plant are toxic. Cannot recommend for eating in a survival situation.

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Sassafras



Sassafras Small tree with reddish-brown bark; has an aromatic odor when crushed. Not advisable to safely eat. Bark can be boiled to create a tea, however, there are clear toxic effects and amounts are difficult to determine.
In heavily brushed areas not uncommon for honeysuckle to wrap around the growing tree, making for an ornate trunk.

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Pokeweed



Pokeweed The picture to the left of Poke is an example of the plant being found in mid to late summer. In the spring when shoots are young, they are edible and choice. They are better boiled and served with butter or vinegar. The author has frequently eaten Poke salads without any problems.

The berries are NOT EDIBLE. Although one may view many birds eating these berries which contradicts the myth that what birds eat will be safe for humans. The roots and the base of the shoots are toxic. Caution must be used when picking Poke. If there are any signs of the stalk tinged with red, which is the color of the root, one should not eat this. Symptons of toxicity are usually abdominal cramping, diarrhea and vomitting. These symptons are usually self-limiting and rarely, if ever, fatal.

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Pecans



Pecans Wild pecan trees are commonly found in river bottoms in the southern part of the United States. These trees usually need a lot of water to be productive. In the summer, the pecan is encased in this light green hull as seen in the picture. In the fall, they can be easily be harvested from the ground and used in cooking, baking, and may be eaten raw.

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May Apple



May Apple A perennial herb, the root has a long standing history of being used by Native Americans for treating snakebites, diarrhea and sores. Not advisable to eat in the wild unless very knowledgable of the fruit or you have past experience with May Apple.

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Hickory Tree



Hickory Tree Very common tree identified by a shaggy bark and smooth leaves. The nut is encased in a green hull. Usually the hull has 4 to 5 segments. In the fall, the nut can be gathered for baking and eating raw.

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Dandelion



Dandelion This common weed found in many a yard is a very useful plant. The yellow flower can be rolled in flower and fried, and is delicious. The leaves when the plant is young can be used in a salad and eaten like lettuce. The root can be dried, baked and ground and used for coffee.

Caution: Due to the use of fertilizer and weed killer, be careful when picking the dandelion. Make sure no weed killers have been used in that area.

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Cattails


Found along marshes, lakes, and streams. In early spring the roots are edible and choice. They can be pealed and eaten raw, but Survive Outdoors strongly suggests boiling. It can be served with butter and seasoning to increase the flavor. The pollen of cattails can be shaken into bags and dried and used as a protein rich flour for cooking.

Cattails at this stage with the brown tops can be soaked in kerosene and used as torches for light. Although the burning time may be short, it is a useful light source. Dried tops also make a great tinder for starting fires.

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Black Walnut



Nuts are edible, ripens in fall. A very high source of protein. Once the outer shell has blackened it is easier to remove; however the shell is thick and difficult to crack.

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Black Mulberry



Edible when ripened, very sweet when fully ripened. Taste is more acceptable when used in baking of breads.