Edible Wild Plants

EDIBLE WILD PLANTS by Oliver Perry Medsger Professor of Nature Education, Emeritus The Pennsylvania State College WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY Ernest Thompson Seton Illustrated with Eighty Pen and Ink Drawings and Nineteen Photographs YORK THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW INTRODUCTION BY ERNEST THOMPSON SETON MORE than once I have been called to write the introduction to a book treating on some aspect of nature that was much in the line of my own interests; and usually had no difficulty in penning the few pages that were called for. But the introduction to a book by Oliver P. Medsger proved a wholly different undertaking. Why this should be the case will be better understood when describe my first meeting with this man of the woods. I It was at Woodland, New York, in the camp of Harry Little (Sagamore), that my good luck sent me out on a forest walk with Medsger; and every yard of our trip was made delightful by some bit of information about the myriad forms of wild life around us forms with which I had been superficially acquainted all my life, but which I never really knew, because I had no exact names, no knowledge of their virtues. It reminded me of an incident prairie-born girl in my early life in the West. A was asked by her mother what her dream of heaven would be. The child's whole life had been in the home circle on the Plains; so she said simply: "Heaven is a place with a big shady tree, and an angel sitting under T don't know/ when asked a question." it, who never says, In my own childhood and youth, I suffered beyond expression from the knowledge-hunger, from the impossibility of learning about the abounding wild life around me. And now, when it seemed almost too late, I had found a competent guide. I know now why his Indian name is "Nibowaka," the "Wise Woodman." "This man has opened and read the book of nature," I said. "And, more than that, he loves it, for his knowledge embodies not only the names and qualities of the plants and trees, but also the poetical ideas about them, and pleasant little rhymes and fancies that fix the bird or flower in memory and give it the romantic glamour so vital to the lover of the woods." vii Introduction viii That walk was one of many in the years that followed ; and the joy of the first was not exceptional. The qualities of his talk were the same a mingling of science and art, encyclopedic information and romantic joy in the woodland world of beauty. Thus you see why I was possessed of a sense of being overwhelmed when confronted with the responsibility of writing this introduction. As a matter of fact, I made many attempts during the last year, and cast each aside in turn. But the book is in press, I must keep faith with the printer. If an introduction is meant to be an adequate proclamation to among its books of worth, then I must and give up the attempt. But I am in hopes that it will serve, if only to announce to all the heart-hungry forest here folk that here is the book I longed for so much in my youth the world of a arrival new put this also in the fire is the angel of the prairie girl. I know it will serve the wood-wanderers as it would have served me. I dreamed of the key to the woods. It will be the coming book FOREWORD when he made than thirty years ago, I was with Dr. Harvey M. Hall his botanical survey of San Jacinto Mountain, California. An intelligent Indian joined us for a few days and acted as guide. He was much interested in the plants used by the American Indians, especially those used for food. After I came East, for several years we exchanged specimens and seeds. I sent the Indian MORE nuts of nearly all the edible nut-bearing species in northeastern United States, also acorns, seeds of edible berries, and those of other wild fruits. These he planted along canyons and in moist situations where he thought they might grow. From that time on I have collected data on edible plants from books, published reports, papers, from the experiences of people, and wherever information on the subject could be obtained. When posobserved the trees or plants first hand, often experimenting or testing out their edible qualities. This manual does not include all the edible plants in this counfew were omitted intentionally because of their rarity or try. sible, I A limited range, others because their edible qualities were not well known or defined. The reader will probably recall other species not mentioned here simply because we have not learned that they could be eaten. I hope at least that this publication will be found useful and serve as a basis for future investigations on the edible plants of the United States. In certain large groups, such as the blackberries, the blueberries or huckleberries, and the serviceberries, I have described only a few important species and referred to the others as having similar edible qualities, or being used for the same or similar purposes. If anyone doubts that wild vegetable foods were important to the pioneers or to the of American Indians, Schoolcraft let Lewis and Clark in their expedition across the continent, him read the Journals 1804the Indians of the 1806, or that of Henry among Northwest a few years later. Many books have been written on our American game animals, but I cannot recall a single volume devoted exclusively to the wild vegetable foods of the United States, giving descriptions of the plants and telling how they are used. Havard wrote a bulletin or report on the food plants of the iz Edward L. we have substituted a "finding index" which gives the names of plants. season. for his valuable suggestions and for the care with which he has prepared the drawings also my wife. which x is brief and quite incomplete. with the range. at least. but a list of others not so well Who grew and when the fruit ripened ? The more important edible wild at the end of each chapter there is tested. especially in determining those plants mentioned but not described near the end of each chapter. covering the entire United States and Canada. Dr. and a few of the most pronounced hope this index will prove of some value. was first aroused they were boys on excursions to the fields and woods. A key including such a wide range of vegetation would necessarily be very too long and complex for the average reader. but he rarely describes them. but in scientific seems necessary. or sample the spicy Partridge berries without making note of where and how the plants plants are described here. Saunders. who helped to test the edible qualities of many of the plants described here. generally. For further technical descriptions of We these plants.Foreword American Indians. both common and scientific. Charles F. and of complicated little use to a botanist. their edible qualities have not been so well Some of these probably should have been given more attenIn general I have followed the International System of Nomenwhere so many references have been consulted. tion. The experience is akin to hunting their interest in botany could pluck the ripe May Apple without becomfishing. Medsger. . King. either by giving definite information or by sending specimens. In place of a key. Dr. Sturtevant in his Notes on Edible Plants refers to species in this country and abroad. known. naturalist and artist. In this volume are described species from nearly all of the chief orders of flowering plants. in search of wild fruits and nuts. ing interested in the plant that produced it. mistakes names are sure to occur. the reader should consult a good manual of botany covering his particular region. or. and I especially wish to thank George A. Synonyms are given where it clature. as well as a few lower forms of plant life. characteristics. I wish to thank all those who have aided me in the preparation of this volume. in his Useful Wild Plants mentions very few edible species of the Northeast. Many when and of my naturalist friends have expressed the thought that and in nature. Jennie Arnold . west to the Mississippi River 235 Edible Plants of Southern United States Edible Plants from the Mississippi River to the 259 275 291 Rocky Mountains Edible Plants of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific States General Index 305 xiii .CONTENTS PAGE Introduction by Ernest Thompson Seton vii Foreword Edible Wild Fruits Edible Nuts Edible Seeds and Seed Pods ix I 91 113 131 Salad Plants and Potherbs Edible Roots and Tubers 169 Beverage and Flavoring Plants Sugars and 203 225 233 Gums Mushrooms Finding Indices Edible Plants of Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. conica) Yucca-Southern Texas.ILLUSTRATIONS Edible Morel (Morchella esculenta var. probably Yucca Treculeana Mandrake or May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) Wild or Scarlet Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) Blackberry American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) California Fan Palm (Washingtonia rat in filifera) Nest of the pack New Mexico Black Locust (Robinia Pseudo-Acacia) Palmetto or Cabbage Palm (Sabal Palmetto) Skunk Cabbage ( Symplocarpus foetidus) Common Poke or Pigeonberry (Phytolacca decandra) (Asclepias syriaca) (Sagittaria latifolia) Common Milkweed Arrowhead or Wapatoo Prairie Apple or Indian Breadroot (Psoralea esculenta) Wild Potato-vine or Mecha-meck (Ipomoea pandurata) Black or Cherry Birch (Betula lenta) Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) . EDIBLE WILD PLANTS . OR GROUND HEMLOCK Taxus canadensis THE American Yew is a low spreading evergreen shrub. wood-grapes were purpling and brown nuts were J. much resembling a small hemlock. flavor has been sacrificed for size. The leaves resemble those . plums." Boys possess this taste to a marked degree and even seem to relish green apples and chokecherries. Some of our finest horticultural varieties have been developed from native wild species. and wild grapes often grow in rank profusion. and country people frequently make great use of them. In some cases. WHITTIER difficult to find AMERICA is blessed with wild fruits. f ailing 1 G. Others yet untamed have great possibilities and it is hoped that man some day will apply the factors of evolution to their development. It is well to know that they are edible and wholesome. It would be a piece of woodland or an abandoned field that did not some time during the season produce one or more species of wild fruits that are edible raw or could be prepared in some way for the table. blueberries. The following list does not contain all the species of edible berries of the United States. and for our purpose we need not attempt to discriminate between them. fruit loved of When boyhood! the old days recalling.EDIBLE WILD FRUITS O. Blackberries. and the joy of gathering and eating them may be ours. especially one that has been smashed to the ground. AMERICAN YEW. and texture. from one to four feet high. but often the distinguishing features between species are not well marked . Thoreau once wrote: "It takes a savage or wild taste to appreciate a wild fruit. beauty. Other species of blackberries and blue or huckleberries have been described by botanists. as in the development of the strawberry. But many wild fruits have a delicacy of flavor scarcely approached by horticultural varieties. blossoms are generally dioecious American This shrub to Yew (Taxus canadensis) is found in damp shady woods from Newfoundland Manitoba. Do not chew or usually not desirable to eat in swallow the seeds as they may be poisonous. south to New Jersey and Iowa. about one-third of an inch long. They are dark green above and below. OR SPANISH DAGGER Yucca baccata THE Spanish Bayonet is a semidesert plant growing on tablelands and rocky ridges from Colorado to western Nevada. one to three feet long. The leaves are stiff and sharppointed. The fruit frequently clings to the branches until winter. extending east to Texas and west to California. and in the mountains to Virginia. I often gather and eat a few of these berries when I happen to come across them. bright red cup. The edible fruit or seed pod is large and pulpy. In walking through July and August. The beautiful red fleshy berry. is sweet but slightly resinous. The fruit is an oblong. SPANISH BAYONET. It is low or almost stemless. also yellow. three to six inches long. Probably two species . From the center of the leafy mass arises a panicle with numerous white bell-shaped blossoms two or three inches across. It has been compared to a short or stubby banana. with the hard dark brown naked seed at the bottom.American Yew 2 of the hemlock in arrangement and appearance. The fruit when ripe has been described as dark purple. but are larger with sharp points. leafy to the base. but it is our northern woods many at a time. They are never very abundant. The fleshy pistillate are that is. south into Mexico. the staminate and on separate bushes. It is native from Maryland to Tennessee. The Indians sometimes ate the fruit it was generally cooked or roasted." Wooton and Standley in their Flora of Mexico say of this species: "The fruit. Spanish Bayonet The Mexicans speak of the plant as ddtil. yet I find that they are generally not well and quite common in known. or Adam's Needle. is fruits that are slightly a tall Yucca. too. Yucca macrocarpa. was also sometimes eaten by the Indians. They also ate the flower buds of this and other species of yucca after they were young cooked. It fornia. Adam's Needle. and has escaped from cultivation farther north. it has a peculiar sweet acteristic. Saunders distinguishable fresh. south to Florida and Louisiana. is char- New somewhat resembling the eastern pawpaw in general appearance. The seed pod may be gathered in summer and autumn. Henry H.3 have been confused in botanical descriptions. who was green fruits of this species in their campfires an eyewitness to the roasting of the by the Indian women of Arizona says: "1 can testify to the entire palatability of this cooked fruit (the rind being first removed)." Dr. has rather large pulpy and are sometimes cooked by the species common from western Texas to Cali- HACKBERRY. There . OR SUGARBERRY Celtis occidentalis HACKBERRIES are rare in some localities others. or "date fruit. Late summer and autumn is the time to collect The seed pods of the called Eve's this wild fruit. The Indians of New Mexico slice the ripe fruit and dry it in the sun for use in winter. Saunders. Rusby told Dr. especially when food was scarce. finding it pleasantly suggestive of sweet potato. taste and is quite palatable. or Bear Grass (Yucca glauca). I have collected the seed pods of several species of yucca from California to Texas and find that the fruits are apt to be infested with the larva of the moth that fertilizes the blossoms. but that the sliced pulp of the nearly ripe pods makes a pie that is scarcely from apple pie." Charles F. has a less pulpy seed pod than the last species. found from South Dakota and Montana south to Texas and Arizona. The Broad-Leaved Indians. Fruit ripe in autumn. common Yucca. also Darning Needle (Yucca filamentosa). The fleshyfruited species are apparently less affected than the others. When fresh. Its pods were also gathered and cooked by the Indians. This hackberry varies from a small tree to a tree two or three feet in diameter. the pistillate are less numerous and occur singly or two or three together. but many alike and they so intergrade that even botanists of their char- . The pulpy covering is very sweet and pleasant This tree grows in dry. with a rather large round seed. The berries are ripe in September but hang on the trees all winter and are greatly relished by birds. and corky or warty. and Ohio. often rocky soil.or five-lobed calyx but no corolla. rough. west to Manitoba and Oklahoma. many of our winter When I was a lad in western Pennsylvania. smooth above and downy beneath. with my companions. The fruit is a fleshy drupe from a fourth to a third of an inch in diameter. nearly round. like those of the elm. The staminate blossoms are Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) clustered . with long points and saw-tooth edges. to the taste. are unequal-sided. It is quite common on the dry creek and river hills of western Pennsylvania. I often took excur- sions for sugarberries. The bark is very hard. The leaves. They appear in the axils of the leaves. from Quebec to North Carolina. We frequently re- .Hackberry seem to be several acteristics are 4 much species in this country. The small greenish flowers have a four. orange-brown or purplish. have much trouble in distinguishing them. West Virginia. tree common in and ROD Gil -LEAVED HACKBERRY Celtis crassifolia THIS is the largest of our hackbcrries. California. The nearly round fruits are about three-eighths of an inch in diameter. The young nearly black. The bark thick and rough. spreading elm summer a beautiful tree with purplish black fruits. tree of this species well known to my roadside about two hundred yards from the mouth It boyhood stood by the of Jacobs Creek resembled a large Westmoreland County. especially when seated around a campfire into which we threw the seeds. and botanists have deis The Western. It apparently reaches its highest development in the Ohio A in valley. but to it had just been cut down "because my it great regret. found that shaded the road. and South Dakota. twigs are downy. It is not a large tree but is used for street planting in the cities and towns of New Mexico. In Flora of New Mexico Wooton and Standley state: "The berries of this tree are edible and were often eaten by the Indians.5 Hackberry turned. Kansas. It is much planted along streets parks of our southern cities. which explode with a popping sound. them as ranging from orange-red to blue." The . and downy or rough beneath. and Mexico. The Southern Hackberry. The leaves are smaller and thicker than those of the eastern species. west to Tennessee. each with a pint of berries in his coat pockets. or Thick-Leaved." They are ripe in late summer and autumn. and sweet. found from western Kansas and Colorado south and west to Texas. The fruits. I made a trip to the spot to photograph the tree and collect specimens from it. is a large forest scribed in the southern states. although edible. is It is in many respects much like the former species. and sometimes reaching a height of nearly a hundred feet. Celtis mississippiensis. The fruits seem to vary greatly in color. Hackberry (Celtis reticulata). and enjoyed eating them. This tree is found in low rich grounds and river bottoms from Massachusetts to South Carolina. occasionally reaching a foot in diameter and forty feet in height. Pennsylvania. ripe in autumn. Those that I examined in New Mexico were brown. In the of 1916. are generally small with very little pulp. hairy above. and the leaves are rough. attaining a diameter of four feet or more. Some are broadly oval. greenish flowers appear in the axils of the leaves in the form of catkinlike spikes. The staminate and pistillate blossoms are in separate spikes but generally on the same tree. branching feet top.Hackberry Rough-Leaved Hackberry (Celtis crassifolia) stump. they . splitting into irregular plates. The bark is dark grayish brown or reddish brown. grows to a diameter of three or four with a spreading. The berries are formed of numerous drupelets making a fleshy fruit from threefourths of an inch to an inch and a half long. The upper surrough. The rings of growth indicated that it was growing RED MULBERRY Morus rubra THIS tree sometimes and a height of fifty to sixty feet. others are mitten-shaped or with three to five lobes. rapidly. and the under surface is covered with downy hairs. As they ripen. face is The The edges are coarsely toothed. The alternate leaves are variable like those of the Sassafras. two feet from the ground. measured four feet six inches in diameter. of course it will produce no fruit. If a tree bears only staminate blossoms. I recall in search of mulberries. Upon the mulberry tree. This . For the best grows highest. may generally in be eaten The Red Mulberry is found from western New England to Michigan and South Dakota.7 Red Mulberry is take on a bright red hue . certainly among Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) our wild fruits. which July. not a large one from which we gathered a I recall a tree gallon of delicious berries at one time. They were exceptionally large and juicy. they are dark purple. the delightful walks taken with companions When the trees were large. always highest. I have never understood just It is why authors speak of the fruit of the most pleasing of all this tree as insipid. the fruits were generally shaken to the ground. for as Dinah Maria Muloch says : While far overhead hang gorgeously Large luscious berries of sanguine dye. but when fully ripe. They are delicious and fresh with sugar and cream or made into pies or jam. south to Florida and Texas. It delights in rich soil and perhaps reaches its greatest development in the Ohio valley. dyeing our hands and lips with deep purple. but is rare west of This bark is tree attains a diameter of from one to three feet. The insipid. thin.Red Mulberry tree 8 was worthy of cultivation. The rough leaves are gray. and the branches are grayish yellow. purple. chiefly because of high labor cost. fence rows. not so juicy as the It is The fruit is ripe from June to August. The light green. fruit is half an inch to an inch long. . when silk culture was first attempted United States. sometimes pink- Red Mulberry. being most abundant east of the has gone west as far as Minnesota and Texas. or sometimes lobed and divided. the White Mulberry. ovate. and waste lands generally. Appalachian Mountains from Maine to Florida. there are several cultivated forms of our native mulberry. in fact. but somewhat greatly liked by birds and generally by boys. was introduced into this country from Europe. White Mulberry (Morus alba) but the White Mulberry remained with us. very sweet. It the mountains. The socalled Russian Mulberry of the nurserymen is a form of this species. with coarse- toothed edges. a native of China. The various attempts Two at silk culture proved a failure. white. It has escaped to roadsides. WHITE MULBERRY Morus alba in the hundred years ago. It is often shrublike. Morus nigra. . OR CUSTARD APPLE. Like many of the smaller trees near the equator. Its preferred habitat is in rich soil along streams where it often forms thickets. It has New long been cultivated in Europe for its fruit. having a pleasant acid flavor. for all the other members of the Custard Apple family are tropical. Morus microphylla. but usually where the woods are American Papaw (Asimina triloba) somewhat open. smooth leaves are from six inches to a foot long. The large alternate. with entire margins. The rather large black berries are very sweet and pleasant. OR FALSE BANANA Asimina triloba THE Papaw tree tropics which it has the appearance of being an escape from the really is. The red fruit described as "palatable when ripe. It is not hardy north. has been introduced from and has sparingly escaped from cultivation. a native of western Asia and York to Florida eastern Europe. A is found from Texas is to Arizona and in northern Mexico. This small tree grows from ten to forty feet high and generally not more than six inches in diameter. small native species. lighter beneath. it grows in the shade.9 Black Mulberry The Black Mulberry." PAPAW. They are dark green above. The flowers are at first green but later become when mature resemble stubby bananas often four or long and more than an inch and a half thick. Hough's Handbook of the Trees we find recorded "The fruit when ripe is delicious and nutritious. brown seeds.Papaw They petioles. turning brown a few days after they are pulled. I enjoy it today. Used by The Bobbs-Merrill Co. oozy th'ough With like you've saw ripe yaller 1 Custard-pie with no crust to. If they were not quite ripe. Riley. and we 1 could have gathered a bushel. The blossoms. Keeler in "Our Native Trees" says. in his Hoosier dia- well describes this wild fruit And sich pop-paws! Lumps jes' o' raw Gold and green. Boys generally do not cal fruits. valleys. In my own experi- ence as a boy. copyright 1894-1922. we put them into the haymow or bran bin to mellow. The three inner ones a reddish purple. I had the same experience with ripe figs eaten fresh from the tree. they are greenish yellow. James Whitcomb : Riley. When ripe. The fruit is ripe We qualities of this wild fruit. and in a few years no other wild fruit appealed to me more. find recorded a great difference of opinion as to the edible Harriet L." I would agree with Dr. Like many tropi- we must apparently learn to enjoy ." : In Romeyn B. The papaw is native from New Jersey to Michigan and Nebraska. They develop in the axils of the last year's leaves. I have helped to gather a peck of this wild fruit at one time. I have friends that have gone through the same experience with the papaw. five inches about an inch and a half in diameter. "Although credited in the books as edible and wholesome. 10 taper toward the base and are attached to the twigs by short The flowers appear with the leaves late in April or early in May. . The sweet edible pulp is bright yellow and surrounds fruits The the large lect. it. have six petals in two sets are smaller and more erect than the three forming the outer circle. I disliked it but I kept on trying. It is believed From "Armazindy" by James Whitcomb special permission of the publishers. south to Florida and Texas. one must be either very young or very hungry really to enjoy its flavor. Hough. relish it. It probably reaches its highest development in the Ohio and Mississippi in late autumn. bristly. On the return journey of Lewis and Clark. The alternate or fascicled leaves are an inch to an inch and a half long. It is cultivated in warm varieties grow wild in regions for its large sweet fruit. This shrub grows six or eight feet high. used in sherbets and for jellies and preserves. BARBERRY Berberis vulgaris Barberry. Custard Apple family. Some cultivated forms are said to be excellent. Three-pronged spines take the of the younger shoots. has been thoroughly naturalized in the eastern and middle states. rounded at the apex. and then they are not so delicious. with slender arched or drooping gray branches. The Seminole Indians made much use of ripe. each man was allowed only one biscuit a day. Each blossom is about at the base. place of leaves on many . Pond Apple and belongs to the same family. similar to the Annona muricata. The pale yellow flowers are arranged in drooping racemes. have seen papaws in the New York markets and at the fruit that the generic I stalls of other cities. Papaya. often called the Custard Apple or Papaw. Carica Papaya. It is native of southern Florida and the tropics. a native of the West Indies. yellowish blotched with brown when fruit about It is five this fruit. when they had reached western Missouri. This small tree bears a inches long. Its fruit is Sweetsop. Annona glabra. especially in New THE England. but for market purposes they are generally pulled before they are quite ripe. is also a member of the somewhat insipid but is used for making jellies. The Soursop. belongs to an entirely different family (Papaya). but an abundance of papaws grew on the banks of the river and supplied them with nourishing food. It is is is often sold in the southern markets and used in making jellies and conserves. native of the marsh lands of southern Florida and the Bahama Islands. The name Asimina came from the Indian. The Two Florida. native of is quite similar to the Soursop but much sweeter. game was scarce.I i Papaw American Indians made much use of this wild fruit. The tropical America. a native of Europe and Asia. or Sugar Apple (Annona squamosa). The Pond Apple. tapering and sawtoothed. The berries are often used for preserves and jellies. ripe in September. (Berberis canadensis). The bushes are smaller and the berries The American Barberry . elongated racemes. 1 2 The orange-red or scarlet berries. The berries are sometimes used for making pies. along roadsides and in waste In cultivation there are many forms. yellow dye is ob- The A Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) tained from the bark of the root. Friends of the writer prefer jelly made from the barberry to that produced from any other fruit. grows along the mountains from Virginia to Georgia. places. The berries are about half an inch long. a native shrub similar to the species described above. hang in dense. edible but sour. barberry grows in thickets.Barberry a quarter of an inch in diameter. The plants that bear but a single leaf do not produce blossoms. appears from the fork or axil of the leaves. richer thing Than a ripe May-apple. is which ripe in July or skin. It has from six similar leaves to nine pure white petals fruit. If the plant has but one leaf. The edible August. shield-shaped with five to nine lobes. has well they are farther east. MAY THIS grows It pushes like a tiny APPLE. with a many-seeded pulp within a rather tough egg-shaped. is about two inches long. Then they are fully ripe and almost a golden yellow. with double as many stamens. They are ripe in early autumn. is native from Quebec to Florida. 1890. The single leaf is nearly a foot in diameter. The fruits are best for eating when the plants are dying and falling to the ground. and in open woods. west to Minand Texas. Kansas. OR WILD LEMON Podophyllum peltatum beautiful but ill-smelling plant of the Barberry family in dense patches along fences. through the ground in early spring. sending up each spring a one or two-leaved plant from twelve to eighteen inches high. yellow. copyright special permission of the publishers. its leaves unfolding umbrella. OR MANDRAKE. described the fruit of this plant : And will any poet sing Of a lusher. The flowering stems fork near the top. I have observed that west of the Appalachian Mountains the plants and fruits are generally larger than The May Apple nesota. Under thumb and rolled Like a pulpy lump of gold finger-tips. ill-smelling nodding flower. James Whitcomb Riley. having a pair of somewhat smaller and attached near the inner edges. of Childhood" by James Whitcomb Riley. the stem is attached to the center. Used by Merrill Company.13 American Barberry The fewer. the poet. The Bobbs- . nearly two inches in diameter. roadsides. l And 1 poured molten through the lips? From "Rhymes 1918. shorter and more oval than those of the European species. The waxy. fruits of the American barberry are also used for the making of jelly. The long horizontal rootstalks are poisonous and remain in the ground year after year. open woods. but not with the relish of youth. Nearly all boys are fond of May Apples. An hour or two later the disme without any ill effects but I shall never forget the . I felt certain that until left I was going to die but hoped to put off the fatal moment comfort my parents returned. a native of Europe. yellowish. boys are generally more discriminating than grown people. our hats to overflowing. The berries range from a quarter to a third of an jellies. They eat fewer things but have a natural appetite for wild fruit. I can eat them yet. ton. but the appetite for this particular wild fruit seems to leave one at the approach of manhood. inch in diameter and are famous for pies and Uncultivated .May Apple 14 this excellent wild fruit when he says it is mawkish. and west to Wisconsin . "Fruit ovoid-oblong. agonizing experience. May Apples should be eaten in moderation.to five-lobed leaves. and commonly planted in gardens familiar to all. and racemes of yellowish green flowers followed by plump juicy berries. They were delicious. experience of my own when I was a small boy perhaps eight years One afternoon in August my parents went to a neighbor's for a few hours leaving a brother who was three years older than I. Alphonso Wood. eaten by pigs and boys. has escaped to fence rows. at home with me with instructions not to get into mischief." Half an hour later I was rolling on the ground with the worst colic that one could imagine. I vividly recall an old. large. with the flavor Asa Gray maligns "slightly acid. almost smooth." I like better the description given by Gray's leading contemporary. three. of the strawberry. and thickets from Massachusetts to Virginia. and it was the filled first We time that I could eat all the May Apples that I wanted and not have someone around to say "no. red when mature. We went down were a lane to a large open woods where thousands of at their very best. then sat under a tree near the house to enjoy them. who writes." In regard to things to eat. also in Oregon and Washing- is This shrub. RED GARDEN CURRANT Ribes vulgare THE Garden Currant with its nearly erect branches. May Apples Some were nearly as large as the eggs of a chicken. OR SKUNK CURRANT Ribes prostratum Ribes glandulosum THIS native shrub spreads its light brown. three. and in all were not unpleasant. The grayish brown or purplish flowers. the leaves are nearly smooth beneath. Michigan. are very similar to those of Garden Currant. studying the plant life of the region. are quite firm and sour. The berries are of a peculiar taste and somewhat sour. When handled or bruised it emits a disagreeable odor. I became very thirsty. south to New England. They quenched my thirst. satisfied my hunger. south to New England. This currant is found FETID CURRANT. are borne on the old wood. about a quarter of an inch in diameter. almost straw-colored branches on the ground. conbristles or hairs. They are smooth above and white woolly or downy beneath. The plant is found from Newfoundland to British Columbia. and South Dakota. THIS is The a low shrub with reclining branches which often take leaves. but water was not handy. Michigan. I recall a very warm July day when I was in the midst of a large forest in the Catskill Mountains. and along the mountains to North Carolina. midsummer.to five-lobed. Garden Currant plants generally bear smaller and fewer berries than plants growing AMERICAN RED CURRANT. OR SWAMP RED CURRANT Ribes triste root. . about a quarter of an inch in diameter. The racemes of greenish flowers stand erect. The tain a few glandular red berries. The smooth red berries. and Minnesota.15 in a garden. In the southern part of its range. The fruit is of value for pies and jellies. 1 collected and ate the fruits of this currant. They are ripe in in wet woods and bogs from Newfoundland to Alaska. The nearly round heart-shaped leaves have from five to seven lobes. in the racemes. broadly wedge-shaped. otheis are fond of them. The leaves are sharply three. a native of Europe. They appear with the same buds as the leaves. fruit black. are made from it. a form was developed from this species. Some people enjoy the fruit. golden yellow with a pleasing flowers. The shining black berries. but it is disagreeable to others. The May. The flowers. Ribes nigrum. summer. The Crandall. They ripen in The wild species is rarely cultivated. are of an inch in diameter. Both the cultivated cultivated . spicy odor . The blossoms are almost an inch long. GOLDEN. arranged in a raceme. This currant is found from New Brunswick to Manitoba and southward. Good pies The and jellies for its fruit. occasionally yellow. each lobe with doubly serrate teeth. MISSOURI. but is frequently cultivated throughout the East as an ornamental shrub and sometimes escapes to waste lands and woods.' Wild Black Currant 16 WILD BLACK CURRANT Ribes floridum Ribes americanum THIS erect shrub grows three to five feet high. It grows from four to eight feet high with slender curving is branches. when ripe. and from a quarter to a third They are used for pies and jellies but have a peculiar flavor disliked by many persons.to five-lobed. are yellowish white. hence the is common name of Clove Bush. The Black Currant of the garden. The leaves taper to the base that lobes. with rather an insipid bushes apparently do not bear well in the East. smooth. and have three cut-toothed in which appear early are arranged in short racemes with leafy bracts. is very similar to the American species described above. but occasionally the European species escapes to thickets and woods. nearly round. OR BUFFALO Ribes aureum CURRANT Ribes odoratum THE Golden Currant is a native shrub found from Minnesota to Texas west to Washington and California. probably because of the lack of proper insects to pollinate the blossoms. The flavor. on Lewis and Clark Expedition across the continent in 1805.1 7 varieties differ Missouri Currant wonderfully as to the size and quality of first and wild the berries. clusters of three or four the base of each cluster. He apparently found it along the headwaters of both the Missouri and Golden Currant (Ribes aureum) the Columbia River. they speak of feasting on wild currants. GOOSEBERRY Ribes Cynosbati Grossularia Cynosbati Wild Gooseberry is a graceful shrub three or four with long drooping branches. nearly round as to general outline with Prickly feet high THE from three to five lobes. are generally in with one or more prickles or spines near There are also a few spines along the twig? . The leaves. OR PRICKLY. The mass was then formed into loaves or cakes and could be transported on long journeys. The Indians used dried currants for the making of pemmican a food produced by pounding together dried buffalo meat and fruit then mixed in fat or tallow. WILD. Several times in their Journal. which are from one to two inches broad. and a heart-shaped base. The Golden Currant was the collected by Captain Lewis. and preserves. This shrub is found in rocky woods from Maine to North Carolina and Alabama. west to Manitoba and Missouri. I have in colonial times.Wild Gooseberry 1 8 and branches. On account of the prickly character of the berries. The brownish red or purplish berries. From one to three greenish flowers appear in the same cluster with the leaves. Gooseberry pie was famous . They ripen in July and August and are pleasantly flavored. gathered the berries by the quart and can testify as to their merit. excellent for pies. jellies. They generally do best where they can get some sunshine. The Mountain Gooseberry. they have to be eaten with care. are generally armed with numerous prickles. but sometimes are nearly smooth. a cultivated variety. about half an inch in diameter. but acid quality when ripe they are pleasant. was developed from this species. and the sub- makes them fruit is This wild especially desirable for quenching thirst. I have never Wild Gooseberry (Ribes Cynosbati) found the wild gooseberry larger or better than in the Allegheny plateau in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The bushes vary wonderfully as to the size and quality of the fruit. The lobes are irregular or toothed. The skin is quite thin. Lawrence River and enjoyed eating the berries. The smooth. and Montana. GOOSEBERRIES OTHER species of gooseberries are found growing in this country. Grossularia missouriensis) leaves. We SMOOTH-FRUITED GOOSEBERRY. It is worth while to grow wild gooseberries. or Slender. but they are generally not so common or so valuable for their fruit. and the flavor is agree- able. reddish purple with a bloom when ripe. smooth. and other cultivated varieties. Among them are the following: Missouri. Gooseberry (Ribes gracile. I am sorry that I did not know this wild fruit when I was a boy. Downing. reclining branches. with a few spines and prickles. can excel in rich flavor the sauce they make. in order to have them spiced for serving with roast fowl and game in winter. three. The Smooth Gooseberry grows in low grounds and wet woods from Newfoundland to Manitoba and British Columbia.to five-lobed. I have gathered it in the northern part of New York State near the St. The leaves are alternate. rather deeply three. green gooseberries of the woods. The round fruits on short stems are each about half an inch in diameter. . It is the parent of Houghton. The berries are ripe in midsummer.to five-lobed and white flowers. no matter how wild it is. but sprightly. brown or purplish berries . know that no cultivated form. Michigan. The spines are less numerous than and not so long as those of the last species.19 Julia E. both the prickly and the smooth ones. OR NORTHERN GOOSEBERRY Ribes oxyacanthoides Grossularia oxyacanthoides THIS shrub grows from two to four feet high with slender. Rogers in her Wild Gooseberry Book of Useful Plants says : who have picked the small. The flowers are greenish purple or nearly white. The under surface of the leaves is soft pubescent. It is excellent for the making of pies and jellies. south to southern New York. Lewis and Clark record feasting in western Montana on a great variety of wild berries and purple. southeastern lina. The seeds. WILD.Gooseberries 20 are about half an inch in diameter. or achenes as botanists call them. The red pulpy berries are ripe in June or July. European or Garden Gooseberry Gros- sularia reclinata). and large nearly round berries. according to locality and season. Western Massachusetts. New A northern form with narrower leaflets and more oblong fruit has been described as a separate species (Fragaria canadensis). The fruit ripens The range of to Saskatchewan summer. with rather long spines and numerous bristles. The white flowers are borne on stems shorter than those of the leaves. with stout spines at the nodes. and scattered prickles. which were delicious and more pleasing to the palate than those grown in their Virginia home gardens. plant is too common to need description. Grossularia setosa). or Smooth Gooseberry (Ribes rotunwith few short spines and difolium. often with weak bristles. south to Nebraska and Wyoming. VIRGINIA. Found in thickets and on lake shores. The the roots and are on long stems or petioles covered are composed of three broad leaflets with with soft They saw-toothed edges. has escaped in places in New York and New Jersey. White flowers and red to black fruit. OR SCARLET STRAWBERRY Fragaria virginiana THIS leaves well known come from hairs. yellow. and south to Illinois. and black currants. short greenish purple flowers and purple berries about one-third of an inch in diameter. Grossularia rotundifolia) prickles or none. Tennessee. and Arizona. south along the mountains to North Caro(Ribes Grossularia. "Doubtless . It was Dr. are imbedded in in early little pits on the surface. generally with some bristles but sometimes smooth. usually three together. . western Ontario to Manitoba. and Kansas. I find apparently no difference in the flavor of the fruit. Bristly Gooseberry (Ribes setosum. the Scarlet Strawberry is from Brunswick and on south to Florida. In their Journal. Texas. Minnesota to South Dakota. William Butler who said of strawberries. Eastern Wild Gooseberry. New York. . to green fields and running brooks with bobolinks in the meadows. carefully washed some syrup was added. as there is a native variety. the sense of smell. and in dry open woods. by some means. fruit is more conical. gathered and prepared by served with sugar and cream. that is found in open rocky woods from New Brunswick to New Jersey and west to Oregon. wrote: "I had rather have one pint of wild strawberries than a gallon of tame ones. bumblebees on the so clover. of the Virginia strawberry. The berries are red. and There are several other kinds of wild fruits that are close rivals. somewhat smaller. and I say this just after partaking of a dish of these wild berries. is found from western New York to West Virginia. but they were delicious. and as a general thing. I think I would agree. The seeds are not imbedded but instead. is larger than that robust. but I can recall none that have such an appeal to the eye.2i Wild Strawberry could have God The made a better berry. and then they were cured or preserved. are found on the nearly smooth surface. and that of taste. sweet and delicious." Taking these two statements into account. that are found in much greater abundance and are of less trouble to gather. The thought of wild strawberries always leads me back to boyhood. it would seem that the wild strawberry is the most delicious of all our wild fruits. The plant is found in the eastern states in fields. my own hands. but doubtless wild strawberry has a delicacy of flavor all its God never did. EUROPEAN WOOD STRAWBERRY Fragaria vesca THIS more The plant greatly resembles the last species but is generally and the flower stems are usually longer than the leaves. This plant appears to have been introduced from Europe but that is questionable. . I was recently given a small jar of wild strawberries that were many taken fresh from the field. Another naturalist. a great lover of this wilding. We saw things besides the strawberries we gathered to appease our appetites or to take home for dessert." own rarely ap- proached by the cultivated varieties. A variety with creamy white berries. along roadsides. This white-fruited form was the . and butterflies in air. The berries remained whole. only in the hot sun. says." species The A . I often gathered it by the grandfather cultivated it in his garden seventy-five years pint. the fruit is said to be much larger than My the wild form. The mere mention of wild strawberries takes many of us back to the scenes of our youth and I am sorry for the boy or girl who European Wood Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) has never had the experience that was John Greenleaf Whittier's as a barefoot boy: With thy red lip. is a western with small but delicious berries. California Strawberry. Dr.Wild Strawberry 22 strawberry that I knew best as a boy. Fragaria virginiana. variety of the eastern also grows in California. Hall strawberry. "Visitors to the Yosemite are not long in locating the strawberry beds and filling their baskets with the luscious fruit. redder still Kissed by strawberries on the hill. Fragaria californica. Under cultivation. ago. and the younger twigs are covered with sticky hairs. jams. OR VIRGINIA. probably because they are slightly insipid. all blackcaps and red raspberries pies. . I find they are rather pleasant. The large. ripe in July and to as August. I have gone berrying with friends to "burnt lands" of northern New York where They were gathered along with mixed together and used for these raspberries were abundant. with heart-shaped bases. but the stems are bristly. It has no prickles. The berries are generally referred to Michigan The plant scarcely edible. The fruit is a flattened red berry. are from three. sometimes nearly a foot across. and jellies. and I have seen a group of boys eat them with enjoyment.23 Purple-Flowering Raspberry PURPLE-FLOWERING. showy purple blossoms are sometimes two inches in Purple-Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus) diameter. RASPBERRY Rub us odoratus THIS shrubby plant grows from three to five feet high. The large leaves. is found from Nova Scotia to Georgia and west and Tennessee.to five-lobed. and is much used by both Indians and whites. the Hansall. The Salmonberry. The form in the northern part of its range is believed by some botanists to be the same as the wild red raspberry of Europe and Asia. and We other varieties of raspberries that were derived from this species. also called Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus). familiar with the cultivated forms. downy beflowers are white or greenish white. juicy. neath. and has numerous glandular bristles and scattered smallhooked prickles on the stem. WILD RED RASPBERRY Rubus strigosus THIS raspberry grows from two to five feet tall. saw-toothed leaflets which are whitish. The leaves are composed of three to five irregular. Cuthbert. The physical features. I have gathered it there on sunny slopes from 2. It is very common in open rocky places in the Catskill Mountains.500 to 3. is very similar to the preceding species. I am sorry that it did not grow anywhere near my home when I was a boy. South of New York and the Great Lakes region it is apparently found in scattered patches in mountainous sections.700 feet altitude. The wild berries may be used for any purpose and in any manner that the cultivated varieties are used. and the leaves and fruit are about the same as the purple-flowering species. or White-Flowering Raspberry.Purple-Flowering Raspberry I 24 have taken the large leaves of this species and folded the edges together. about half an inch across. and south in the Rockies to New Mexico. however. is The and very pleasing to the taste. and in the Appalachian Mountains to North Carolina. wild red raspberry is native from Newfoundland and Labrador to Manitoba and British Columbia. pinning them with the long spines of the hawthorn in order to make vessels to carry home wild fruits of various kinds when I came across them unexpectedly in the woods. where the plants were larger and the berries bigger than they are at lower elevations. is somewhat shrubby. . The fruit. and south to Colorado and Utah. It ranges from Michigan and Minnesota west to Alaska and California. It varies greatly with the climate and other light red. Rubus idaeus. It is often abundant in the far Northwest. The stems are less bristly and clammy. This is certainly one of our best wild fruits. The blossoms are white of about the same size. were. which is ripe from July to September. THIMBLEBERRY. . The flowers and appearance are much like those of the red raspberry. "Foresight" BLACK RASPBERRY. Each within its leafy bower . the tips touch the ground they take root. in clearings and burnt-over lands. or as early as June in the southern part of its range. purple-black fruit is ripe in July and August. THE When The leaves are serrate leaflets in size composed of three (rarely five) doublewhich are white and downy beneath. This plant is native from Quebec and Ontario south to Missouri The and Georgia. And for that promise spare the flower ! WORDSWORTH. Then will hang on every stalk. It is very common along fence rows. BLACKCAP Rubus occidentalis stems or canes are often six or eight feet long or more. Lurking berries. ripe and red.Wild Red Raspberry Wild Red Raspberry (Rubus strigosus) You and Hither soon as spring is fled Charles and I will walk. The stems are glaucous or whitened with a bloom and are armed with hooked prickles. A The much jellies. they are probably no better than the wild ones but are larger and more productive. such as the Kansas and the Gregg. Then step mighty softly to whar I am An* wave dem vittles above my head. is probably a self-perpetuating hybrid as it is intermediate between the red and the black species. If my mouf don't open. and jams. who 1 said : If ever I dies an yo ain't certain I's dead. have been derived from this species. I gathered them by the quart from wild plants and took toll as they dropped into the pail. I'm certainly dead. Just butter some biscuit an* new made bread An' spread 'em all over with raspberry jam. Rubus neglectus. found in rocky woods England to Pennsylvania and west to Ontario and Ohio. Being quite firm. Purple Raspberry. species. ber of cultivated forms. I can fully sympathize with Monroe Sprowl. served with sugar and cream. It is the parent of several cultivated The from New . In flavor. These berries are excellent for pies. black raspberry grows much farther south than the red This fruit was very valuable to the early settlers and is sought after today. wild black raspberry stands at the very top among our wild numNone in my opinion surpasses it in pleasing flavor. they are As a boy. The berries are a little more tart than either of the two.Black Raspberry 26 The fruits. and certainly nothing could be better for dessert Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) when easily dried or preserved. is Rubus leucodereither black or also an excellent wild species. The plant is low. of the far western states. The only trouble is that very few berries form and the plant its itself is rare in many parts of range. however. The reddish purple fruit is quite large and juicy. Purple Raspberry Perhaps this is the species that Emerson had in mind when he wrote: The purple berries in the wood Supplied me necessary food. generally trailing. Hall says. from a creeping herbaceous rootstock. The fruit is Dr. OR BAKED-APPLE BERRY Rubus Chamaemorus is found from the mountains of Hampshire north to arctic America and west to British Columbia and Alaska. red. slightly five-lobed. The Dwarf Raspberry is apparently intermediate between the blackberries and raspberries. when fully ripe. herbaceous or only slightly woody. It is gathered and sold in the markets of cities and towns of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland." THE DWARF RASPBERRY Rubus triflorus Rubus americanus to berry is found in swamps and wet woods from Labrador Alaska and south to New Jersey. two or three in number. The fruit is ripe in July and August. Harvey M. Some authors state THIS that the berries are sour. are nearly AN interesting little raspberry Maine and New round. they are rather sweet and very pleasant. with three (rarely five) leaflets and no prickles. and travelers who have seen and eaten . Ohio. "Its berries are as highly flavored as those of any cultivated species and are eagerly sought by campers. who usually find. but my experience is that. and Nebraska. The solitary white flower is followed by an amber-colored fruit which is juicy and pleasant when ripe. The leaves. The Wild Raspberry mis. CLOUDBERRY.27 varieties. It grows in bogs and moist places and reaches a height of four to ten inches. that the birds have preceded them. and are soft Mountain Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis) and hairy beneath. prickly. growing from three to seven feet The older stems are reddish or purplish The leaflets are in fives or threes. The flower cluster is glandular hairy. generally more than twice as long as they are wide. are from an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. OR HIGH-BUSH.Cloudberry them there are often curious Berry. and are com- . The berries are oblong or conic. The white flowers. a rather robust plant. erect or arching. in terminal and axillary racemes. to 28 know more about the Baked-Apple MOUNTAIN. BLACKBERRY Rubus allegheniensis Rubus nigrobaccus THIS and very is high. are large. numerous and difficult to separate botanically. slightly TALL. the end one stalked. sometimes The fruit is usually ripe in July and August. The Some fruit of the High-Bush Blackberry . thus much confusion seems to exist in botanical literature concerning them. leaves are from The composed of three ovate leaflets. The High-Bush Blackberry grows in old thickets. Several splendid cultivated forms such as the Lawton and the Kittatinny have been derived from the wild species. rather small more solid and less juicy than those of most other species. This plant ranges from New England to Michigan. The white flowers are about an inch across. For our purpose we will include the species of blackberries are The High-Bush Blackberries in two species. some small some are sweet. Mountain Blackberry drupelets. three to nine feet high. south to Florida and Arkansas. others sour. Several species are included in the range too difficult for the be- ginner to separate. They are soft and downy beneath. varies wonderfully. often nearly as wide. Occasionally we come across plants that are very productive. . The slender berries are and Illinois. This plant is found from Nova Scotia and Ontario south to North Carolina. OR HIGH-BUSH.29 posed of numerous. compact fruit and the red stems of the leaves and fruit clusters. while others produce but few fruits. and the annual crop is worth millions to the inhabitants. The flower clusters are in broad racemes. The Mountain Blackberry is not confined to mountainous regions alone but is more abundant in such localities. It may be told by the long. The drupelets composing the berries are rather large and juicy. branched and shrubby. Virginia. The black fruits are from half an inch to an inch long. fields. and in open woods and The blackberry is probably our most valuable wild fruit. It grows in some form over almost the entire eastern United States. OR THIMBLEBERRY Rubus villosus Rubus argntus THIS plant grows erect or curved. along fence rows and roadsides. spicy. armed with strong recurved prickles. chiefly at the ends of the branches. BLACKBERRY. The berries have a peculiar pleasant flavor. Feeding on the Ethiops sweet. White flowers about an inch across. Rubus trivialis. In fact. The Dewberry when berry. ripe is of excellent flavor and of large size. Walt Whitman saw beauty in the vine when he wrote : The running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven. we did not sweeter things. along roadways. a very similar species found from Virginia to Florida and Texas. is probably the most important berry of that region. often nearly an inch long and about as broad. and on rocky hillsides. in fields. When this wild fruit was at its best. of plant and bird and insect life. for as Emerson says. . composed of large juicy drupelets. OR CREEPING OR RUNNING BLACKBERRY Rubus procumbens Rubus canadensis CHARACTERISTICS Stems trailing often several feet long. Louisiana. and south to Virginia. Going berrying was a favorite youthful pastime of the writer. chiefly near the coast. Black fruits. the ex- ask for For my taste the blackberry cone Purpled over hedge and stone. but the plants are generally not so productive as those of the black- The Dewberry ranges from Maine to western Ontario. : four to twelve inches long. The Dewberry grows in dry.Blackberries 30 The mere mention of blackberries will bring to the minds of many who have had contact with the country. leaflets three to seven. and we came with and saw so much of wild nature. armed with scattered stout prickles. The Southern Dewberry. the various excursions they have made for this wild fruit. Branches ascending. tact in con- animal. Farmers often despise it because it overruns their wheat and oat fields. Berrying had so many pleasant surprises. I was often Caught among the blackberry vines. gravelly or stony soil. that we were always ready to repeat perience. WHITTIER DEWBERRY. slightly woody. I cannot remember when I was too young to go berrying. and Oklahoma. a native of Europe and Asia. New Jersey. Whitman he notes saw more than beauty in this plant for elsewhere That blackberries are so flavorous and juicy. The fruit of the Choke Pear is generally not agreeable to the The . The fruit of the wild tree has the usual pear shape but is seldom more than two inches long. PEAR. and Pennsylvania. has escaped from cultivation from Maine to New York. and along fence rows. Sometimes these wild fifty feet in height.Dewberry T Dewberry (Rubus procumbens) Yes. The tree is found in thickets. with a pointed apex and a rounded base. OR CHOKE PEAR Pyrus communis THE Pear. trees are two feet or more in diameter and branches are generally rough and thorny. The white flowers are an inch or more across. the leaves finely toothed or entire. or sometimes in old neglected orchards. and the hard. and besides the uses mentioned above. Those of young shoots are often slightly lobed. The is found in woods and thickets and Kansas. are often used for preserves and pickles. NARROW-LEAVED CRAB APPLE. The pink. fragrant blossoms are about an twenty or twenty-five The inch across. OR WILD CRAB APPLE TREE Pyrus angustifolia THE thorns. The Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple from New Jersey to Illinois Louisiana. fill makes it desirable for pickled pears. rather narrow leaves are glossy above with slightly toothed or nearly entire margins. they are in demand for jelly. . usually fall with the leaves but sometimes they cling to the naked branches even after they are frozen. The fruit is ripe or for use in August and September. They are hard and sour but . Occasionally fruits. south to Florida and apples are gathered in late autumn. The greenish yellow fruits.Choke Pear taste in the 32 state. about an inch in diameter. we come across a tree with edible and I have known boys to their pockets and hats with Choke Pear (Pyrus communis) them fit to take home or to eat at their leisure. but I raw have known housewives to make exsolid flesh cellent preserves from it. Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple grows generally not more than feet high. The twigs often end in spines or oblong. 33 Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple (Pyrus angustifolia) AMERICAN CRAB APPLE Pyrus coronaria Malus glaucescens American Crab Apple tree sometimes attains a height of twenty-five feet and a trunk diameter of ten inches. sometimes lobed and with rounded or slightly heart-shaped bases. The rose-colored blossoms are from an inch to two inches . The ovate leaves are sharply saw- THE American Crab Apple (Pyrus coronaria) toothed. the branchlets nomewhat armed with spines. It is found from Wisconsin and Minnesota south to Louisiana and Oklahoma. or preserves. Mains ioensis. South Carolina. The well known Siberian The Western Crab Crab Apple. I went by a small where the ground was fairly covered with wild crab apples. often reaching a diameter of an inch and a half. 34 all among the most sweetly scented of our wild yellow-green fruits are similar to those of the preceding species but are larger. with its escaping from cultivation in New England. pointed with saw- toothed edges. paler beneath. early settlers collected the crab apples in autumn and buried them. into cider. especially when young. and west to Iowa and Missouri. is quite American Crab Apple. thickets. The tree reaches a height of thirty feet.American Crab Apple across and are flowers. is found in woods. They should be gathered in The The American Crab Apple roadsides late autumn when the leaves have fallen. occasionally three-lobed. The custom of burying from the Indians. At blossom time in May they present a sea of pink. and few wild fruits make better jelly. Pyrus baccata. or sometimes is only a shrub. 1938. but they have a pleasing odor and may be kept for weeks. filling the air thicket with a delightful odor. The blossoms are white and are followed by a small . jelly. each several acres in extent. The leaves are ovate. and along from Ontario and Michigan south to New Jersey. The apples are hard and sour. They cannot be eaten raw but are excellent for preserves and pickles. who made much At a few places in southwestern Pennsylvania I have seen almost impenetrable thickets of wild crab apples. making puzzling forms. later changing to brownish on the underside. Pyrus ioensis. The leaves are oval or oblong and woolly beneath. These exist in some parts of red or yellowish fruit is the United States. similar to the Apple. The common apple of cultivation has hybridized with some of the wild species. OREGON CRAB APPLE Pyrus diversifolia Pyrus rivularis THE Oregon Crab Apple ranges from Alaska to California. By spring the apples had lost much of their acid and were The then made the apples was probably derived use of this wild fruit. It has horticultural possibilities. In October. woods. THE APPLE OR WILDING TREE Pyrus Malus Mains Malus THE common or cultivated Apple. These apples are of various sizes. Some blush rosy-cheeked. trees that went by the country school which I was impressed by the number of wild Apple rail grew along the old fence that enclosed the grounds. shapes. It was also eaten by the Indians. necessary that you be breathing the sharp October or November . as Christina Rossetti has Some glow golden in the sun. Thoreau on "Wild Apples" says: in his To it is appreciate the wild and sharp flavors of these October fruits. its presence is detected by masses of pink or white fragrant blossoms. scarcely more than half an inch in diameter. fence rows. Others were growing in the waste lands beyond. The majority of them are of little value as apples. Of the dozens of wild trees whose fruit I have tested. The last attended as a boy. The fruit is first yellowish. Some set forth a purple bloom. Some of these trees were bearing fruit. gradually changing to purple. especially excellent essay when we are tired and hungry. or. Apples were a part of the daily lunch of nearly every I country schoolboy in southwestern Pennsylvania where spent my youth. I know vated. is most enjoyed when we are tramping through field and woodland. has escaped to roadsides. and thickets from New England to Virginia and Ohio. In April or May. The This is the only species of wild crab apple on the Pacific Coast.35 Oregon Crab Apple apple which is slightly oblong. a native of Europe and Asia. like the majority of our wild fruits. and colors poetically expressed it. white settlers used the fruit in early times for jelly. Plant the seeds of an apple and you rarely get anything like the variety that you planted. Henry D. and it is yet used for that purpose. It this of at least two that were worthy of being named and culti- is said that some of our time that I best cultivated varieties originated in I way. Some show green and streaked. . The uncultivated apple. as they helped to bridge out the season and could be transported long distances when traveling. By some small seedling apple popular subscription a monument was later erected to mark the one of our finest American apples. Apple sauce. John Mclntosh. known as Johnny Appleseed. Nearly all the early orchards were of seedling trees. pies." The outdoor air and exercise which the walker The Apple was introduced into Massachusetts as early as 1629. or less. the mass being stirred all the while with a long-handled wooden "stir stick" or ladle until a sauce or butter of the right consistency was formed. from Minnesota. the horticultural missionary. when your system is all aglow with exercise. The Baldwin came from Massachusetts. A These were put into the cider and boiling continued slowly. "To be eaten in the wind. course we are all familiar with the work of John Chapman. they are made into cider which is allowed to change to vinegar. Ontario. while clearing a forest. settled at what is now Dundela. and it was given the name of Mclntosh Red. until there was only about one-third of the original volume. In 1796. or more (sweet ones preferred). more of apple butter that could be kept all through the year. There was a time when apple butter was considered a necessary article in almost barrel of cider was boiled in a large kettle every rural household. and was very important to the colonists and pioneers. One of the trees bore extra-fine apples.Wild Apple air. What is sour in the house. and the jay is heard screaming around. he came across trees. Apples to the extent of half a barrel. site of the original tree of When apples are not good enough for other purposes. give a different tone to his palate. Wild or seedling apples can be used for practically all the purposes that the better cultivated varieties are put to although we prefer the latter. the wind rattles the bare boughs or rustles the few remaining leaves. a pioneer. Usually no sugar was added. Of better The result was a dozen gallons. Dried apples were much used in pioneer days. were carefully pared. 36 gets. from New York State. and dumplings have always been appreciated by the American people. Some of these apples might be labeled. and occasionally from among these seedlings an excellent apple was developed. They must be eaten in the fields. This tree lived and bore fruit for one hundred and twelve years. These he planted near his house. fritters. cut into quarters or eighths. the Wealthy. dying in 1908 after being injured by a fire. a bracing walk makes sweet. the Northern Spy. when the frosty weather nips your fingers. A good example is the McIntosh Red. . and the cores removed. and he craves a fruit which the sedentary would call harsh and crabbed. south to Florida and Louisiana. avoiding the Indians or making peace with them. After he had obtained a sufficient quantity of seeds. The author's great-grandfather crossed the Appalachian Mountains and settled in southwest- ern Pennsylvania before 1800. The berries may be served uncooked They are excellent for pies and for canning for winter .37 Wild Apple who went ahead of the white settlers and planted apple seeds in many places over Ohio and Indiana. OR SERVICEBERRY. and of a sweet and pleasant odor. one of the first in that part a small boy. The wood is very hard. so that the berries can be gathered from the branches. This tree has a wide range. on larger trees. use. grows to be a tree sometimes a foot in diameter and fifty feet high. Any tree that is not too large may be bent to the ground without breaking. It is most abun- dant in dry soil and is very common on river banks and hillsides. when released. JUNEBERRY. The round berries are a quarter of an inch or more in diameter. he placed in a bag and marched off to the Ohio wilderness. but it is usually much smaller. known When I was cider press. slightly streaked or nettled near the base. The light-colored bark is smooth or. That region then was scarcely more than an Indian wilderness. being found from Nova Scotia to western Ontario. for dessert. long before I saw the name of Johnny Appleseed in print. OR SHADBUSH Amelanchier canadensis Juneberry. I was thrilled by the story told by my grandfather how Johnny came to my great-grandfather's as a cider press. The tree when in bloom in the spring may be seen for a mile. red or purplish. He planted an orchard and erected a cider mill. and elastic. THE The alternate leaves are oval and some- pointed. and planting the seeds in open places or where he thought they would grow best. and dried them. The white flowers sometimes appear in March in the South. washed the seeds out of the discarded pomace. but in April what or early May farther north. rounded at the base with fine saw-toothed edges. They are arranged in the form of loose racemes. and blooms just about the time that the shad run up the streams hence the name Shadbush. better of the country. tough. He had the true them missionary spirit. or Serviceberry. it will spring back into the natural position. The largest and best that I have ever seen were in the southern Catskill Mountains at an elevation of 2. It grows from six to eight feet tall. in the NORTHWESTERN JUNEBERRY. ranging from western Ontario to British Columbia. The berries were of excellent flavor and were much appreciated by a hungry tramper. I once unexpectedly came across on bushes not more than two feet high. and California.Seruiceberry 38 I have made much use of serviceberries when camping in the woods. Colorado.000 to 2. This was month of August. and the leaves and fruit were just like those on the trees farther south.500 feet . sometimes gathering quarts of them. They ripen in June or early July. The leaves vary from . some of these were half an inch in diameter and of excellent flavor. They were Juneberry (Amelanchier canadensis) large and abundant. south to Nebraska. I have found them nearly as large in the mountains of central Penn- sylvania. OR SERVICEBERRY Amelanchier alnifolia THIS is a common shrub of the Northwest. On serviceberries a mountain top in Maine. Pieces could be broken off from the mass to cook with meat or vegetable food. OR RED HAW. Wooton and Standley catalogue eight of serviceberries native of that state. Its Another places. It was also used for pemmican dried meat. pounded fine. the Swamp Sugar Pear. They often crushed the berries and dried them. who gather the berries in large numbers and often dry them for future use. The birds are fond of them. One." HAWTHORN. Those of the species which grow at lower levels are nearly dry and consequently useless for food. Amelanchier intermedia. This shrub provides an important article of food among the Indians of the Northwest.39 Serviceberry elliptical to nearly round. The a shrub that grows three to nine feet high in swampy berries are oval or pear-shaped. rounded at the base. but its sickly-sweetish taste is not pleasant to epicurean palates. or Currant Tree. Hall. speaking of the shrub in California says. It is found in swampy or moist sweet berries are dark purple with a bloom. They are insipid in all the species. fully ripe. "The fruits of the native serviceberries were a favorite food In Flora of New among the Indians in earlier days. but I have gathered and eaten it with relish in the northern part of New York State. They were eaten fresh or were dried and preserved for winter use. is the Oblong-Fruited Juneberry. They give the following species note. Harvey M. Dr. forming a kind of cake that could be carried on their journeys. There are other species of Serviceberry in the eastern United States. Amelanchier Bartramiana. The flowers are white in short racemes. The plant does not grow south of Pennsylvania. the mass molded in the form of cakes. are dark purple with a The plant is often cultivated fruit in the East. Mexico. mixed with dried fruit and animal fat. purple with a bloom. as they are of all our other serviceberries. for its They are sweet and edible. They are blunt at the apex. fruits of twenty species of hawthorns have been recorded as is As the identification of the various species of hawthorns . The berries. is sometimes cultivated. and toothed above the middle. very soil. "The edible pulp is an article of food among the Indians. when bloom. OR THORN APPLE Crataegus THE edible." Lewis and Clark speak of the fine quality of the wild fruit and the use the Indians made of it. species. usually lobed leaves and characteristic sharp-pointed thorns or spines an inch to five inches long. three-quarters of an inch to an inch long. One stood by a fence between pasture fields near my old home in southwestern Pennsylvania. for jelly. Insect larvae rarely attacked them. meaty. Only occasionally do find a tree with edible fruits. and were slightly oval. has rather large fruits for a hawthorn. Hawthorns to the plains. Utah. and pleasing to the taste. Rosa californica. 40 with much disagreement among themdiffi- selves. The bright red fruits became ripe in September or early October. Crataegus I am WILD PLUM. somewhat juicy. often abundant. with smooth gray or light-colored bark and numerous stiff-pointed spines two or three inches long. informed that the hips or fruits of the California Wild Rose. As boys. comprise shrubs or small trees with simple.Hawthorn generally left to specialists. resembles tiny apples. for jams and jellies. The fruits of this hawthorn were the best in all the the best red haws that I have ever known. They are very common from the eastern United States west are especially abundant in limestone areas along we the borders of the Appalachian Mountains. in California and southern Oregon. we countryside often filled our pockets with them to eat at our leisure. In September. They ripen in May and June and are frequently made into preserves and jellies. The white flowers are in terminal clusters. This flesh may be used The fruit. This hawthorn was treelike. are sometimes used for jelly. but sometimes is only a shrub with numerous branches somewhat thorny and with rather THE . Crataegus aestivalis. Hawthorn. The tree in most respects corresponded to the botanical description of Crataegus mollis and was probably of this species or a closely related one. which are close relatives of the apples. OR YELLOW OR RED PLUM Prunus americana Wild Plum grows to be a small tree. which is common. I shall not attempt to describe the edible species of this cult genus. The May Haw of the southern states. rounded by a dry or pulpy flesh which is edible in some species but not palatable in a large majority of them. gathering large quantities of the fruits of the Western Black rivularis. sursometimes yellow. !Q33 I saw people in the mountains east of Salt Lake City. generally The hard seeds are red. The hawthorns. I have seen pecks of the fruit in the country markets of Pennsylvania. the artist. often doubly. and often- . stewed. where I found the trees growing about the Indian villages in the northern part of the state. Those growing in out-of-the-way places and in thickets were native or had escaped. 1934. with a rather tough skin. sometimes yellow fruits. In April or early May. Texas. Part of August and September. The American wild plum is excellent for preserves and jellies and is often in great demand. round at the base. into be trailing through broad and verdant which we had descended. and Colorado. In the Missis- Wild Plum (Prunus americana) sippi valley the fruit is larger and better. writing of his travels about 1837 among the Indians in 'the region of Oklahoma. and it is from this region that the cultivated varieties were developed. When fully ripe. which are ripe in August or September. The plums are nearly an inch in diameter. saw-toothed. the tree is covered with masses of white flowers followed by round red. speaks of the abundance of wild plums as follows: Some of the dried fruits when The next hour we would valleys of green prairies. This tree ranges from Connecticut to Montana. The rather large size and the abundance of the fruit would indicate that the trees may have been selected and planted. pulpy. Many cultivated varieties have been developed from the wild plum. have long tapering points and are sharply. they are very pleasing to eat. were secured from the Indians. They were with enough sugar added. Wild Plum The ovate or oblong leaves. palatable George Catlin. I spent in New Mexico.4i thick rough bark. south to Florida. 1922. The fruits are from an inch to an inch and a third long. OR HORSE PLUM Prunus nigra just described but to southern New England and Wisconsin. The leaves are broadly obovate with usually gland-tipped saw teeth. Lawrence valley. The branches of this small tree are stiff. Till a feller'd suck his thumbs Me Clean up to his elbows! My! some more er lem me die! 1 CANADA PLUM. copyright 1894. The flowers are white but sometimes turn pink just before the petals fall. armed with blunt spines. reddish or yellowish blotched with red. so closely interwoven and interlocked together. and when we found real good ones we enjoyed them almost as much as James Whitcomb Riley. . They are gathered in large quantities and sold in the markets of southern Canada and the northern United States. The petioles generally have two red glands near the leaf blade. with a thick skin and pulpy flesh that clings to the seed. When a tree does bear well. extending The apex is long-pointed. It is most abundant along the Great Lakes and in the St. the Hoosier poet. . and sending us several miles around when every bush that was in sight was so loaded with the weight of its delicious wild fruit. many of them self-sterile. every wild plum tree bears abundance of fruit . oval. Trees often stand year after year with scarcely any fruit at all. the boy who Not seem to be knows it has a treat in store for himself.Wild Plum 42 times find our progress completely arrested by hundreds of acres of small plum trees of four to six feet in height . They are larger than those of the American Wild Plum. they got Jes' gorges o' wild plums. that they were in many instances literally without leaves on their branches and bent quite to the ground. up and down old Brandywine Creek. south THE similar to the its Wild Plum distribution. Riley. as entirely to dispute our progress. we often took long rambles in search of wild plums. They are generally made 1 From "Armazindy" by James Whitcomb special permission of the publishers. who tells of his boyhood that. In my boyhood days. Canada Plum is a species very is more northern in from Newfoundland to Alberta. Used by The Bobbs-Merrill Company. round-topped tree. with which it hybridizes or intergrades. Some excellent cultivated varieties have been developed from the Canada Plum. with a trunk nearly . Lawrence valley. This plum is most common along streams and in thickets but is frequently met with along roadsides. south to Mississippi and Texas.43 into jellies Canada Plum and preserves but are often stewed or eaten raw. They August and September. WILD GOOSE PLUM Prunus hortulana Prunus Munsoniana THE Wild Goose Plum is a native of West the Mississippi valley from Virginia to Kansas. where I ripen in Canada Plum (Prunus nigra) gathered and enjoyed the fruits. I recognized it at once as being different from the more southern species. I first saw it in the St. sometimes reaching a height of twenty-five feet. It forms a small. It is generally regarded as a natural hybrid between the Chickasaw Plum and the American Wild Plum. Some botanists consider it only a variety of the American Wild Plum. Wild Goose Plum a foot in diameter. in its native state said to be quite a rare chiefly in lowlands along streams. spring. The Wild Goose Plum tree. it is apt to be small. trees in Tennessee shot a wild goose and found a plum seed in its This seed. when planted. The dark red fruit is nearly round. dull purple fruits. BEACH PLUM Prunus maritima THE Beach Plum is high. They are from half an inch to an . Another version of the origin of the common is name that a man near Columbia. bright red or The clined to cling to the stone. The reddish brown twigs bear oblong or ovate taper-pointed leaves. shot a wild goose: this at the spot where the carcass was thrown down. which are ripe in August and September. is grows much larger and gathered in large and eaten fresh or made into delicious preserves. juicy. This plum varies much with the locality. among them being the yellowish red. The flowers appear with the leaves. dry. The numerous white showy flowers appear before the leaves. The fruit. and unpalatable. a bush or very small tree from three to found in the northern half of California and in the southern part of Oregon. plum came up the following SIERRA. produced one of the first known of this species. The a low-branching shrub from two to six feet oval leaves have sharp saw-tooth edges. The flesh is inis the parent of many cul- Miner and is the Wayland. This tree tivated varieties. about an inch long. which ripens from August to early October. The round. It is claimed that growing I seen it. without thorns. In the southern part of Farther north. which sometimes escape to roadsides and waste lands. The slightly acid flesh clings to the stone. am a man crop. The thick leaves are ovate or nearly round. OR CALIFORNIA PLUM Prunus subcordata THE Sierra Plum forms and is fifteen feet high. The white flowers grow two to four in a cluster. are covered with a dense bloom. is nearly round. Tennessee. 44 rigid branches are without spines. but I have never familiar with the cultivated forms. and of an agreeable flavor. PACIFIC. The common name of this species is interesting. quantities its it range. CHICKASAW PLUM. joyed eating them. Sometimes it may be found on dry sandy hills twenty miles inland. They are excellent for jelly. rarely twenty feet high. nearly round and from a half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter. and the pulp soft and sweet. The flowers expand before the leaves. At some places along the New Beach Plum (Prunus maritima) England coast. The fruit. is bright red. The fruit from wild trees is gathered and sold in the markets of the South. on sea beaches and sand dunes. the in the local plums are gathered in large quantities and sold markets for preserving. It is said to be unexcelled for jellies and preserves. The a small tree. The skin is thin. .45 inch in diameter. with branches someleaves are narrow or oblong lanceolate with fine saw-tooth edges. which ripens in June and July. OR MOUNTAIN CHERRY Prunus angustifolia THIS is what thorny. but sweet and juicy. ripe the pulp is Beach Plum when I The skin is quite thick and tough. fully have en- The Beach Plum is native from New Brunswick to Virginia. free from the stone. and jellies. Prunus Watsoni. It is found from Connecticut to the mountains of Pennsylvania. They are still much used and appreciated. is a spreading shrub rarely more than eight feet high. In places it forms dense thickets. It is a bush three or four find recorded feet high. SWEET CHERRY. or Allegheny Sloe. pleasantly acid. scarcely more than half an inch long. a native of Europe. has escaped to waste New . We Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia) Porter's Plum. OR MAZZARD Prunus avium IN places from England west to Ohio and Kentucky. Prunus alleghaniensis. It is the parent of a dozen cultivated varieties. The Sand Plum of Nebraska and Kansas. In that region they are much used by the natives for jams. and pies. growing on the sand hills of those states. preserves. The ripe fruits are purplish black with a bloom. that the early settlers gathered its fruits by the bushels for pies.Chickasaw Plum 46 The Chickasaw Plum is native from Delaware to Florida and west to Kansas and Texas. is probably only a variety of the Chickasaw. jellies. I have gathered and eaten them in the mountains of central Pennsylvania and found them very agreeable. the cultivated Sweet Cherry. In that region. few years ago. In southwestern Pennsylvania. the black-fruited varieties are called Blackhearts. and fence rows. The fruits on it were lawn. one of these trees stood on the border of our A fifty feet high. and in waste lands. these were very common along roadsides. boyhood days. and the trees that bear red fruits are termed Redhearts. The cherries grown spent are either black or red and are often as large and palatable as those in the orchards. where I my fences. I gathered large pailfuls without going Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium) off my father's farm. Birds usually get their full quota. and landmark for the children of the neighborhood many years before we first enjoyed its shade. It was two feet in diameter and at least had served as a . Sweet Cherry lands.47 woods. Occasionally it is found in deep The tree much resembles the Black Birch. thickets. with saw-tooth edges are quite thick and shining. that the opposite side of the lawn. They vary wonderfully in size and scarcely quality. They were not pleasing to my palate. sweet and pleasant with scarcely a taste of bitterness.Sweet Cherry 48 dark brown. The juicy flesh is of a pleasant vinous flavor. and is especially common along old fences where the seeds have been scattered by the birds. is round is a large tree bark on trunks of older trees smooth and reddish brown. I once found a small tree in New York State more than a bush that had fruits almost as large as those of the cultivated cherry. which is ripe in August and September. We equal to. found by experiment that they made superior jelly made from the Early Richmond on Cherry. In years gone were much esteemed for flavoring rum and whisky. Prunus Cerasus. The tree smaller and of a rounder head than that of the sweet cherry. from a third. It produces more and generally better fruit when growing It This tree and Texas. is native from Nova Scotia to Dakota. and slightly bitter. making what is known as "cherry bounce.to a half-inch in diameter. The numerous white flowers in long racemes appear when the leaves are about halfgrown. The oblong lance-shaped leaves. Nearly all the cultivated that is. slightly bitter. south to Florida grows in open spaces that admit of much sunlight. has The Sour also escaped from cultivation from New farther west. if not better than. BLACK WILD CHERRY. It always in demand for pies and jellies. OR THIS whose wood is RUM CHERRY Prunus serotina is much prized for lumber. and sometimes we induced our mothers to make pies of them. we gathered many of these cherries for eating in fields or by. but the neighborhood children seemed to enjoy them. cherries those cultivated for their edible fruits have been developed from this and the species described above. introduced from Europe." In my boyhood days. is is The fruit is red or dark England to Georgia and brown and sour. The dark and rough that of the branches. rather small. . the fruits raw and pronounced them good. . The fruit. shiny black or dark purple. or slightly flattened. woods and open spaces. Often the branches bend with their load of fruit. and with saw-tooth edges. abruptly pointed. ripen in July and August. the size of peas. Better or improved varieties of . The white The flowers. They named Choke Cherries. dark red fruits. The oval leaves are from two to four inches long and about half as wide. appear when the leaves are about full-grown. in racemes.49 Black Wild Cherry Black Wild Cherry (Prunus serotina) CHOKE CHERRY Prunus virginiana THIS is a shrub or small tree rarely more than twenty feet high. but the cherries are are well so astringent as to pucker the mouth and affect the throat. extending from the Arctic Circle to the southern states and Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. are very fond of these fruits. but they .Choke Cherry them are cultivated in the St. The Bird Cherry. or Pin Cherry. . especially fond of them and soon strip the trees. Birds much is the most widely distributed tree in North America. in some places. 50 Lawrence valley of Quebec. Prunus pennsylvanica. the Indians made also recorded that in the early use of them. According to Professor Sargent. The bright red cherries are too sour for human food uncooked. but the birds are lent. I have carried out some experiments with the Choke Cherry and it makes a fair quality of jelly but when mixed with apple or Crab Apple the jelly is excel- In northern Minnesota black. is found in many places in the northern part of the country. It is days. this Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) I found Choke Cherries that were glossy had the same astringent taste as the dark red variety. In some parts of this country. The fruit lacks pectin. They are used to some extent there for jelly. The astringent quality is said to disappear when cooked. they are used for jelly. Kentucky. . the New Jersey and about Western Sand Cherry. The fruit when ripe is usually larger than that of the eastern Choke Cherry. almost black and very little astringent. They are crimson become black when fully ripe. I saw it growing in central Utah. but it seems to be specifically distinct.51 Pin Cherry finest The found specimens of the Pin Cherry that I have ever seen. and are then sweet and The Indian Cherry found in . found on the plains and extends into the as wild fruits but vary greatly as to ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHERRY Prunus melanocarpa THIS small tree was once considered a variety of the common Choke Cherry. where it was much used for jams and jellies. OR CAROLINA BUCKTHORN Rhamnus caroliniana THIS is a tall thornless shrub. which is Rocky Mountains. The Sand or Dwarf Cherry. Prunus pumila a low bush grow- ing in sandy places from New Brunswick to the Great Lakes and the similar shrub. have merit and quality. The pin cherry should be considered when looking for jelly making material. In northern New Mexico. or sometimes a low tree. three-seeded fruits are about one-third of an inch in diameter. at first but edible. It is found in the Rocky Mountains from Canada to New Mexico. I one tree. Prunus size Besseyi. the cherries were unusually large for this species and the seeds could easily be discerned through the flesh. The small greenish flowers are sometimes solitary but generally clustered in the axils of the leaves. is a member of the buckthorn family and is low grounds and swampy places from New Jersey. especially in regions where berries are scarce. I recently secured some of the dried fruit from the Indians and when enough sugar was added it became quite palatable. and Kansas south to Florida and Texas. The round. INDIAN CHERRY. They were used in that region in northern in the Minnesota autumn On for jelly which it was claimed was good. The Indians make much use of this fruit. The alternate. oblong leaves are quite large with margins nearly entire. of 1937. Missouri. Rhamnus catharastringent." It has used for "making the been introduced in swampy places about New York. It varies greatly and appearance. but they yield a dye known as "Chinese Green. is best charcoal for the finest gunpowder." The Alder Buckthorn. There are several species of Bumelia in Florida and along the Gulf Coast whose fruits are edible. THE REDBERRY Rhamnus THIS is in size crocea another buckthorn. The name Southern or Carolina Buckthorn is also applied to a shrub or small tree Bumelia lycioides belonging to an entirely different family. Its berries are not edible. England and the middle states tica. Indian Cherry (Rhamnus caroliniana) Rhamnus Frangula. Its fruit is disagreeable. sometimes being only a shrub two or three . native of California.Indian Cherry 52 of our northern buckthorns are disagreeable and The Common Buckthorn of Europe. is much used for hedges in The fruits New and has escaped from cultivation. a few also a native of Europe. also in the Bahamas and West Indies. The rather small leathery leaves are broadest above the middle. OR BLUEWOOD Condalia obovata ANOTHER member of the same family is the and northern Mexico. hard and scaly. OR RED IRONWOOD Reynosia latifolia shrub or small tree belonging to the buckthorn family Darling Plum. about three-fourths of an inch long. black. The nearly round fruit is a more than one-fourth of an inch in diameter. The very small yellowish green flowers are arranged in axillary clusters. The one-seeded fruit or drupe is slightly oval. The large leaves are opposite a forked tendril or fruit cluster. with firm oblong leathery leaves and reddish is ANOTHER known as the bark. This small tree. from one-half to three-fourths of . OR PLUM GRAPE Vitis labrusca THE well known Northern Fox Grape is most at home in thickets and along borders of woods. They are either entire or deeply lobed. It is Purple Haw of Texas mum little a spiny shrub or small tree with a maxiheight of twenty-five or thirty feet. PURPLE HAW. generally trailing over bushes or on the ground but sometimes climbing tall trees. slightly toothed and rusty. The fruit clusters are not large. The bright red ovoid or elliptic berries vary greatly in size. is sometimes cultivated for its brown edible fruits. sweet. It is an evergreen species. black.53 feet tall. pulpy. sweet. woolly beneath. which are occasionally found in the public markets. but Redberry some varieties develop into a small tree. They arc ripe in September or October. The small oval leaves are stiff and evergreen. the brownish purple berries are round and an inch in diameter or even larger. and edible. but usually are about one-fourth inch in diameter. DARLING PLUM. and edible. it is said. It is found in Florida near the coast and on the keys. and edible. NORTHERN FOX GRAPE. They have a tough skin and a musky odor and taste. . The Concord. "September" from "Sonnets and Lyrics" by Helen Hunt Jackson. Isabella. 1 In 1679. Jasper Dankers and Peter Sluyter left Holland for a journey to the new world. yet when thoroughly ripe the taste is Northern Fox Grape (Vitis labrusca) pleasant. It may have been the blossoms of the grape but probably was the fruit that caused Helen Hunt Jackson to write: From dewy lanes at morning The grapes' sweet odors rise. pubBrown and Company. The greenish flowers of this and other grapes are very fragrant. 1 They lished by Little. Its fruit is not as good as those of the cultivated forms.Northern Fox Grape 54 This vine ranges from New England to Minnesota and south to Georgia and Tennessee. and other cultivated grapes were derived from this wild species. and probably no grape is superior for jelly. They record that on October 6th they left New York to travel on foot over Manhattan Island. giving us one of the most pleasing wild wood odors found in nature. New York then occupied only the extreme southern part of the Island. Catawba. leaving the village of the Bouerie on the right. The petioles are rather short. 1679: "I must add. It must have been wild or cultivated fruit that scented the air when he wrote. and as good as any I have tasted in the Fatherland. in passing through this island we sometimes encountered such a sweet smell in the air that we stood still.55 Northern Fox Grape went north toward Harlem.to five-lobed or entire. OR SMALL OR WILD GRAPE Vitis aestivalis THIS forest trees. and are whitish or rusty woolly beneath. often climbing nearly to the tops of big The large leaves are three. In the peach orchards on Manhattan Island he saw fruit so abundant as to nearly cover the ground. because we did not know what it was we were meeting. The numerou . vine grows large. Bankers wrote. but possibly one of the smaller wild grapes. covered with downy hairs. October 7. "We found blue grapes along the road which were very good and sweet. The European grape failed to grow in eastern United States. OR PIGEON GRAPE." These were likely the fox grape. with Summer Grape (Vitis aestivalis) short broad teeth." SUMMER GRAPE. New England ripe is to Florida and west to Wisconsin. Vitis bicolor. Sand or Sugar Grape. Vitis cordifolia. special permission of the publishers. Sweet-scented. smoother Hampshire to North petioles. Like most wild fruits. fruit The when size of the berry. 1919. The grapes are very abundant in western Pennsylvania where I lived as a boy. and those lines of James Whitcomb Riley's frequently applied to my case: the wild grape-vine That To The ust to climb the highest tree 1 keep the ripest ones fer me. Riverside. west to Michigan and Tennessee. From "Neighborly Poems" by James Whitcomb Used by Company. Vitis rupestris. low and bushy. Blue or Winter Grape. make a good 1 All the above species and the Chicken Grape. south to Mary- land and Kansas. Southern Pennsylvania to Tennessee and southward. or Frost Grape. in small close clusters. berries about one-fourth inch in diameter. The Bobbs-Merrill .Summer Grape 56 fruits are in long dense clusters. berries blue with a bloom and very juicy but sour. south to Texas and east to Florida. with longer. The berries are generally ripe in September or October but are sweeter after heavy frosts. and may be used for jelly. black with a bloom. copyright 1891. following species of wild grapes have vines and fruit very similar to the ones just described. it is excellent for eating and good for jellies or in pies. usually threelobed with large acute teeth. The berries are from a quarter to nearly half an inch in diameter. Illinois to Kansas. Sweet Winter Grape. When thoroughly pleasant. black without bloom. or Downy Grape. often without tendrils. leaves small and shining. with angled branchlets and small fruit. New Brunswick to North Dakota. New Carolina. but the seeds are large for the ripe. black covered with a whitish bloom that gives them somewhat of a bluish appearance. they are better and larger on some vines than on others. We knew all the good vines of the neighborhood. The best are often hard to reach. Riley. This vine is native from sas. Kan- and Texas. leaves shining and green both sides. quality of grape juice. trailing or climbing. Vitis cinerea. and leaves bluish white beneath. Vitis vulpina. sweet. Bobbs-Merrill special permission of the publishers." by Frank L. a Song. often few. Stanton. leaves. rather small. The clusters are small. 1925.57 Muscadine MUSCADINE. nearly round. The tendrils are unbranched. The . with large blunt teeth and shining on both sides. OR BULLACE GRAPE Vitis rotundifolia Muscadinia rotundifolia But O When And By the glad September. the gusty groves are sweetened * ! the swaying muscadines THIS vine usually trails on the ground or over bushes but sometimes climbs high in trees. but the berries are Muscadine (Vitis rotundifolia) 1 From "Comes One with Used by Company. SOUTHERN FOX GRAPE. the wind is in the pines. copyright 1898. in his book Illustrations of the George Catlin. The Scuppernong and some other southern cultivated grapes originated from this species. of five-eighths of an inch in diameter. producing the greatest profusion of delicious grapes. The fruit ripens early. with a sandy soil and scattering timber. Those who are familiar with them when ripe will agree with John Henry Boner when he says: Pendent dewdrops glitter brightly In the overhanging vines. nearly black. A good grape syrup may be made from it. plant is said to flower published in 1841. purple withskin is thick and tough. Manners. and south to Florida and Texas. They vary from nearly round . The and fruit throughout the year. 58 from one-half out a bloom. in which we have not crossed oak ridges of several miles in breadth. Vitis Georgia and Florida. where the ground was almost literally covered with vines. A The similar species. for many miles together. The berries are about half an inch in diameter or a little larger. The above lines may have the habit of growth on oak ridges been written about the Muscadine. MUSTANG GRAPE Vitis candicans ANOTHER from two rapidly growing and high-climbing grape has leaves to five inches in diameter. grows in sandy soil in vine is slender and low-climbing or are quite similar to those of the Muscadine. and hanging in such endless clusters. and the berries fall from the cluster grape by grape. The to three-fourths inch in diameter. Customs. The fruit is pleasant to eat and excellent for jellies and pies. with a thin skin and without a musky taste. author and artist. describes traveling a hundred years ago in now southern Oklahoma : what is Scarcely a day passed. This grape ranges from Delaware to Kentucky and Kansas.Muscadine large. as justly to entitle this singular and solitary wilderness to the style of a vineyard (and ready for the vintage). Vitis Linsecomii. trailing. The leaves Munsoniana. but suits better another southern species. and Condition of the North American Indians. Laden with a luscious treasure Of large purple muscadines Ripe delicious muscadines. I have collected it in Florida not far The fruit is called Maypop by the people of often gathered and eaten. or about the size of those of the Northern Fox Grape. It is is . These grapes at their best are not edible. is believed to have been cultivated by the Pueblo Indians as the plants have been found growing in rows. The berries are round. four or five in number. about as broad. Long tendrils.59 Mustang Grape or broader than long to triangular in outline with shallow teeth and occasionally with angular lobes. green without. from made into jelly. The three-lobed leaves are from three to five feet. are about an inch long. especially in Texas. The yellow edible berry is two inches or more long about the size and shape of a hen's egg. and its fruit ripens in June and July. inches long. but the berries are small. would but that scarcely think of the Passion is the case. The fruit said to be of a superior quality. is a crown or fringe of purple or pink threadlike rays or filaments. OR PASSION FLOWER. growing from the axils of the leaves. which is its rapid growth. found from Texas to Arizona. is considered a noxious weed. are the chief means of support. tinged with lavender within. They are dark purple or wine-colored with a tough skin. The blossoms are about two the sepals. One of these Vitis arizonica. The leaves are smooth above but densely white woolly beneath. Some of them have edible fruits. from half an inch to nearly an inch in diameter. MAYPOP. west to Missouri and Texas. Attached to two or three . Captain John Smith said this plant was cultivated by the Indians of Virginia. In parts of the South it is from the Gulf the South and coast. This vine is a native of Texas. the inside of these This vine is found in rather dry ground from Virginia to Florida. Vine as bearing edible to a length of fifteen to thirty generally low-climbing or trailing. but they are often gathered for pies and jellies. The white petals are the same number and size but much broader. This strong perennial vine grows often covering bushes. with fine saw-toothed margins. The handsome flowers arise from the axils of the leaves. OR PASSION VINE Passiflora incarnata ONE fruits. He refers to the fruit as pleasant and wholesome. There are several other species of wild grapes found in the South. on peduncles or stems inches in diameter inches long. It is today used by the Indians. rather delicate vine climbs up and over bushes The leaves are broader than long.Maypop probably this vine that John his trip 60 Muir had in mind when he wrote of on foot from Wisconsin to Texas. He called it Apricot Vine and said it had a superb flower and the most delicious fruit Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) he had ever eaten. . slender. and for preparing a refreshing drink. Like some of the edible tropical passion vines. YELLOW PASSION FLOWER Passiflora lutea THIS often ten or twelve feet high. the fruit could be used in making sherbets. and edible. and south to Florida pulpy fruit has a rich purple juice with a flavor peculiar to itself. The to Illinois and Kansas. occasionally plant. entire margin. jointed. I species containing ripe fruits. but it was the first opportunity that I had ever had to eat the fruits. The Yellow sides Passion Vine is found in thickets and on rich hill- from Pennsylvania and Texas. flat. The grayish. fleshy. The plants bear very tiny awl-shaped leaves which lie flat against the stem and generally drop early. Some of these. generally near the coast. The dark purple fruits are round or slightly oblong. threadlike. generally appear in axils of the leaves. sharp-pointed solitary spines are THE The majority of the plants do not bear spines. The short bristles are greenish yellow. such as the Giant Granadilla and Water Lemon. but I would tired came and hungry.61 with three rounded base. OR PRICKLY Eastern Prickly Pear is a thickened. scarcely call them first-class. scarcely an inch in diameter. 1 was collecting plants in a mountainous section of southern Pennsylvania and be- chanced to come across some vines of this I was familiar with the vine. Yellow Passion Fine lobes. The red pear-shaped fruits are an inch to an inch and a half long. flowers are two or more inches broad with eight or ten yellow A petals and numerous stamens. One warm September day. The greenish yellow flowers. . ascending. OR INDIAN PEAR CACTUS Opuntia vulgaris Opuntia Opuntia FIG. from a half to three-fourths of an inch in diameter. juicy. They may do for jelly and would surely species of passion vines in the tropics. branching sometimes a foot long. grown EASTERN PRICKLY PEAR. are beautiful but not conspicuous. They satisfied my hunger and quenched my thirst. and sensitive the most beautiful to be found on any American plant of my acquaintance. and slightly heart-shaped tendrils are long. two or three inches long. are make a pleasing There are numerous for their fruits. The The pairs from the upper flower stems. nearly an inch long. The joints are oval or oblong. drink. This plant grows on rocks or in sand. from two to five inches long. generally prostrate. my regret. The new or tender joints were taken. The fruits of the Prickly Pear have a pleasant taste and may be eaten fresh or stewed. Frederick V.Eastern Prickly Pear from Massachusetts species are 62 and Alabama. The Prickly Pear. vegetables were scarce. the writer spent a few days in Montana York and have when the terrible drought of that year was at its worst. some of the cacti of the Southwest are eaten by the Indians. and some of the inhabitants secured part of their diet from the Prickly Pear. or Tuna. dried for food. grown or tender joints are taken for this purpose. and the remainder boiled. Only the half- They are even . According to Dr. Coville. The pas- Eastern Prickly Pear (Opuntia vulgaris) turage was burned brown. then fried or treated some other way. the skin with prickles sliced off. In the summer of 1936. Opuntia polyacantha. Opuntia basilaris is one of these. I have seen them in the markets at New sometimes to collected them fresh from the plants for the spiny bristles are very annoying. Other similar edible to Florida found in Florida. about three inches in diameter. one of them being larger and stronger than the others. and about half as thick. THIS Western Prickly Pear (Opuntia Rafinesquii) round. Minnesota and south to Texas. In many respects it is similar to the eastern species but the deep green joints are more oval or nearly . often with a reddish center. The flowers are yellow. . Michigan. Occasionally a plant is found without spines. DEVIL'S TONGUE Opuntia Rafinesquii Opuntia humifusa to cactus is found in sandy or rocky soil from Ohio. filled with a purplish edible pulp. The fruits are an inch and a half to two inches long. with ten or twelve petals.63 Western Prickly Pear WESTERN PRICKLY PEAR. and the spines are three or four together. the bristles are reddish brown. covered with a dense silvery wool on both sides. oblong leaves have entire margins. BUFFALO BERRY. Without doubt. the Indians had to resort which they roasted after first removing the spines. The twigs often end in thorns. The Indian Fig. Parish of Jepson's Flora of California. This hardy shrub is found native from Minnesota and Manitoba . They were also dried for winter use. I southwestern United States which bear edible can from experience that some of these are excellent eating. the prickly pear and the chollas of the Great American Desert have saved the lives of many weary travelers far from food and water. The ovoid fleshy fruits." I have found these two species at several of the old missions in southern California where they were planted one hundred and fifty years or more ago. and the scarlet or orange fruits ripen in July or August. scarcely half as wide. "were in cultivation as fruit trees long previous to the discovery of America. mucilaginous juice of the stems was utilized as a sizing to fix the colors painted on hides or on receptacles made from hides. are juicy with a pleasant taste. two to four inches long. The were bound on wounds as a dressing. and Opuntia megacantha according to Dr. It was applied by rubbing a freshly peeled stem over the painted object." Melvin Randolph Gilmore says of The fruits were eaten fresh and raw after the bristles had been removed. the staminate on another) open in April or May.Western Prickly Pear of 64 In his interesting contribution to the 1919 Report of the Bureau American Ethnology. "Uses of Plants by Indians of the Missouri this cactus: River Region. It grows from five to fifteen feet high. Sometimes from scarcity of food. dioecious flowers (the pistillate on one shrub. The small. B. S. and exhibit a diversity of variation comparable with that of the com- mon cultivated fruits. Opuntia ficus-indica. OR SILVERLEAF Shepherdia argentea Lepargyraea argentea THE Buffalo Berry is a shrub that provides a common yet valuable wild fruit in the Northwest where cultivated fruits are scarce. in the testify There are numerous members of the great cactus family fruits. They are an inch or two long. The opposite. or they were stewed. the peeled stems to the stems. yellowish. On account of this mucilaginous property. OR RABBIT BERRY. New Mexico. have a single. George Catlin in his travels among the North American : Indians. describes the Buffalo Berry which then grew so abundantly about the mouth of the Yellowstone River .65 Buffalo Berry The round south and west to Kansas. it is it to improve. I found the Buffalo Berry along the Yellowstone River in eastern Montana. are especially valuable for jelly. and California. I have not had a chance to test the edible qualities of . They are acid but edible with a pleasant taste much like that of the red currant. slender seed. and are delicious for dessert when dried with sugar. the fruit. along the Little Missouri River in North Dakota. about the size of currants. In the wild state very prolific. and often cooked hence the common name. This wild fruit and we may expect is now being cultivated in the cold Northwest. about 1833. Buffalo Berry (Shepherdia argentea) the branches beinp thickly studded with fruits which remain on the bushes well into the winter. and in the Black Hills but what little fruit remained on the bushes was being rapidly eaten by birds. Idaho. them with buffalo meat. Friends of the writer who live in Montana say that the Buffalo Berry produces better jelly than that obtained from any other fruit in the region. The Indians dried the berries for winter use. During the very dry summer of 1936. or oblong fruits. I am inclined to think. forming almost impassable hedges. Elaeagnus argentea. We have described the pomme The Canadian I blanche under edible roots. which they very much resemble. Catlin writes that Indian chief a bowl filled when he was feasting with an was with a kind of paste or pudding made of the flour of the pomme blanche. which was taken up by the corners and not infrequently would produce us. men could gather thirty bushels of these : He continues several times took a large mackinaw blanket which I had in the canoe. would produce Catlin believed that two berries in a day. and excellent wine. it . hanging in clusters to every twig. when they are sweetened. have tried its orange berries and found them sweetish but is The Silverberry. finely flavored with the buffalo berries. and by striking the stalk of the tree with a club. when the boughs. forms a striking contrast to the from the blue appearance of its leaves. where they were the most abundantly loaded with fruit. also a member of the . is about the size of ordinary currants. the eighth part of a bushel of this fruit . relieved of their burden. is a similar but smaller shrub growing from northern United States far into Canada. a delicious turnip of the prairie. instantly flew up to their native position. sometimes for miles together. as the French call it. lined the banks of the river and defiles in the bluffs. which are collected in great quantities in this country and used with divers dishes in cooking as we in civilized countries use dried currants.Buffalo Berry 66 The buffalo bushes (Shepherdia). from one blow. The fruit which it produces in such incredible profusion. the character of grapes. This shrub which may be said to be the most beautiful ornament that decks out the wild prairies. palatable. so loaded with the weight of their fruit. Shepherdia canadensis. and not unlike them in color and even in flavor being exceedingly acid and almost unrest of the foliage. Buffalo Berry. We At another place. insipid. by which can be distinguished for miles in distance. we received the whole contents of its branches in an instant on the blanket. and spreading it on the ground under the bushes. until they are bitten by the frosts of autumn. which are peculiar to these northern regions. and their flavor delicious having to the taste much . that their boughs were everywhere gracefully bending down and resting on the ground. It grows over much of Canada and south as the Dakotas. The evergreen. OR TEABERRY Gaultheria procumbens Wintergreen is a shrubby plant creeping upon or beneath the surface of the ground with erect branches from three to six inches high. BOXBERRY. WINTERGREEN. The nodding flowers on recurved stems are generally solitary in the axils of the leaves. aromatic leaves are usually clustered at the THE Wintergreen (gaultheria procumbens) summit of the branches. dark glossy green above. The white bell-shaped corolla . oval in outline with small bristle-tipped teeth. The mature leaves are of a rigid or stiff texture. Its silvery mealy fruit is edible. paler beneath.67 oleaster family. MOUNTAIN TEA. Silverberry comes as far PARTRIDGEBERRY. often with a reddish tinge. The young leaves are light green or yellowish green. CHECKERBERRY. Twenty-five common names given to it I often induced fresh leaves of this plant attest this fact. frequently pretty sure to find these berries in open sunny woods sloping to the often filled our coat pockets with them. where We they command a good price. forming a small berrylike fruit which turns bright red and hangs on the stems all winter. The common names Mountain Tea and Teaberry indicate this. When I was a A youngster. The eating. I have seen them for sale in the city markets. but they are tougher and less agreeable. the whir of the partridge or ruffed grouse. In early spring and sometimes during the winter when the ground was free from snow. the plants are used for this purpose. young. rough mountainous coununder evergreens. espe- . with numerous brown rigid branches. Mother to make tea for me from the and much preferred it to the "store-bought" tea. OR WHORTLEBERRY Gaylussacia baccata Gaylussacia resinosa THIS grayish shrub grows from one to three feet high. I abundant as they are in some parts have never seen them so large or so of Maine. Its mere name recalls many pleasant rambles afield for the leaves and berries. We were sometimes startled by quite firm and do not smash easily. No other wild plant led the writer into the woods so often as this one. is one of the best known of all our wild American plants. or Wintergreen. very pleasing and refreshing tea is made by steepthe leaves for a few minutes in boiling water. In many parts of ing the country. long with entire margins and very short The leaves. for these birds are fond of the berries (hence the name "partridgeberry"). and south to Georgia. Both the leaves and the berries have the pleasing spicy. The Gaultheria. we were is This plant try. especially when served with sugar and cream. from Newfoundland to Manitoba. The calyx becomes fleshy. found most often in wild. The alternate leaves are oval or obpetioles. aromatic flavor of Wintergreen or Sweet Birch. BLACK HUCKLEBERRY. for they are south. In some sections of Pennsylvania and perhaps elsewhere. the berries in the springtime are used for pies. tender leaves of the Wintergreen are very pleasant The mature leaves are often eaten.Wintergreen 68 with its five lobes or teeth encloses the ten stamens. It bears fewer but larger berries on slender drooping stems. but I have eaten excellent pie made from black huckleberries alone. is a very similar shrub to the one described above. The ten stamens are generally a little shorter than the blos- soms. This shrub sandy. It generally grows in dry. and globules. or rocky soil. sweet and pleasing to the taste. The bell-shaped or cylindrical corolla has five short when young. . The fruit is sweet and pleasantly flavored but more "seedy" than the blueberries. west to Wisconsin. The lobes. and Kentucky. Gaylussacia f rondosa. Dangleberry. Manitoba. Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) is found from Newfoundland to Georgia. This shrub is found in moist woods and thickets from New Hampshire to Florida and Louisiana. The round shiny black fruit is about a quarter of an inch in diameter and contains ten bony seedlike nutlets. While it generally occurs near the coast. contain many tiny resinous pinkish or pale red flowers are arranged in short onesided racemes.69 cially Black Huckleberry also the blossoms. The Tangleberry. They are dark blue with a whitish bloom. it has been found as far west as Ohio. often with the blueberries. or Blue Tangle. The black huckle- berries are usually gathered and mixed with the blueberries. shaped like a bell. and parts of Quebec. stewed and sweetened. They those of the are from a fourth. the. it is much used as a substitute for the cranberry. when Henry D. Asia. paler and dotted with black points beneath. The small nodding flowers are white or pink. The berries are gathered in the Scandinavian countries and placed in tight barrels which are then filled with water and shipped to the New York markets. extending north to the Arctic Ocean and south to Massachusetts.Cowberry 70 MOUNTAIN OR ROCK CRANBERRY. The petioles are very short. The dark red berries are ripe in August and September but cling to the plant all winter. New Brunswick. he reported that the mountain cranberry. and are arranged on the plant in short terminal racemes. obovate or broader at the outer end. sour and slightly bitter. This species is native of northern Europe. the naturalist. Seventy-five years ago. It is not cultivated. OR LOW-BUSH CRANBERRY Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Vitis-Idaea Vitis-Idaea THE Cowberry is a little shrubby plant with creeping stems and upright branches from two to eight inches high. They are from one-fourth to threefourths of an inch long. OR COWBERRY. It grows in rather dry rocky soil. and the edges are generally rolled in. It is much used in Nova Scotia. In fact. I have secured the berries in the markets and know that they are an excellent sub- stitute for the cranberry. . with four lobes.to a half-inch in diameter. smooth and shining above. The leathery. They ap- pear in June and July. Like the cranberry. The black bear in Canada and the polar bear on the Arctic coasts spend much time eating the fruits of this little evergreen plant. and the berries are apparently larger and better far north. and America. but fruits from the wild plants are gathered and sent to the Boston markets. or smaller than American Cranberry. fruit is not good raw but when properly sweetened is excellent for sauce and jelly. and at certain seasons it is an important food of northern birds. even to the next summer. where the plants and berries grow slightly larger than they do in America. was exploring the Moosehead Lake region of Maine. It is highly prized in Europe. evergreen leaves are dark green. was the common dessert in that sparsely populated region. the Adirondacks and Lake Superior region. Thoreau. This wild fruit was much used in colonial times. OR WHORTLEBERRY Vaccinium corymbosum shrub grows from three to fifteen feet high with stiff greenbranches. The oval or oblong leaves. are pointed at both ends. although Vaccinium stamineum. It is recorded that one picker in the latter state filled an entire crate with the fruit of one bush. tarnish that goes at a touch of the hand. It generally grows in swamps.71 High-Bush Blueberry HIGH-BUSH BLUEBERRY. creature. green above. 1 This is the late-market blueberry. In the swampy lands of Connecticut and New Jersey. are fifteen or twenty species of blueberries (Vaccinium) in The exact species are often some are not none of them is poisonous. with ten stamens. A wind. sometimes half an inch in diameter. unless hard pressed by hunger. There difficult the United States east of the plains. I have seen bushes nearly fifteen feet high laden with berries. Henry Holt and Company. to determine. ish THIS brown paler beneath. but in the great huckleberry region of western Massachusetts I have found them abundant in rather dry old pastures. as Robert Frost the poet says of the Blueberry : After The all really they're ebony skinned blue's but a mist from the breath of the . with a bloom. OR SWAMP BLUEBERRY. "No One species. When the bloom is rubbed off. and thickets. The fruit is ripe in July and August. bluish black. green or greenish yellow when ripe. but edible. could relish the greenish 1 "Blueberries'* from "North of Boston" by Robert Frost. on short petioles. and in late seasons some may be gathered in September. white or pinkish. The geographic range of the wild fruit is from Maine to Minnesota. they are almost black or. south to Virginia and Louisiana. One author says. wet woods. Used by special permission of the publishers. The berries are from a quarter to a third of an inch in diameter. with entire margins. . often drying it for this purpose. known as Decrberry and Squaw Huckleberry. They are from an inch and a half to three inches long and about half as wide. It is apparently most abundant east of the mountains. and is sour and inedible. The five-toothed corolla is bell-shaped or cylindrical. and the Indians cooked it with meat. has fruit round or slightly pear-shaped. and the dangling berries are produced in abundance. Like all blueberries. ripening in or. probably besoil. now seen in the LOW SWEET BLUEBERRY. I have not tried them. OR LOW-BUSH BLUEBERRY. experimented with them and produced berries of remarkable size. they vary greatly in size. The branches are green and warty. The time will probably come when the blueberries will be among our cherished culti- cause they require a peculiar acid Coville. they make excellent pies. south to Florida. Berries of cultivated varieties are markets. south to Virginia and Illinois. ranging from a quarter of an inch to nearly half an inch in diameter. but the poet Robert Frost. sweet and juicy. The Indians were especially . As yet the blueberries have been cultivated very little. I 72 am assured by people living in the mountains of Pennsylvania that." Blueberries as big as the end of your thumb. and desserts in general. The white or pinkish corolla is oblong bell-shaped. after being stewed and properly sweetened. apparently had seen larger ones when he in his wrote poem "Blueberries. is one of our finest wild fruits. It is native from Massachusetts to Minnesota.High-Bush Blueberry or yellowish berries. and Louisiana. is THIS the early-market blueberry. but we must not forget that the cranberry is inedible raw. The bushes rarely grow more than twenty inches high and often not half that. The berries on short stems are blue with a bloom. Kentucky. OR DWARF. very sweet and pleasant. valuable for puddings. bright green and shining on both sides. OR EARLY SWEET BLUEBERRY Vaccinium pennsylvanicum Vaccinium angustifolium June and July August. The deerberry bushes grow two or three feet high. I have never seen this species grow to such perfection or so abundantly as on the mountains of Maine and in some parts of Massachusetts. Frederick V. SUGAR. Real sky-blue. with alternate oblong or lanceolate leaves." Yet. United States Government Botanist. of the latter state. farther north. in It grows in dry sandy or rocky soil from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan. and heavy. vated fruits. and ready to drum In the cavernous pail of the first one to come! This pies. but the late Dr. which was thickened with whortlelived berries. finely veined. is with yellowish green warty branches and twigs.73 fond of it. and Schoolcraft wrote: "Pieces of duck were thrown in a large kettle of boiling water." "Whortleberry" and low species east of the Appalachian Mountains." and "huckleberry. The oval leaves are from one to two inches long and a little more than half as wide. while still on this tributary of the St. on nothing but whortleberries for weeks. Henry Schoolcraft. It grows . south to North Carolina and Missouri. On July 30. the Indians fared better. and pale larger." month later. he writes of the Indians: "Their first request is tobacco. Thousands large and delicious. while traveling the Namokagum River in northwestern Wisconsin wrote in his journal: "Both banks it is of the river are literally covered with the ripe whortleberry it. This excellent blueberry is found from New England to Michigan. OR LATE LOW BLUEBERRY Vaccinium vacillans THIS shrub in some respects is quite similar to the last. They are dark blue with a bloom. attaining a height of one to three whitish beneath. all gathered for food and are used by whites and BLUE HUCKLEBERRY. now rarely heard." "blue- is an old name applied chiefly to an English species and once used for nearly all our native species. Nearly a dozen species of blueberries are found in the Pacific states. the noted down authority on the habits and customs of the Indians. The berries are similar to those of the last named species. pale above. yellowish or sometimes with a reddish tinge. Croix. The flowers usually occur in small clusters but sometimes in racemes on naked branches. but sometimes minutely saw-toothed. The corolla is about one-fourth of an inch long. It is used as a seasoning to soups. In and west of these mountains. They are nearly Indians alike. for the family supper. Low and because of its Sweet Blueberry a very important abundance 1831. the name "huckleberry" is applied to all species. when wild fowl came to the neighborhood. It feet. it was article in their diet." and have 1 There is much confusion as to the names "whortleberry.' Later. although they are half little labor. starved. but are generally a little smaller. The leaf margins are generally smooth. "Blueberry" is applied to the high berry. The Indians feast on on thousands of bushels of this fruit could be gathered It is with careful Indian housewives dry A seen in the dried state at every lodge. All the it. sandy.Late in Low Blueberry 74 woodlands in rather dry. New York. I seem to have a more pleasant and vivid recollection of gathering huckleberries than I have of eating pies and puddings. each boy picking the berries in his cup and then emptying them in his pail. Since writing the foregoing lines. Summers Gingham The muffins repelled me even But holidays and the age then. It is especially common in the Allegheny plateau region of western Pennsylvania and West Virginia where it is called huckleberry. the boys were as full as the pails they proudly carried home. This species is the chief blueberry or huckleberry of my boyhood. It's only the summers they recall of adolescent ease. P. It isn't their taste I like at all. or rocky soil. poetess of New York: We Owing to sentimentality. I came across this sentiment expressed by Margaret Fishback. for branching tree. published and copyrighted by E. and the berries ripen in July and August. Inc. of ten pleasant to munch on now. and what pleasant recollections I have of going berrying! Those who only eat huckleberry pie and puddings in their homes or at hotels and restaurants have missed half the joy connected with these wild fruits. So pass me another anyhow. which was safely hidden beneath a spreading bush or under a lowdid not starve either while gathering them. Dutton & Co.. Blueberry muffins appeal to me. As I look back through the years.. dresses and scrubby knees. With pails and tin cups we sallied forth to the huckleberry patches in woods and open thickets. familiar with cranberries as they appear on the markets or in boxes and barrels in the grocery and vegeand we know the cranberry sauce that is served with the 1 "Flashback" from "I Take It Back" by Margaret Fishback. 1 Are very LARGE OR AMERICAN CRANBERRY Vaccinium macrocarpon Oxycoccus macrocarpus WHILE we are all stalls of the table stores. . It is believed that the Pilgrims learned from the Indians how to prepare the fruit for the table. The cranberries are not eaten as fresh fruit but when stewed with a bountiful supply of sugar they make delicious sauce and jelly. and in winter the areas are flooded. The berries kept so long without decay and were prized so highly by the colonists that. according to the early history of Massachusetts. with alternate." Colonel James Smith. but in cultivation they often become larger. and when well protected by snow often remain on the vines all winter. In lowlands among the sand dunes of Cape Cod. This wild fruit is native in open bogs and marshes from Newfoundland to western Ontario. but in September or October they turn red. Low boggy land with a peat bottom is generally selected. This slender creeping vine grows from six inches to two feet long. I have seen areas of a few square rods. The pale rose-colored nodding flowers are about one-third of an inch across. . Thousands of acres are under cultivation for this purpose. Here too he . any one of which had more than enough wild berries to serve a family. ten barrels of them were shipped across the ocean as a gift to King Charles II. green above and light or whitish beneath. dians at Fort who was captured by the French and Inin Duquesne in 1755. about half an inch long. The majority of the market berries have been obtained by cultivation especially in the Cape Cod district and from south Jersey and Wisconsin. Smith later wrote Ohio and that the In- dians had many apples (wild crab apples) stored up. The oblong or nearly round berries are at first green. and the plants more productive. south to Virginia and Arkansas. They are from two-fifths to three-fourths of an inch long. In early days the entire supply came from wild plants. The history of the cranberry is interesting. yet very few are acquainted with the wild cranberry growing in its native home in the bogs and marshes of northeastern United States. a long journey in slow-moving sailing vessels. divided almost to the base into four petal-like segments. lived with the savages Michigan from that year to 1859.75 American Cranberry Thanksgiving turkey. The word was shortened later to "cranberry. Some of the berries that we see in the markets have been gathered from the wild plants especially in Michigan and Wisconsin. The berries are firm. The colonists called the vine "craneberry" because the blossoms are shaped like the head and neck of a crane. oval. or oblong entire evergreen leaves. Under cultivation the berries are usually larger. branches ascending. It generally grows in peat bogs and low mossy woods but is sometimes found in dry shady soil. may get sweetened and used alone or mixed with other fruit juices. brownish beneath. but when mixed with sugar. alternate. The small. The margins of the leaves are entire and slightly turned under. slender branching vine grows to the length of fifteen to The brownish stems creep close to the ground. The berries are never abundant. south to North Carolina. The crop has increased until it is now over six hundred thousand barrels anof agreeable flavor. Cranberry juice. less than half an inch long. sherbet. and Minnesota. sauce. These gathered by berries were about as large as rifle bullets. the cranberry grower one hundred and fifty bushels to the acre. The leaves lie flat on the ground and seem to be held thete by the rough hairs on the underside. pointed. of a bright red color and though rather too sour of themselves. and pie. and Small. The Creeping Snowberry is found from Labrador to British Columbia. dark glossy green above. With skillful cultivation. but in Maine and also in the upper . The berries may be gathered in August and September. pudding. oval leaves are two-ranked. as in muffins. rounded at the base. Oxy coccus Oxycoccos) of some authors. The small white bell-shaped flowers are solitary in the axils of the leaves. it is claimed. cookies. The pure white oblong berries are borne on small recurved stems. nually. or European. ice tarts. Besides cranberry jelly. cream. had a very agreeable taste." This fruit has been cultivated for a hundred years. is native to northern Europe and Asia and also to the northern part of this country over much the The same area as the larger species except that west of the mountains is it does not extend as far south. is very similar to the smaller in almost every respect. is becoming a popular appetizer.American Cranberry first 76 saw for the time "cranberries which grew in swamps and were the Indians when the swamps were frozen. Cranberry (Vaccinium Oxycoccos. there are many other uses for this fruit. short-petioled. even to the plant The whole CREEPING SNOWBERRY. Both the leaves and the berries have the aroma of wintergreen. even creeping over decayed logs. OR IVORY Chiogenes hispidula PLUM THIS twenty inches. Large Cranberry but fruit. Michigan. it the most ethereal of all our wild stems and leaves when steeped make a refreshing tea for the tired camper. He goes on to say: "We determined to have some tea made of this tonight. Thoreau. nevertheless furnishes Creeping Snowberry many a good meal to hungry birds and fagged (Chiogenes hispidula) pedestrians. uncertain South. and deeply furrowed. the naturalist. Henry D. . pointed. rather thick. OR DATE PLUM Diospyros virginiana Have you ever On Through your travels the queer. thought it quite a discovery and that it might well be dried and sold in the flavor. while camping in Maine years ago.77 peninsula of Michigan f uls I Creeping Snowberry have gathered handof them and enjoyed the delicate wintergreen flavor and slightly acid taste." lied Neltje Blanchan says of this plant: "Alon the one hand to the cranberry. It had a slight checkerberry his and we both agreed that it was really than the black tea which we had brought. sometimes reaching a height of eighty feet and a diameter of twenty inches. The leaves are oval. I consider fruits. so it often found with bogs. better We shops. dark. THE downy when young but later becoming smooth. saying that it made the best tea of anything in the woods. SWEET persimmon is generally a small straight-growing tree. this 'snow-born' berry which appears on no dining table." PERSIMMON. a 'simmon Had Green persimmon Make a sortie on your mouth ? FRANK H. recorded in his journal that his Indian guide returned from a short walk with a plant of this species in The hand. in the cool northern peat and on the other to the delicious blueberries. The bark is hard. solitary. sometimes fewer. or those that contain only stamens. I have known trees in the Ohio valley that bore delicious fruit in early October even before the first frost. are twice as large. with several large flat seeds. It is very Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) astringent after frost." Perhaps the author had the experience of tasting unripe persimmons. The sterile form. regardless of freezing. The persimmon Much Most manuals difference of opinion prevails as to the quality of the fruit. or those with both pistil and stamens. but in one prominent text we read "sweet and sometimes edible after ex- posure to frost. ripe. One writer refers to ripe persimmons as "soft sugar lumps of fruit. cream-colored flowers are of two types. The fruit varies wonderfully as to both size and flavor. and contain eight stamens.Persimmon The 78 petioles are short. especially found from Connecticut to Iowa and Kansas. say that after frost it is sweet and luscious. and the leaves often fall early. when green but sweet and is edible when ripe. south to Florida and Texas. Occasionally a tree is found whose fruit is never palatable. The fourparted. are generally clustered and are about one-fourth of an inch across. The fertile flowers. The tree seems to reach its finest development in the Ohio valley and southwest in Oklahoma. The round orange-colored fruit is when an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. and in these the number of stamens is sixteen." . about one-third of an inch across. nearly black. its branches often resting on the ground. the thin papery calyx becomes greatly enlarged. Its fruit was described as luscious. . The Japanese persimmon. The American persimmon is often seen in the markets of the South. There are two or three species of ground cherries with edible fruits that closely resemble one another and have been much confused by botanists. The Black. Persimmon. is native of southern Texas and northern Mexico. This ground cherry grows from New York and Pennsylvania southwest and south to the tropics. entirely enclosing the globular berry. He says: "Does not the persimmon smack of the wild-wood ? How little of the tamed orchard or trim garden in The town and all that that means is for the moment its sugary pulp forgotten. GROUND CHERRY. Many varieties of it have been developed. The leaves are entire or sometimes slightly lobed. The tree is smaller than the northern species with a smoother gray bark. OR STRAWBERRY TOMATO Physalis pubescens THIS annual plant when mature is about a foot high but spreads widely. yellow with a dark center. William Cullen Bryant." Persimmon bread was often used by the early settlers in regions where this fruit abounds. but very little attention has been given to its cultivation and improvement. some of which are cultivated in the southern United States. especially because in the it is Persimmon persimmon.79 Dr. After blossoming. The entire plant is usually covered with soft short hairs. is the best native fruit of that country. The nodes or joints are generally slightly swollen. It has five closely packed stamens. Diospyros Kaki. It is probably not native in the northern part of its range as it often escapes from cultivation. and you are in touch with Nature while you eat. It that is. Charles C. The custom of mixing ripe persimmons with the meal ! in making cakes was probably learned from the Indians. Abbott glories color and taste. or Mexican. The blossom is between wheel-shape and funnel-form. Diospyros texana. The fruit is about an inch in diameter. the poet. praising its best after all other wild fruits have been gathered. land that has been especially adapts itself to new ground recently cleared and cultivated. greatly admired it and believed that with proper selection it might become a valuable American fruit. I saw a tree in southern Texas that was ten inches in diameter. One author speaks of it as superior to gingerbread. The ground before they are ready to eat . In the afternoon we again filled up on the delicious berries. The calyx remains on the berry. went to the dairy house fruit of this plant has I recall The and got into mischief. four or five cleft. Boxthorn. Bailey when he says: "The dries veloping after cultivation has ceased. The bright red berries are from a third. BOXTHORN Lycium carolinianum THE Lycium. made to improve always been a favorite with the author. and edible. another "edible species. They are generally clustered and more numerous lateral branches. quite thick and fleshy.to a half-inch in diameter. H. For fear of punishment (which as we later learned would not have been inflicted ) we fled to a near-by cornfield. The large purple berry often bursts the is husk. and ate to our satisfaction. The plants are prolific. giv- . but in a often found in cornfields. or Mexican Ground Cherry. The Lycium grows in sandy soil." cherry has probably been in cultivation for a hundred years. The is Tomajillo. an incident that occurred when I was probably seven years old.Ground Cherry The plant is 80 is a rapid grower and week or two the husk and the fruit within turns a golden yellow. purplish. It it found from New York to Texas and California. Sometimes the berries are found for sale in the city markets. L. and I have eaten wonderful pies made from them. the fear of darkness was greater than that of punishment. Physalis ixocarpa. As night came on. but not sticky or glutinous. mostly near the coast. club-shaped or slightly broader above the middle. yet I doubt if any serious attempts have ever been it. It is then very sweet and pleasant. where has escaped from cultivation. which were just at their best. and we went noiselessly back to the house. deberries drop to the plant is worthy a place The ground and fifty in every home garden. The flowers are small. or three feet tall. from South on the Carolina to Florida and Texas. perhaps frightened but not hungry. and the berries will keep for weeks in the husk. One morning my sister and I disobeyed. When noontime came. They are excellent for preserves and sauce. we hunted up ground cherries. The is a spiny spreading shrub from one to alternate leaves are scarcely more than half an inch long. I agree with Dr. slightly oblong. broadly funnel-shaped. OR TWINBERRY Mitchella repens THE Partridge Berry. The twin it takes the two blossoms to form one berry. with four spreading lobes. The small calyx is four-toothed. It is pleasant eating. are ovate or heart- shaped. The corolla consists of a slender tube half an inch long. evergreen plant. The Lycium comes in after all other fruits are past. The bushes are hanging full now (December 1 6th) and I have seen them hanging ripe all winter. sometimes larger. The flowers are white or pinkish and fragrant." are several species of Lycium in Mexico. The flowers occur in pairs. terminal or in the axils of the leaves. correspondent from Texas writes concerning this plant "The berries of the Carolina Lycium have numerous small seeds and not A : much pulp. There New The fruits PARTRIDGE BERRY. too. The opposite. tender blossoms on a single stem . glossy leaves. trailing. occasionally with white veins. It is a slender. This is one of Nature's de- Partridge Berry (Mitchella repens) vices to secure cross-pollination. clinging closely to the ground and taking root at the nodes. the stamens extend beyond the corolla and the pistil is shorter than the tube. and is the only berry or fruit that I know of that has a slightly salty taste. Both the Tomato and the Boxthorn belong to the Potato family. on short petioles. It must mon names have be familiar to a great many people. of practically all of them are eaten by the Indians. and smooth on the edges. but often smaller. In some plants. They are generally about half an inch long. The poet Isaac Bassett Choate has well expressed flowers are so united at the base that this: Made glad with springtime Two fancies pearly white. for a score or more of combeen applied to it. is one of the most beautiful and unique of all our wild flowers. the stamens are short and the pistil extends beyond the flower. or Partridge Vine as it is often called.8i Boxthorn ing it the appearance of a very small tomato. In others. The young stems have greenish bark and very little wood . The bright red berries are edible and hang on the vines all winter. roadsides. Houghton MifHin Company. The broad flat flower clusters are sometimes eight inches across. south to Florida and Texas. about buildings and in out-of-the-way places. it is much larger As a general thing. star-shaped. from Nova Scotia to Manitoba. The Partridge Berry is found from Nova Scotia to Minnesota. In fact. The opposite leaves are pinnately compound with from five to eleven leaflets. the plant with its evergreen leaves is most conspicuous in winter if the ground is free from snow. the bark becomes grayish brown. creamy white and rather pleasantly scented. . John Burroughs. As the shrubs grow larger. 1 Crimson fruit that partridge wins. especially in winter and early spring when they often have trouble to find enough to eat. The blossoms appear in June and July. and the pith smaller. in one of but I like to eat a pleasant and slightly aromatic. almost treelike. The berries are about a quarter of an inch in diameter. The individual flowers are about a quarter of an inch in diameter.Partridge Berry 82 As round bead In their sweet coral fruitage close unite cut from a garnet red. It is especially common in pine forests. but tall. the wood thicker. south to Florida and Texas. twelve feet 1 From "Bird and Bough" by John Burroughs. OR ELDERBERRY Sambucus canadensis is a shrub that grows from five feet to sometimes two or three inches in diameter. AMERICAN OR SWEET THE American Elder ELDER. within is a cylinder of white pith. In the South. speaks of the plant thus : Mitchella with her floral twins. They are never numerous but are They cannot be gathered in quantity. The lower leaflets are often lobed. Special permission of the publishers. almost clasping the stem. rambles through the woods. generally smaller. The petioles are enlarged at the base. the upright stems grow in clusters from a mass of tangled roots. The shrubs are a pleasing sight when in bloom. They are food for wild birds. few on my his poems. often lining fence rows. 8? In late Elderberry summer and early autumn. The fruit is often made into pies. very juicy. Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) They are best when mixed with other fruits. and jams. The Red-Berried Elder. deep purple or nearly black. with three or four rough seeds. sometimes nearly a quarter of an inch in diameter. The Blue-Berried Elder. jellies. It occurs from fornia. Sambucus racemosa. is a tree that is said to reach a height of forty-five feet. north to Utah is to Cali- Montana and Vancouver. Sambucus glauca. The berries are round. but they are not acid enough to be very palatable. but birds seem to enjoy them and often strip the bushes before the American Elder comes in bloom. with its conical clusters of early white flowers is common in mountainous sections of northeastern United States. The fresh flowers are sometimes mixed with batter and baked into cakes. The bright scarlet berries are bitter and unpleasant. The fruit larger than . the bushes are often bent with their load of fruit. OR AMERICAN WAYFARING TREE Viburnum alnifolium Hobblebush is a spreading. The stone has three grooves on one side. That is. Birds are fond of the edible berries and do not always allow them to ripen. and Tanglefoot. The petioles are short. hence the the passer-by catches his foot on a branch he is apt to take a common names of Hobblebush. The tree HOBBLEBUSH. the the calyx is five-toothed. It is sweet and juicy and is much used for pies and jellies. The slightly oblong berry is at first red. Trip-Toe. and Oregon. Like all the other Viburnums. In the dense woods I have not often found it in fruit. Without doubt. is it was an important food of the American Indian.Blue-Berried Elder 84 that of the eastern species. and there are five of the flowers are sterile. but in more exposed situations the shrubs sometimes bear well. Some botanists coo- . later turning to flower clusters are from three to five inches broad. later turning to dark purple. The fertile flowers. red. Iowa. are small. this shrub has opposite leaves. OR PIMBINA Viburnum Opulus THIS handsome shrub is found in to British Columbia. and Tennessee. Some broad and are on long stems. mon in mountainous regions. the veins prominent. and Asia. branching shrub from three to ten feet high. planted for ornament on the Pacific Coast. I find it most comlina. The The is flat leaves become bronze in autumn. These often take root at the ends or nodes. Michigan. in the form of five-pointed stars. nearly round. The Hobblebush CRANBERRY TREE. one on the other. on short stems. The fruit when ripe is sweet and edible. OR HIGH-BUSH CRANBERRY. these are nearly an inch . The white flowers are five-lobed corolla stamens. is native from New Brunswick to North Carowest to Ontario. The grayish purple branches are sometimes almost flat on the ground. bluish black with a whitish bloom. with pointed apex and heart-shaped base. and south to It is also native to northern Europe New America from Newfoundland Jersey. and THE when tumble. In (from three to eight inches across). and the edges of the blades are finely this species they are large saw-toothed. made to produce only sterile forming the well known clusters of the Snowball Bush of lawn and garden. SWEET VIBURNUM.85 sider the Cranberry Tree American shrub only a variety of the European form. OR NANNYBERRY." It is good as that irom the much cultivated for ornament and is a good fully as is shrub for lawn or park. OR WILD RAISIN Viburnum Lentago five feet is a shrub or small tree occasionally twentyhigh with numerous spreading branches. Powell. the entire plant has been flowers. but these rarely touch them until all other wild fruits are gone. and slightly bitter. three-veined and three-lobed. The fruit is nearly round or slightly oval. real cranberry. nearly circular. The base is THE Sweet Viburnum rounded. P. The white flowers are small and numerous. By selection. The sessile flower clusters are from two to four inches broad. says "The fruit is very makes excellent jelly. which are used as a substitute for the cranberry. very sour. the apex long-pointed. The leaves are from two to four inches long and about half as wide. The petioles. The Cranberry Tree the parent of the cultivated Snowball. This shrub has a more northern range than the Cranberry Tree. The marginal blos- soms. about a third of an inch in diameter. and the margins close-set with small sharp teeth. The bright red berries hang on the bushes all winter. are sterile. The shrubs bloom in May or June. but some seasons not until July. which distinguishes this from other viburnums. The fruits are oblong or ovoid. They are eaten by our winter birds. which are nearly an inch long. The fertile flowers are much smaller. making the bushes beautiful in bloom. with broad flat lobes nearly an inch in diameter. are wingmargined. A much also produces sour red berries smaller but very similar shrub. E. The stone is flat. The lobes and coarse teeth are pointed. In many places the fruit cranberries. It generally grows six to ten feet high with quite erect grayish branches. The . Viburnum pauciflorum. bluish black with a bloom. in his volume is used as a substitute for it Garden. The opposite leaves are about as broad as long. not grooved. and a sauce : The Orchard and Fruit seldom used by human beings but . The white flower clusters are three or four inches across. It is said that they were an important food of the Indians. no serious attempt has been made to improve the fruit. Haw generally grows in dry soil on hillsides. Michigan. narrowed at the base. the edges finely saw-toothed. The fruit of the Black Haw was a favorite with the writer and The Black his around. later changing to blue-black with a bloom. is Viburnum and cassinoides. as the specific name suggests. and those we visited every . somewhat juicy. It grows wild from Quebec to Hudson Bay and Manitoba. fruits. and in the mountains as far as Georgia. It prefers a rich but moist soil. much little the size and shape of that of the last species. open along fences and roadsides. pulpy. very sweet. OR STAGBUSH Viburnum pruni folium THIS is a shrub or small tree in many respects quite similar to the preceding species. perhaps a smaller. So far as I am aware. generally only an inch or two long. The fruit It is becomes bright red. The fruits vary greatly in size and quality. In some respects they resemble those of the plum tree. south to Georgia has sweet edible Kentucky. and Kansas. The Withe-Rod. south to New Jersey. but only as a decorative shrub. Some bore large pulpy We knew all the bushes for a mile fruits. It sometimes called False Paraguay grows from Newfoundland to Manitoba. but the leaves are very different. but they did not dry them for winter use. BLACK HAW. Its dried also has bluish black fruits that are sweet edible. obtuse or rather blunt-pointed. The Sweet Viburnum appears in many catalogues of nurserymen. and Kansas.Sweet Viburnum stones are circular or oval 86 and flat. thickets. Sometimes they are half an inch long. and pleasant to the taste. leaves have been used for tea. It and Alabama. or Appalachian Tea. The fruit is ripe in September and October. south to Florida The Larger Withe Rod. The white flower clusters are from two to four inches broad and appear as the leaves are unfolding. which is worthy of the best efforts of the horticulturist. It Tea. It is native from Connecticut. grows from Connecticut to and Texas. Occasionally it may be found in moist situations. Indiana. companions during boyhood. south to Georgia and Texas. Viburnum nudum. Those of the Black Haw are much smaller. but to eat fresh out of doors. One touched by the frost. she considered black haws the best. It was almost the dimensions of a tree and bore fruit in abundance the finest to be found in the neighborhood. I also find it stated that they are good to eat if one is very hungry. Many wild Every year fruits are easier and more graceful to eat. we frequently put some in our pockets to nibble at on our way back to school. we frequently visited a large spreading bush that grew along an old rail fence. of all the wild fruits of her acquaintance. best. The black haw is more appreciated in and west of the mountains than it is east of them." But frost author states that the berries "become edible after being is not necessary.87 year. After eating all the berries we wished. Black During the long noon hour at school. An intelligent woman from West Virginia told the writer recently that. That author probably never I ate black haws at their take rambles in quest of black haws and enjoy them now apparently with the same relish as in the days of my youth. in Haw October and Novem- ber or even later in the season. . not as a dessert in the home. I do not recall any other wild fruit that I enjoy more. In the southern Black Haw (Viburnum prunifolium) part of their range they are often ripe and sweet long before the first frost appears. Oklahoma. or Jacob's Ladder. Washingtonia filifera. copyright special permission of the publishers. The Bobbs- Merrill Company. The black oval berries are scarcely more than a quarter of an inch long. Fan Palm. with pulp rather thin. Oregon Grape. Growing around the north and west sides of the Colorado Desert in southern Cali- we find colonies of the native fan palm. False Solomon's-Seal. and Arizona.Black Haw Whitcomb 83 from the bush. ranges from New Brunswick to Manitoba. and nibbled at * ! ADDITIONAL SPECIES OF EDIBLE BERRIES CALIFORNIA Juniper. 1890. The Indians ate the fleshy pulp. then ground the seeds into a meal which Dr. Smilacina racemosa. resembling small grapes. What Than Dainty-toothed. Several clusters of fruit develop weighing about ten pounds each. aromatic berries are sometimes eaten. and other species of western junipers have berries that are often eaten by the Indians. They are From "Rhymes 1918. is sweeter. and the dark blue berries 1 form in clusters. Sometimes the California fornia fruits are ground and made into cakes. Juniperus occidentalis. Used by of Childhood" by James Whitcomb Riley. They are ripe in autumn. The False Solomon Seal is found from Nova The Scotia to British Columbia. Palmer thought as good as coconut. In his sweetest roundelay. Vagnera racemosa. in early Fall ? Fruit so sweet the frost first sat. Smilax herbacea. after all. Berberis aquifolium. and usually the taller ones have all the lower leaves burned off so that the native Indians could better climb up to the fruit. The blue-black berries were eaten by Omaha Indians for their pleasant flavor. Missouri. This is well Riley in his lines : just as they are gathered are sweeter than the sweet put by the poet James Ah ! will any minstrel say. Certainly no wild fruits viburnum and the black haw. . seeds quite large. Odostemon aquifolium. south to Georgia. The leaves are evergreen. Carrion Flower. Some reach a height of sixty to seventy feet. Other species of smilax have agreeable berries from which They are ripe in autumn and winter. is found from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast and is the floral emblem of Oregon. south to Florida and possibly jellies could be made. or False Spikenard. black haws. or Toyon. which are quite like the European species. and are used for making jellies" (Wooton and Standley). Bunchberry. Its large clusters of bright red fruits are used for making American species. New- foundland to Alaska. native of Europe and Asia. or Tupelo. Nyssa multiflora. is now found in America in thickets. Odostemon haematocarpus. They Giant Cactus. pleasantly acid to the taste. Mountain Ash or Rowan Tree. Tennessee. to Colorado and California. or Suwarro. has beautiful clusters of bright red fruit. Nyssa sylvatica. Sorbus Aucuparia. or Pepperidge. The them raw or roasted. could probably be used for the same purpose. Berries are ripe in late summer. or Black Gum. Preserves are made from this species. Photinia ar- marmalade in Scotland.89 eaten and used for ripen in Edible Berries jellies. Cereus giganteus. also a crude form of molasses. The berries are gathered and sold in Norway. According to G. The hips of the Sweetbrier and those of native species are sometimes used for making jelly. or Dwarf Cornel. They are ripe in autumn. Red-Fruited Barberry. Sour Gum. This tree grows from Maine to Michigan. B. they are sometimes made into puddings. but to me they are somewhat insipid or tasteless. Emerson. The acid fruits are greedily eaten by birds. I find this species abundant in the higher Catskill Mountains. and in canons from northern Cali- berries are prized by the Indians. south to New Jersey. This beautiful evergreen shrub found growing on the lower mountain slopes. or California Holly. The scarlet fruits of the Bunchberry are edible. The fruits of the butifolia. The hips of the native wild roses were often eaten by the Indians. Sweetbrier. The European Mountain Ash is much planted in this country and sometimes escapes. and Kansas. Berberis haematocarpa. old fields. It is usually found in lowlands. and it is claimed that they are sometimes used for preserves. south to Virginia. south to Florida and Texas. is native of New Mexico and Arizona. and along roadsides from Nova Scotia to Ontario. The berries autumn. Rosa rubiginosa. Said to have been eaten by the Indians. also for making a beverage. Sorbus americana and Sorbus scopulina. Like many other species of cacti the red or purple fruits of the Giant Cactus of Arizona are edible. foothills. who eat cling to the bushes well into winter. Christmas Berry. fornia to Mexico. Cornus canadensis. West Virginia. Chamaepericlymenum canadense. "The berries are bright blood red. . or Wild Olive. They are larger than those of our eastern wintergreen but the less aromatic. They are used for making a preserve. which have an agreeable acid taste. Arctostaphylos patula: "The ripen- ing berries are pleasingly acid. . but I should not be surprised if jelly could be made from it. Nyssa aquatica. south to Florida and Texas." Dr. H. The Western Wintergreen. are sold in the Savannah markets under the name of Ogeechee Lime. which are much esteemed by the Indians. Twinberry or Honeysuckle. This and other species of Manzanita. It is found from New Jersey to Missouri and California. Uva-Ursi Vva-Ursi. are dried and eaten in winter. The familiar Bearberry Arctostaphylos. Dr. is a Pacific Coast species from British Columbia to central California. Lonicera involucrata. according to Browne. The dark blue fruits when ripe are about an inch long and. M. north. the taste being similar to that of green apples. the jelly. Arctostaphylos Manzanita." The name Manzanita is Spanish for "little apple.Edible Berries 90 The Large Tupelo grows Large Tupelo. common to the mountains of the Pacific Coast. Hall again writes of the fruit of a similar Green Manzanita. bear red berries that are in demand for making jelly." The Indians also use the berries for making cider. It is quite dry and insipid. are much prized by summer campers who utilize them in making a manzanita species. a shrub of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range. Nyssa uniflora. has dark purple berries that are eaten by the Indians and considered good by hunters and miners. I have gathered Manzanita berries in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and have found them agreeable but somewhat dry or mealy. has fruit similar to that of the Manzanita. The fruits. Hall says of this species: "The berries. in swampy regions from Virginia to Missouri. The manzanitas are closely related to the blueberries of the East. Uva-Ursi. Gaultheria shallon. Manzanita. They are curved. The short stiff leaves are generally two in a group. by selection.000 to 7. The largest group. and make great use of them. at least in temperate latitudes. can show so many species. I truly pity the boy or girl never had the opportunity and privilege of going nutting. It is doubtful variety of edible nuts. Others have excellent possibilities. The gathering of nuts has always been a pleasing recreation for young people. They have the nut pines (pinons). Some of our species. OR PINON Pinus edulis THIS is a small pine tree inhabiting the dryer mountainous regions from Colorado south and west into Mexico at altitudes of 5. and that of the black walnut is probably the most valuable. It would have been a blessing to the Indians had more grown in the West. G. light brown and glossy. where it reaches a height of thirty to thirty-five and a diameter of one to two feet. found on no other continent. who has ROCKY MOUNTAIN NUT PINE.000 feet. three-fourths of an inch to an inch and a half long.EDIBLE NUTS And close at hand. the spreading branches often reaching to the ground. Probably nothing else has induced so many boys and girls to go to the woods in autumn at the time of the change of leaf. have been greatly improved and now to some extent are cultivated. J. the basket stood With nuts from brown October's wood. 91 They mature the second sea- . sometimes three. The majority of our nut-bearing trees and shrubs are native of the East. The cones are often a little wider than long. or about an inch and a half high. The wood of some of the hickories is the hardest and strongest produced in this country. however. the hickories. the Unites States is if any other country. when they are most beautiful. WHITTIER IN the number and doubly is blest. It is probably at its best in New Mexico. The trunk feet in is some very short. cases. They mature the second season. mand.Rocky Mountain Nut Pine son. Arizona. The thick scales are slightly four-angled. is generally spreading and often round-topped. are very palatable. The eastern markets." The One-Leaved Nut Pine or Pinon. is is easily distinguished by a very similar tree growing in like situations. com- They mon in the dry mountain regions of Utah. somewhat pointed. This pine is a very important source of food of the Indians and Mexicans. 92 seeds are about half The scales are few and very thick. or very slightly flattened. The an inch long. Pinus monophylla. Leaved Nut Pine seeds of the nut pines are sold by the bushels even in the They are sweet and pleasant and are in great deI have watched the Indians gathering them from the One- in the desert ranges of southern California where they are not only an important food but the chief money crop or . The short narrow wings remain with the cone when the seeds drop. especially after having been roasted. having a sweet flavor. It some- times reaches a height of forty feet. but having only one leaf at a place. and One-Leaved Nut Pine (Pinus monophylla) California. Nevada. with short wings which remain with the cone when the seeds fall. nearly as thick as wide. The cones are similar to those of the Rocky Mountain Nut Pine but are larger two or more inches high and about as wide. The thick seeds are a little more than half an inch long. Wooton and Standley in their Flora of New Mexico say: "Large quantities of the seeds are gathered every year to be eaten. stones. When hard pressed for food. autumn before the snow falls. A fire of damp . the embers are removed. is another nut pine that grows in the semidesert region of southern California and Lower California. Nut The Parry Pine. then baked in cakes or cooked as gruel. The seeds of the nut pines are gathered by the pack rat and placed on a pile at the bottom of its conical nest. The nut harvest is in is the most important tree of the Great Basin region and that the nut pine crop of Nevada. but the tree is distinguished by having four leaves to the fascicle. it is claimed that an industrious Indian family can gather fifty bushels in one month. which grows along the coast from Alaska to northern California. Pinus quadrifolia. Pinus contorta. The and anything that the rat can carry that attracts its attenpine nuts ripen and fall to the ground in autumn and are stored by the rats apparently for their supply of winter food. and the cakes packed in with leaves of the Western Skunk Cabbage between. Pinus sabiniana. These nests. When the stones are hot. are gathered and eaten by the Indians. I One-Leaved Nut Ping have had the Indians roast them for me in their campfires so that I could eat them under various conditions. in good years. and a fire kindled. the seeds of some of the other western pines. are built of sticks. The nuts and cones are almost exactly like those of the one-leaved species. Rogers says of this species : The Indians cut the trees down and strip out the inner bark. The Indians tear the nests apart and frequently get a quart or more of pinon nuts from each nest. John Muir thinks that this of gathered. I found nearly every rat's nest pulled apart or turned over for the pine nuts. where both the Rocky Mountain Pines and pack rats are quite abundant. often two or three feet high. they also make use of the inner bark of two or three species of pines. is greater than the wheat crop of California but very little . especially the Digger Pine. New Mexico. This is broken into pieces by the patient squaws who mash it in water into a pulp which they mold into large cakes. Julia E. When food is scarce. In seasons when the pine trees are fruitful. pieces of tion. The Shore or Scrub Pine. In the scattered woodlands east of Santa Fe. or Four-Leaved Pine. Then a hole is dug in the ground and lined with stones. it is cactus. is one of these. The seeds of the nut pines take the place of wheat for the Indians of the southwestern mountains.93 article of trade. They roasted. but as a general thing the nuts are often eat them raw or pounded or ground into meal. Now they are ready to be put away for future use or to carry in canoes or on ponies to distant places. in clearing the land. common on hillsides and rich bottom lands but . BLACK WALNUT Juglans nigra THIS sota and stately forest tree ranges from Massachusetts to MinneNebraska. often allowed the Black Walnut to grow in the fields now we and about their homes. In becoming scarce on account of being cut valuable wood. . It does best in a rich loamy soil and is often seen along fences. This "hard bread" is prepared for use by breaking it in pieces and boiling them until soft. is many for its places this tree and some were probably planted. The pieces are skimmed out and laid on the snow to cool. it was origi- Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) nally a forest tree. "Ulikou" fat is used on this strange Alaskan bread as we use butter. and the borders of woods.Scrub Pine moss is 94 on top. south to Florida and Texas. rarely see it in the dense woods. The pioneer farmers. Of course. Squirrels and other animals buried the nuts along fences where young trees appear. and the baking takes an hour or more. Then the cakes are laid on slat frames and smoked for a week in a close built tent. roadsides. Our fingers were stained a dark brown the skin almost tanned. presumably the parent of all the others in the immediate neighborhood. and many are sold in the markets. I have not verified this by experiment. it develops large branches and is wide-spreading. very hard or bony. the nuts on the branches were excellent tarfor our marksmanship. the walnut may reach an extreme of nearly a hundred feet and a trunk diameter of six feet. they were getting ready to grow . The American Indians an aromatic odor and them as an article of food. and an inch and a quarter to nearly two those of the butternut. With all the washing with soap and water. rough. an inch and a half to nearly three inches in diameter. The fanner owning the land always left the nuts for the boys. tried the nuts but then after being moist all winter. The nut within is dark. The husk does not split open like that of the hickory nut. height In the open. yellowish green. nut-bearing trees. roughly dotted. four-celled kernel has a pleasant but strong taste and is quite oily. edible. we often congregated to eat walnuts or shuck them to take home. In the adjoining field. The husk has sometimes used for dyeing and tanning. nearly round. also resemble compound The fruit is nearly round. The sweet. Here during the noon hour of pleasant autumn days. we could not remove the color and our fingers carried the telltale stains for a week or two. The Black Walnut is one of the most important of our native inches in diameter. The writer recalls that three quite large trees stood along the fence that enclosed the grounds of the school he attended when a lad. They were gathered and carried home by the boys who did not naturally fall heir to such articles of diet. I am informed by a friend that even the nuts of the Bitter-Fruited Hickory lose their bitterness. When we returned to school in gets autumn. a few rods from the fence. which appear with the leaves. The The leaves are very similar to those of the butternut. The mere name of Black Walnut brings pleasant recollections to the minds of many grown folks who spent their youth in the made great use of is country. or most of it. The ground was often nearly covered by the unhulled nuts.95 Under Black Walnut favorable conditions. stood a great spreading walnut tree. Large quantities of the nuts are gathered for home use. But what a good time we had Some! times in the spring we with rain and snow and had a peculiar sweet taste. after being buried or left out for a winter. staminate catkins. only slightly compressed. The bark large is dark brown with prominent ridges and deep furrows. The trees gave us exercise in climbing. Juglans californica. OR OIL NUT Juglans cinerea ALMOST every country boy living within its range is familiar with the Butternut tree. is grafted on its roots so that it can be grown farther north. thin-shelled. and in mountainous regions south to Georgia and Mississippi. OR WHITE WALNUT. and Butternut (Juglans cinerea) on west to Dakota. Juglans rupestris. Another species. and sweet. In fields and open spaces it rarely grows more than fifty or sixty feet high with a few wide-spreading branches. It probably reaches its greatest development in the upper Ohio valley and along the Allegheny plateau. It may be found from New Brunswick to Delaware. is a beautiful tree growing along the west coast. Juglans kindsii. often near streams. which grows along canons and streams of the Southwest. In woods it often grows tall and more slender. It grows best in a rich loamy soil. has small thick-shelled nuts much esteemed by the Mexicans and Indians. Juglans regia. BUTTERNUT. is found about old Indian camp sites in central California. The California Walnut.Black Walnut 96 The Texas Walnut. The trunk some- . Kansas. and Arkansas. The nuts are small. The Persian or English Walnut. They are three to five The pistillate flowers appear in a short spike. clammy. nuts generally occur in clusters of two to five. to seventeen leaflets. Some writers state that they soon be- come rancid. two or three inches long. In her splendid book on trees. sugar. like than half as thick. When a boy. they should be good for nearly a year." which are a delectable relish with meats in winter. it is not too late to make "pickled oil-nuts. has numerous sticky hairs is and a pungent but not ridged and deeply furrowed. The staminate catkins appear in May when inches long. like most nuts.97 Butternut times reaches a diameter of two or three feet. and spices. Each leaf composed of eleven The leaflets are three to five inches long. The nut is hard and bony but the kernel is quite unpleasant odor. sharp-pointed. They were then stored in boxes or barrels and we had no trouble to keep them all through the winter. but they are not prominent. where butternuts and black walnuts often gathered large quantities were exceptionally abundant. the young nuts are often pickled. and a little more thin husk covers the outside which. When soft and green. It is sweet and delicious but. Rogers writes : or tan-colored dye even as late as the Civil brown The frugal housewife in the country looks with interest upon the butternut when it is half grown when the pale green. blunt-pointed. The alternate compound is leaves are fifteen to twenty-five inches long. They are oblong. The sap of the butternut tree is sweet and to that of the is sometimes added maple for making sugar or syrup. surrounded by its umbrella of leaves. the leaves are about half developed. They are much gathered for home use and are often sold in the markets. . the whole surface being very rough. The A the young twigs. The husks of the nuts and the inner bark contain a rich . It has four ribs. unequally rounded at the base and with saw-toothed edges. The bark is light gray with shallow furrows and broad flat ridges. We of the former and placed them on the barn floor until thoroughly dry. If kept in a cool dry place. The unpleasant part of this process is the rubbing off of the "fur" after scalding the nuts. The nut itself easy to separate from the shell. is oily. which was used by the early settlers War it was used in dyeing the uniforms of some of the regiments. fuzzy fruit hangs in clusters. I believe this is only partially true. This task usually falls to the children. I lived in the upper Ohio valley. The husks and all are put down in vinegar. If a knitting needle goes through husk and nut without hindrance. Julia E. are slightly curved The staminate catkins are five or six inches long. The ories. fifteen leaflets which taper gradually. the husk thin.Pecan Nut 98 PECAN NUT Carya illinoensis Hicoria Pecan Pecan tree grows to be the largest of all our hickories. bark of the pecan tree is smoother than that of most hickbut it is moderately rough with furrows and brown ridges. Unlike the other species of the genus. thin-shelled and pointed. The pecan is native from . The fruit is oblong or olive-shaped. As in all the other hickories. the wood is said to be reaches its THE somewhat brittle. with saw-tooth edges. The oblong nut is smooth. the stamens and pistils are in separate blossoms but on the same tree. The fertile flowers are two to five in a cluster. It highest development in the lowlands and river bottoms of the lower Mississippi valley where it sometimes attains a height of one hundred and fifty feet and a trunk diameter of four or five feet. splitting in four pieces. several in a cluster. The seeds are delicious perhaps the best of all our hickories. Pecan Nut (Carya illinoensis) The buds are small and the scales few. The leaves have eleven to and longpointed. The a large stately tree. the two lower ones generally sile much smaller than the others. which has a short stalk. staminate catkins are three in a group. water was added and the process continued. Because of their color. By selection. The leaflets are ses- The except the end one. strong. ance. each about four inches long. large. The white nuts vary greatly in size and shape. If the demand for these nuts increases. and large pecan orchards are being planted in the South. splitting in thin narrow is The and ica. agricultural implesaid to be the best firewood obtainable in Amer- much The leaves have five. and slightly aromatic. SHAGBARK OR SHELLBARK HICKORY Carya ovata Hicoria ovata "HICKORY" is an Indian word said to be derived from the name of a liquor made by pounding the kernels and shells of these nuts for a long time in a mortar. nearly as wide. many improved varieties have been developed. The gray bark. has a loose. Iowa. vary greatly in size but average about two inches in diameter. the branches are rather short. until a milky or oily liquor was produced which they Shellbark Hickory is called pawcohiccora. pleasant. leaflets. It is planted farther east in the Gulf states. etc. often reaching a height of one hundred feet and a diameter of three feet or more. the nuts are known in some parts . and Kansas south to Alabama and Texas. four-angled or ridged and tipped with a point. their cultivation will prove to be an important horticultural industry. two-celled above. nearly round or slightly oblong. very hard. ments. Unless the tree grows in the open. slightly compressed. but cling tightly at the middle.99 Pecan Nut southern Indiana. where they are in great demand. Large quantities of the nuts are gathered and kept for use or sold in the markets. straight-grained. The thick husk splits freely into four pieces. They are generally about an inch long. After they were finely powdered. rarely seven. which is very hard. shaggy appear- strips or plates which separate from the trunk generally at both ends. especially in the cities and towns of the North. sweet. heavy. The shell is hard but quite thin. The kernel is four-celled at the base. light brown wood and It is is elastic. used for ax handles. The fruits. I have helped to gather a bushel of excellent nuts from one tree. It probably reaches its development in the Ohio valley. According to early explorers.Shagbark Hickory 100 ale's Paper Shell Hickory nut. the Indians made great use of in them for food. rarely produces more than enough for the squirrels. gathering rich soil from New them by the bushels. of the country as white walnuts. These trees generally grow alone in fields. or on the borders of woods where their branches reach far out into the sunshine. a few trees are famous for the abundance or the excellent qualities of their nuts. The tree is found England and southern Canada west to Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) Minnesota and south finest to Florida and Texas. In almost every neighborhood where the Shagbark grows. . said to have been discovered in New Jersey. in the open. The shagbark hickory is believed by some to be our most impor- tant native nut. Large quantities are gathered and sold in the markets. surrounded by A dense forest growth. is an important horti- H cultural variety. Other varieties of this species have been devel- oped. Shagbark growing in the woods. The largest one is more than two inches long and about an inch and a half wide. slightly ribbed above the middle. The large leaves have seven or nine leaflets. The cluster fruit is large for a hickory. the third one is an orange-brown. The twigs and buds are orange-yellow splits in The characteristic. and south to Tennessee and Oklahoma. It is too bad that it . The staminate flowers are three in a the pistillate flowers. and are now becoming common in our eastern markets. taken from as many different trees. is not so shaggy heavy straight-grained wood is strong and elastic. The large whitish or yellowish nuts are oblong. pointed at both ends. The narrow plates but in general gray bark as in the last species. OR KING NUT Carya laciniosa Hicoria laciniosa THIS bark. The thick husk is four-valved. the nuts of this species vary greatly in size and appearance. sometimes tardily splitting near the base. The nuts were big (probably two inches long) and shaped much like a large English walnut. At flood time the water was often several feet deep around the tree. Two of them are of a very light brown color. This was the most at school. what downy beneath. the kernel sweet and of fine flavor. pocketful of these nuts supplied trading material for a Eight or ten nuts were worth a worn-out pen-knife. two or three inches long. A famous nut tree for miles around and was probably a hybrid between the Big and the Common Shagbark. I have three of these nuts before me as I write. The bony shell is thick and hard. some. The Big Shellbark grows in rich soil generally in lowlands along streams from New York and Pennsylvania west to Iowa and Kansas. oblong. angled or ridged. two to five in a short spike. day and three or four would purchase a lead pencil. Like all hickories. I recall a tree of the Big Shagbark that stood on the bank of the often seen in the markets of our Youghiogheny River in western Pennsylvania.toi King Nut BIG SHELLBARK. compressed. and can be put to the same uses as that of the last a distinguishing species. The smallest one is slightly less than two inches long. The shell was thin and the kernel large and sweet. The nuts are Middle West cities. It tree in is many respects is very similar to the common Shellmuch the same in size and general appearance. nearly white. which are slightly downy. especially the terminal one. The trees vary greatly as to appearance: in some the Mockernut (Carya alba) branches are upright. which is heavy. in great demand for the manufacture of farm machinwinter buds.King Nut ter of a mile 102 away. but they bore the large thick-shelled. Several other Big Shagbarks grew a quarall pointed nuts. hence the name Big-Bud Hickory sometimes applied to this tree. The heartwood is brown. The fragrant leaves have seven or and tough. are very large. OR WHITE-HEART HICKORY. The . in others. The dark gray bark is close and rough. ery. hard. MOCKERNUT. with a trunk diameter of two or three feet. OR BULLNUT Carya alba Hicoria alba White-Heart Hickory or Mockernut grows to be a large sometimes nearly a hundred feet high. sharp- was never propagated. the sapwood. never tree. they may be spreading or slightly drooping. THE shaggy. strong. and much of the trunk is sapwood. In that region. Is The fruit oval or pear-shaped. of excellent quality. this is generally the tallest tree. These nuts are sold in the markets. possession are each an inch and a half long) and the kernel. It is about the only hickory common to the South Atlantic plain. quite round. sometimes the valves are united near the base. The dark green leaves have from five to seven leaflets. The husk is thick. This hickory grows from eastern Massachusetts to southern Ontario and Nebraska. more than do our other PIGNUT HICKORY. either separately or mixed with other nuts. species. OR BROOM HICKORY Carya glabra Hicoria glabra IN the hardwood forests of western Pennsylvania and the Ohio valley. It reaches its highest development in the middle states. south to Florida and Texas. machinery. but little compressed. nearly smooth.103 nine leaflets. The nuts are nearly smooth. grayish or brownish. . where rich uplands. fourvalved. The husk is thin. The gray bark on large trees ridges. I recall one tree that stood on our old home farm in western Penns\ Ivania. Mockernut which are usually widest above the middle and have fine-toothed edges. not thick. frequently raising its head a few feet higher than its neighbors. is close with shallow fur- rows and narrow The wood much used for handles and farm hard. but frequently less and sometimes much longer. It is so tough that is the early settlers used it for making wooden brooms. strong. . slightly compressed. Some years we gathered half a bushel of nuts from this tree and enjoyed them. and elastic. slightly angled toward the summit. They are generally about an inch long. The nut is nearly smooth. I have gathered for comparison many nuts from dozens of trees in different parts of the country and have found the greatest variation. with a very hard shell and a small but sweet kernel. splitting only halfway. this species seems at its best with a straight trunk often three feet or more in diameter. generally splitting to the base. The fruit is round or slightly oblong. The nuts that it bore were large (a few of the nuts still in my the shell. it thrives best on My observations lead me to believe that the Mockernut varies This is especially noticeable in the nuts. and have yet to find a really bitter nut. The Pignut grows in rich soil. The kernel is rather small and sweet or only slightly Opinions vary concerning the edible qualities of these nuts. I have occasionally met with forms of Hicoria glabra with fruit that was decidedly bitter. the author of one of the best tree books tells how the early settlers gathered the shagbarks but left the pignuts on the ground because "the insipid Of meats were distasteful to human palates fit only for pigs. In his reply Dr. flavor. Some are slightly astringent and leave a faint bitter taste in the mouth.*' I have tested the nuts of this species at many places in its range. with bark somewhat shaggy in old trees." In some being quite astringent and others of pleasant explaining how this tree probably acquired its name. both east and west.Pignut Hickory 104 variable in size but quite constant in shape. The facts are that large amounts of this nut find their way into market. The shell is sometimes heavy. The nuts are small. The Small-Fruited Hickory. but usually only of average thickness. generally about an inch long. and called his attention to the various opinions concerning their edible qualities. as The sweet flesh of this fruit for the most part edible and often quite Hicoria ovata [the Shellbark]. then Chief of Dendrology in the Forest Service at Washknowing that he was an especially keen student of the hickories. south to Florida and Texas. is another edible species. Romeyn B. bitter. generally on uplands. Hough in his Handbook of Trees We says of the Pignut. they are not as good as the shellbarks. Carya microcarpa. not edible. Sudworth. Carya cordiformis. I were scarce and seem . must not confuse this species but they are generally pleasant. Apparently it is never plentiful enough to be important. but I think this form is rare. I once sent some nuts of this species to the late Dr." course. whose seeds are very bitter indeed. "The nuts are extremely variable in quality. south to Virginia and Missouri. Sudworth comments as follows : What as that of is said about the is flesh being bitter is exceptional. with the Bitter Hickory. have known boys to gather them by the peck when other nuts to enjoy them. from Maine and southern Ontario west to Minnesota. who was ington. and the seeds very sweet and pleasant. Dr. George B. It is found from Massachusetts to Michigan. but the meats are not insipid and can generally be eaten with pleasure. One high authority says: "Seeds astringent and bitter. which closely refilbert. they are three or four inches long and move with the wind. borders of woods. . simple leaves. on short petioles. The young twigs and shoots are brown. densely covered with rough pinkish hairs. The nut is partly or nearly enclosed in a downy involucre composed of two leaflike bracts. It grows in largespreading clumps. The slender. sharp-pointed with toothed edges. the seeds are sweet. are ovate or broadly oval. When mature. rounded or heart-shaped at the base.105 Other states. south to Florida and Kansas. common in open thickets. This new growth later becomes Hazelnut (Corylus americana) Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus rostrata) smooth. is sembles the European one-half to three-fourths inch long. It blooms in March or April before the leaves appear. Hickory Trees edible hickories have been described is from the southern It difficult to give their if The reader need not hesitate distinguishing characteristics. OR FILBERT Corylus americana THIS much-branched shrub. along fences and roadsides. HAZELNUT. fringed on the margin. staminate catkins usually occur singly in the axils of last year's leaves. The fertile flowers are in scaly buds near the ends of the branches. the stems or branches reaching a height of four to seven feet. The brown nut. is native from Maine to Saskatchewan. The alternate. south especially in the mountains to Georgia. The young twigs and foliage are The most the striking characteristic of this species is the shape of two bracts that enclose the nut. with a broad. It is one of our finest nuts and. 106 about as broad. and if any difference. the Hazel bush grows at the right height for him. BEAKED ITAZELNUT Corylus rostrata THE Nova Beaked Hazelnut is a more northern species. growing from three to less hairy. . little smaller. The nuts are sweet and pleasant. and the outside is hairs. The chip- munk is especially fond of them. and are almost exactly like those of the common every Hazelnut. A friend recently sent this species. and a variety of it is found in the mountains of California. The until late in the nuts are generally ripe in August but remain on the bushes autumn if not removed by animals. but the nuts are larger. Kansas. sweet. and as this little squirrel cannot climb tall trees.Hazelnut sometimes a light less. I have collected them from Maine and northern in way New York to southern trifle seem a Pennsylvania. flat base. and slightly compressed. might rival the European filbert. The nuts from the California variety of tubular husks are similar to those of the eastern me some form. the dark brown and the part often presents a velvety appearance. The tube covered with short stiff beak has been compared to a longfringed at the end. It has brown base where it is attached to the involucre. The shell is thin. The hazelnut makes up in quality what it lacks in size. They form a tubular beak about an inch and a this is are so united that they half long with the nut at the bottom. the nuts smaller than those of the common Hazelnut. and Oregon . slightly heart-shaped. apex-pointed. In shape necked bottle. Tennessee. The leaves are narrowly oval. It is very similar to the preceding species but a six feet high. It is certainly equal to the latter species in quality. irregularly saw-toothed on the margins. seed. if carefully cultivated and selected. some measuring three-fourths of an inch in diameter and nearly as high. ranging from Scotia to British Columbia. The trees generally have to be large before they bear. On boys and girls rarely take the trouble to gather beechnuts. . straight-veined. Squirrels and bluejays are very fond of them. They are not bulky. account of the small kernel. They are nearly twice as long as they are broad. The bur turns brown in autumn. The sterile and fertile blossoms are in separate flower clusters but on the same tree. south to Florida and Texas. especially in Canada. The wood is hard and strong. somewhat concave. The fertile blossoms appear in the axils of the upper leaves and mature into a bur about an inch long. with a papery texture. The American Beech grows in rich soil on both high and low lands from Nova Scotia and southern Canada to Minnesota. The nuts are sometimes gathered in the North. In the central and southern states often not one tree in a dozen bears nuts. divides into four valves exposing the two brown. The nuts are about half an inch long. The petioles are from a quarter-inch to a half-inch long. The nuts are larger and more numerous in the northern part of its range. and there is but little waste. coarsely toothed. AMERICAN BEECH Fagus grandifolia Fagus americana. the lower ones generally horizontal or sometimes drooping. triangular nuts or seeds. The ovate-oblong leaves are alternate on the twigs. and the kernel is small but very sweet and nutritious. Fagus ferruglnea THE American Beech is a large forest tree with round head and wide-spreading branches. used for planes. The smooth bark is light gray. the lowly Hazel bushes by the roadside are apt to be overlooked . are easily cracked. The flowers appear when the leaves are about one-third grown. but the nuts are well worth gathering. and sold in the markets of northern cities. covered with soft recurved prickles. and woodenware. close-grained. shoe lasts.Beaked Hazelnut When boys and girls go nutting in the autumn. with a tapering base and pointed apex. often blotched. The staminate flowers are arranged in balls that hang on long stems. American Chestnut 108 AMERICAN CHESTNUT. prickly or spiny. It turns yellowish brown on ripening. its store disclosing. wild with joy. the flowers appearing in the latter part of June or early in July. from six inches to nearly a foot long. from two to three inches in diameter. The petioles THIS large forest tree to American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) are rarely an inch long. The bur formed from the pistillate flowers is green. The alternate leaves are oblong lanceoGeorgia late with acute apex and margins with coarse teeth. The leaves are smooth and somewhat glossy above. The catkins bearing the stamens are light straw-colored. lighter beneath. The chestnut is one of the last trees to bloom. Broke open with the squirrel. Disputed with the boy His right of thus his winter food disposing. OR SWEET CHESTNUT Castanea dentata And when The the chestnut burr frosts. south and Arkansas. the blossoms rarely appear before the latter month. WALTER COOPER is native from Maine to Michigan. In the northern part of its range. bursts . and its ravages are now passing far west of them. our most valuable Large quantities of the nuts were formerly gathered for home and bushels were shipped to the cities to supply the markets. In the forests. disease may utterly destroy this valuable species. The pioneer. as in days of yore. a little boy. come up forms from the roots of the dead and we hope disease resistant may be developed. the writer helped to gather chestnuts often a to nibble at during the winter months. There seems to be no remedy. showing the velvet lining and from one to three dark brown glossy nuts. I would select a bright afternoon in October when the chestnut burs had burst asunder. The wood is quite light but durable when exposed to the weather or in contact with the soil hence valuable for posts and rails. when a boy. I would see him climb that tree and with a long pole knock the showers of nuts from those golden burs. squirrels. in clearing the land. some trees in a Under favorable conditions. if Few any trees have entered more into the lives of the Amer- ican people than the chestnut. wild turand other animals fattened on them. The nuts were the largest and sweetest of any chestnuts of this species that I have ever known. trees. L. would gather them from among think I the fallen leaves with a joy that only innocent childhood knows. bushel or more My about If I friend A.American Chestnut open about the time that the first frost appears. family could gather the nuts. One famous tree stood on the old home farm that was our joy and the envy of the neighbors. use. and the tree. The American Chestnut is. These vary The size and quality neighborhood becoming famous for the large size of the sweet nuts produced. Every au- tumn. revealing their hidden treasures. In the forest. . and I. The bark has long flat ridges with straight grooves between them. it grows tall but in open fields it develops a round top with long spreading branches. in shape according to the number in a cell. or at least was. Sprouts trees. we would go up through the orchard to the chestnut tree that stood just beyond. the chestnut tree reaches a height of nearly a hundred feet and a trunk diameter of six or eight. also vary greatly. A fatal fungus disease introduced from abroad has killed nearly all the chestnut trees east of the mountains. who has written some delightful things tells of the American Chestnut: were permitted to return to childhood for just one time. reminiscently Rowe. with Father. Then. often let a few choice trees stand in his fields or about his home where his keys. The leaves are shaped like those of the American Chestnut. with straight veins and sharp-pointed teeth. The burs are quite large. The Bush Chinquapin. and the nuts slightly resemble filberts. I have gathered them in the mountains of southern California. The Giant Chinquapin. Castanopsis chrysophylla is a tree of the mountains of northern California and Oregon. less than half as wide. but they are a favorite food of the western ground squirrels. Castanopsis sempervirens. but the margins . They are from three to six inches long. It is a spreading evergreen shrub that often covers large areas. The Chinquapin ern is found in dry woods and thickets from south- Jersey and Pennsylvania to Indiana and Missouri.Chinquapin l IO CHINQUAPIN Castanea pumila Chinquapin is a small tree with a maximum height of and a trunk diameter of two feet. The staminate catkins are from three to five inches long. The burs contain only one nut each. commonly arranged in a spikelike cluster. They are very sweet nuts are round. This tree may reach a height of one hundred feet with thick rough bark. on short petioles. is found through the western mountains. The Chinquapin blooms in June. and white woolly beneath. It is sometimes cultivated much farther north. south to Florida and Texas. are pointed at each end. and the nuts are slightly larger than those of the common Chinquapin. The outside is covered with short stiff spines. It is generally in the form of a spreading shrub ten or twelve feet high. Castanea nana. and appearance of a small acorn. or rarely two. alternate leaves. New Another Chinquapin. only about half have much the and pleasant to the taste. grows in the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. and the brown nuts are ripe in September. The numerous burs are an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. somewhat pointed at the top. The small burs have few prickles. The as large as those of the American Chestnut. They are dark green and forty feet THE smooth above. and these frisky creatures take their full share. The oblong. It is a low shrub that by means of underground stems spreads into large clusters. It generally grows at altitudes above five thousand feet and is often found on sunny slopes more than ten thousand feet above the sea. nearly an inch high. WHITE OAK Quercus alba SEVERAL the species of oaks bear acorns that are somewhat sweet and are sometimes collected and eaten. In some places. then grind them and use the product as a substitute for coffee. I have friends who when camping. It is especially abundant on the west slopes of the Appalachian Mountains and in the Ohio valley. The burs are quite like those of the American Chestnut. They were much used by American Indians. They have pronounced the cakes edible and quite agreeable. the natives still use acorns in this way. winter In the mountains of Mexico. yellow or golden beneath. but the nut. and Pin Oak. who gathered them in large quantities for use. They are often gathered and stored by squirrels. It grows to be a large forest tree with rough light gray bark. Julia E. The kernel is sweet and is much appreciated by the Indians. dark green above. It ranges from Maine and southern Canada west to Minnesota. The cup is deep saucershaped and rough. and depend upon them ful tree of the . Red Oak. south to Florida and Texas.in Giant Chinquapin are entire. The acorns mature the first season. The obovate leaves have five to nine oblong lobes. ripen and fall in September. has quite a hard shell. about three-fourths inch across. making a sort of flour which was often mixed with corn meal and baked in the form of cakes. Others mature their acorns in one season. the Pilgrims found baskets of roasted acorns which the Indians had hid in the ground. The ovoid acorns. The White Oak is probably the best known of all our oaks. Rogers in her interesting Tree Book writes of the acorns of this species: "The Digger Indians store them for winter use. have tried the edible qualities of these acorns by grinding them into a coarse meal and mixing it with flour in making griddlecakes. it takes two seasons the Black Among these we may mention to mature the Oak. the Indians roast the acorns. In December 1620. Among these we have the following species: The Western Whii' Oak. often deeply furrowed. The sweet and edible acorns belong to the latter group. In some species of oaks acorns. Quercus j lobata. The acorns were ground. is a large and beauti- southwestern United States. less than half an inch long. unlike those of other oaks. west to Minnesota and Arkansas. The cup covers half of the sweet acorn. Quercus bicolor. with leaves much like those of the Rock Chestnut Oak. in rude ovens in the sand. rarely grows more than fifteen feet high. found from and Missouri. It must not be confused with the Bear or Scrub Oak. whose bark is so valuable for tannic acid. with leaves resembling those of the American Chestnut. The acorns are smaller than those of the Rock Oak but have a heavier cup. bears acorns that can be eaten. The Rock Chestnut Oak. is native from Vermont to Minnesota. a large forest tree The Swamp White Oak." Indians usually ground the acorns of the various species mass was in the form of flour or meal. Quercus nana. This was placed in water for a day to soak out the tannin and other bitter substances. south to Florida and Texas. They are quite large and. 112 They is ground into a coarse meal. The water was then drained off and the material was molded in the form of cakes or loaves or mixed with other food. . Quercus Michauxii. Quercus Prinus. are attached to long stems. especially along the mountains. and those I have roasted were rather pleasant eating. or The Cow Delaware to Indiana Yellow or Chestnut Oak. Quercus Muhlenbergii." which are roasted and hulled. noides. which grows in similar situations and of about the same size. This tree is found from Maine and southern Ontario south. then made into loaves and baked Basket Oak. Quercus acuminata. The Chinquapin or Scrub Chestnut Oak. and bears numerous bitter acorns. bears acorns that can be eaten. rarely west of the mountains. They are quite sweet. One author says: "The acorns of the swamp white oak are worthy the attention of any hungry man or beast. Quercus platagrowing in damp soil from Quebec to Georgia. to Alabama and Tennessee. This shrub is found on dry sandy or rocky soil from Maine and Minnesota south to Alabama and Texas. bears acorns that are sweet and edible.Oaks as the source of their bread. Sometimes the acorns were roasted before they were ground into until the The meal. Quercus ilicifolia. Quercus prinoides. south to Alabama and Texas. INDIAN RICE. Indian made great use of the seeds of various plants. The lance-linear leaves are from one to three feet long and half an inch to an inch and a half wide. like the garden bean (which is believed to be native of America). some of which. OR WILD RICE. rice. tils SEEDS are extremely important in our diet. and other members of the pea family. Besides starch. The pistillate flowers are on the erect upper . were also used for nourishment by the aborigines. The cereals corn. it might be possible to develop into vegetables. which tissues. These starchy foods were generally ground into meal for cakes or gruel. which he could keep long periods without spoiling or freez- The American ing. The fruiting panicle is from one to two feet long. they contain much protein. The red man made much use of wild rice and other native grasses. Some do not have an agreeable taste others are difficult to collect but there are nearly always some that could be obtained and used in . All our cereals are grasses except buckwheat. rye. Of these the grass family forms the most important group. and barley along with peas. . The United is necessary for growth and repair of body States is well blessed with members of this family. and len- furnish the bulk of the world's food supply. oats. often making long voyages in canoes to collect them. Its lower branches are generally spreading and contain only staminate blossoms. beans. case of emergency. OR WATER OATS Zizania aquatica Zizania palustris THIS coarse grass grows to be four to eight feet high with a stem nearly half an inch in diameter at the base.EDIBLE SEEDS AND SEED PODS wheat. There are probably many other plants than the ones mentioned whose seeds have been or could be used for nourishment. Vetches. and can testify that it is pleasant eating. Schoolcraft collected some in northern Michigift of Henry R. It commands a good price. ered it for winter use. while another with physical features referring to this native grain indicate . Such lands are favorite resorts of the ida New hunter. A request for some of this American grain came from abroad. Wild rice (Zizania aquatica) elsewhere. falling soon after ripening. round and almost black. who gath- Wild rice is found in swamps and along the borders of streams in shallow water from Brunswick to Manitoba.Wild Rice branches. and other birds that collect among the reeds. It could be kept and used when animal and other of the The North can vegetable food tain. it forms the chief food of wild geese. This cereal was We highly appreciated by the Indians. One woman slowly paddled a canoe along the rice beds. in autumn. southern Canada. especially along the northern border of the United States and in have Canada. lakes. ducks. Wild rice grows in great fields around the shores of lakes and along rivers in Minnesota. cooked it in the same manner as cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) and served it warm with butter and salt to season or cold with sugar and cream. and other The numerous its abundance and importance. Wisconsin. 114 slender grain is The nearly three-fourths inch long. It is claimed that some of the early settlers made much use of it. when well cooked. In many marshy places. and sent it to Europe so that it could be planted along the streams and lakes on the other side of the Atlantic. The Indian method of collecting it is interesting. importance of wild rice to the Indians scarcely be overestimated. about 1823. and place names of rivers. is excellent eating. was scarce or difficult to obit Nature to the natives. south to Florand Texas. Michigan. The seed is starchy and. Schoolcraft called a precious gan or across the straits in Canada. Sometimes the wild rice can be purchased in the markets. knocking the grain off into the canoe. or probably below leaves are all from the roots on thick petioles two to five feet long. nearly round. The leaves are from one to two feet broad. It was winnowed in birchbark trays and stored in bark boxes. The seeds are imbedded in pits in this hardened receptacle. They are attached to the petioles near the center. ponds. It was then taken ashore and dried in the sun or sometimes over a fire and then placed in a hole in the ground lined with the skin of an animal. GREEN AMARANTH. Some float on the surface. or edges higher than the midto five feet The dle. OR WATER BEANS Nelumbo lutea Resplendent in beauty. the lotus Lifted her golden crown above the heads of the boatmen. OR AMERICAN NELUMBO. below the surface of the water.Rice a stick in each hand bent the stalks over with one hand and struck them with the other. south to Florida and Texas. but it is quite rare in nearly all sections of its range. The large horizontal tuberous rootstocks are from two the frost line. Evangeline THIS giant water plant ranges from Massachusetts to Min- nesota. It is followed by a nearly hemispherical flat-topped fruit or receptacle. but many are held high above the water. OR WATER CHINQUAPIN. somewhat cup-shaped. The flowers are four to ten inches in diameter. This magnificent wild flower opens its blossoms in July and August. LONGFELLOW. AMERICAN LOTUS. The Indians of that section still resort to wild rice. or in bags made of skins or of cloth. which are sometimes six or seven feet long and like the petioles have air canals running through them. It grows in lakes. The large pale yellow blossoms are held far above the water by thick stems. and threshed by tramping with feet or with sticks. OR REDROOT Amaranthus retroflexus DESCRIBED under Salad Plants and Potherbs. I have . with numerous petals and stamens. and slowmoving streams. hard point at the top. which they the seeds. with a sharp. I have tried them both roasted and boiled. but we think it well to record its edible qualities. The lower leaves have slender petioles. the seeds are dark brown. which baked into bread or used for porridge. tasting much like boiled chestnuts but not quite so sweet. When ripe. about half an inch in diameter. but the starchy contents are edible. then they quickly swell up when boiled and become soft. who probably introduced the plant east of the mountains. It is said that the entire plant is edible. and it should be protected where possible. BLACK MUSTARD Brassica nigra Sinapis nigra THIS annual plant grows from three to six feet high. The bright yellow flowers are about one-third inch across. sometimes are nearly smooth. and they do not absorb enough water in boiling to become soft unless the process is continued for a very long time. is grows deep in the water where it is difficult to reach. If the shell is first cracked. Nymphaea polysepala. is a native of the quiet The ponds in the mountain regions of the of Pacific Coast states. The seeds dry so hard that they cannot be eaten roasted. The shell is hard. all finely . As in all the other members of the mustard small lateral ones. lower ones are deeply cut with a large terminal lobe and a The few toothed around the edges. Fortunately for the plant. They much resemble an acorn and are often called duck acorns. They are very pleasant eating. which sometimes weigh half a pound and have a sweet-potato flavor. the upper ones are nearly sessile. The Klamath Indians Oregon collect wokas. Indian Pond Lily. They also grind the roasted seeds into meal. roast them. The upper leaves are oblong and entire. and eat them as which they call we do popcorn.American Lotus 116 a dried one before me that measures exactly four inches in diameter and has twenty-three seed cavities. nearly round. much resemble in is taste. The stem and branches generally have rough hairs. especially the large starchy tuberous roots. Roasting should be done when the seeds are fresh. erect with rather widely spreading branches. It is doubtful if America has a more beautiful and stately wild flower. a large yellowflowered species of the water lily family. These seeds were highly prized by the Indians. pungent taste. of Europe and Asia but has become so thoroughly naturalized in America that it now grows over much of southern Canada and nearly all of the United States. dark brown. Black Mustard (Brassica nigra) The Black Mustard is found about dooryards. roadsides. appressed against the stem in a long narrow raceme. The pods are The latter are in two somewhat four-sided. neglected garIt is a native dens. and waste places generally. fields. there are four petals and six stamens.117 sets Black Mustard family. The seeds are small. with a very sharp. about half an inch long. The plants mature the seeds in the summer. I have found it about mining . four long and two short. and California and adjacent Mexico. is a small tree. OR HONEYPOD Prosopis glandulosa THIS ico. pods are often eaten by Indians and Mexicans. is perhaps the most nutritious breadstuff in use among any people. Sisymbrium canescens. The desert regions twigs are yellowish green with spines in the axils of the leaves. The seeds of other mustard plants such as the Peppergrass. The Arizona Mesquite. which the Indians and Mexicans make by drying and grinding the pods and their contents. make tard use of the young wild plants. The pulp surrounding the seeds is sweet.Black Mustard 118 camps and summer resorts far up in our western mountains. In Europe and Asia. Sisymbrium ofKcinale. but foreign people especially. The The latter are compound with numerous entire narrow leaflets. In southern California. and the condiment is complete. It also has a medicinal use in "mustard plasters. Seeds that they gave me have much the size. may be used as a may substitute. They are arranged in dense axillary spikes from two to five inches long. with their corn meal to make it more agreeable. It is the chief mustard used in condiments so often associated with frankfurters. south to Texas. Lepidium. Prosopis velutina. When in tree form. The roots go down for moisture often to a depth of sixty feet." The White Mustard. and flavor of those of the common Hedge Mustard. New MexArizona. It is rarely cultivated in America. which are used as a salad and pot herb. The seeds of the black mus- be ground fine. Greene says that the mesquite meal. I found the Santa Rosa Indians mixing the seeds of a Hedge Mustard. are considered a great delicacy. the bark is slightly ridged with reddish brown scales." The flowers furnish the bees with much nectar for the making of honey. when cooked. Brassica alba. and about six inches long. often a mere shrub. The bean-shaped pods. when mature. shape. may be only a variety . small fragrant greenish yellow flowers appear from May to July. are slightly flattened. Prof. color. hence the name of "Honeypod. MESQUITE. nearly straight. L. The The green pods are also gathered by the Indians and. with its larger light brown seeds is also used as a condiment. E. of the East. the Black Mustard is frequently cultivated for its young leaves. mixed with flour and a little water and vinegar. found in the dry or from Kansas to Nevada. but it is less peppery. OR SCREW BEAN Strombocarpa pubescens Prosopis pubescens a small tree or shrub growing on the desert. especially along watercourses. branches are more upright.Mes quite Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) of the above species. Its edible qualities are the same. In general appearance it is much like the common Mesquite. but the THE Screw Bean is pairs of leaflets. in elongated clusters. but it gradually grows a rougher bark. The sessile pods occur in They are about two inches long and are . and the leaves have only five to eight The small greenish white flowers in spikes are also very similar to those of the Mesquite. little larger with TORNILLO. from Texas to California. They are slightly without. The leaflets are an inch to two inches long. They appear in May or early in June and suggest those of the wistaria. It is native from Pennsylvania to Georgia west to Iowa and Oklahoma. rather tardily splitting. The inner bark is pale yellow nearly white. and a trunk The rough bark is gray on the surface. A LOCUST TREE. pods of the Mesquite and a crude sort of syrup or molasses is obtained by boiling the sweet pods of the Screw Bean. cinnamon-brown beneath. entire. now more often found in groves. and rather soft or easily cut. strong. At the base of each leaf is a pair of stipules which are generally spiny. peculiar to this tree. their fragrance scenting the air for several rods from the tree. seeds each. able in contact with the and makes excellent The great- . as they contain much sugar. They are pounded into meal and baked into cakes and are an important article of food. drooping racemes. The seed pods are two to four inches long and half an inch broad. Both make excellent food for cattle and horses when drink is made from the mashed other forage is scarce. It is planted over a much wider range. It was probably the first native American tree to be planted in England and is said to be more planted there than any other tree of this country. but the Mesquite pods rarely were. Those of the latter were apt to be infested with larvae. very durfuel. Locust may reach a height of eighty feet. I have collected the ripe seed pods of both the Mesquite and the Screw Bean in various places throughout their ranges. oval or The oblong.Screw Bean the form of tightly twisted cylinders. These pods are sweet 120 woody when chewed. The wood of the locust tree soil. we find it it planted along the highways ist of We recently saw in bloom the March along the bayous of Louisiana. OR BLACK LOCUST Robinia Pseudo-Acacia THE Locust is a forest tree. along fences or the borders of woods. The leaves are compound with nine to seventeen leaflets. is hard. with an odor diameter of three feet or even more. often remaining on the tree all winter they contain from four to twelve . The creamy white flowers are in loose. especially for the Indians in parts of Arizona. somewhat pulpy within. and of California. short-stalked. It now grows over much of New England and southern Canada. Sometimes staminate. thus giving this food a long seaoily the Indians sonal range. Sometimes it is slightly astringent. sometimes covered with small scales. with numerous leaflets.121 est Locust Tree enemy of the tree is the locust borer. They or grayish in color. pistillate. often in clusters. They are flat. They are slightly acid and and may be used as we use peas and beans. curved. The purplish brown twisted pods are from ten to fifteen inches long and an inch to an inch and a half wide. I have also seen the statement that the pods tribes. It gets its name from the sweet pulp found pod between and around the seeds. and rather thin. it is said). when young and tender were eaten by the native HONEY THE LOCUST. The Honey Locust is wide-spreading with a flat top and nearly horizontal branches. The Honey succulent pulp between the seeds. and Texas. and perfect flowers occur on the same tree other trees bear a single . On an island in a large creek near my boyhood home grew en the taste . small trees. Trees vary as to the quantity and quality of pulp secreted. The alternate leaves are once. Locust is native from western New York and Penn- sylvania south to Florida. give the tree a light. The trunk and limbs usually have stout. which is pleasing to the and is generally relished by boys. Kansas. They are sometimes absent on trees in cultivation. with a sweetish. the bark is generally smooth and light On Old trees have rough or deeply cracked or furrowed bark. The seeds of the Locust Tree were gathered and cooked by (with meat. These thorns are modified branches and are perhaps the most prominent characteristic of the tree. It has been naturalized farther east in New England and the middle Atlantic states. Often they are produced in great abundance and hang on the tree until the next spring. branching thorns. airy appearance. sometimes twice compound. type staminate or pistillate. with a of nearly a hundred feet and a trunk diameter of three or height four feet. They lose acidity on boiling and become a pleasant nutritious food. The pods could be dried and preserved for winter use when other vegetable food was scarce. The small greenish or whitish flowers are in short racemes. and west to Michigan. OR HONEY SHUCKS Gleditsia triacanthos Honey Locust frequently becomes a large tree. which is very common in the East and has practically destroyed many fine groves. This annual plant in some respects is quite like the garden bean but the leaves are smaller. Ceratonia siliqua. The seeds are prepared and cooked like the garden variety and may be used either green or dried. They contain from four to six brown seeds which when ripe are each about one-fourth inch long. or at least the Tepary was. and some- . eaten both green and dry. It resembles the common garden bean. sometimes reaching a length of twelve to fourteen feet. The Wild Bean was highly prized by the North American Indians. In the dried state they could keep it for use in the months when other vegetable foods were scarce.Honey Locust 122 a number of native trees of this species where in autumn we boys often resorted to gather the pods. taking many home to nibble at during leisure moments. found from Connecticut to Nebraska. The pods least eight species of beans are AT to Arizona. The Wild Bean to Florida I is and Texas. The short- stalked drooping pods are about two inches long. St. TEPARY BEAN Phaseolus acutifolius Texas found growing wild from extending into northern Mexico. The fleshy pods. do not come across it often in my walks. usually branched. It is believed that the Indians used the pods and seeds. and the vine more slender. WILD BEAN. is a tree native of the Mediterranean region from Spain to Palestine. flat and slightly curved. The purple flowers are arranged in long loose clusters. . The seeds or beans of nearly all of them were believed to have been eaten by the Indians. were a favorite food of the ancients. with three broadly oval or nearly round leaflets. are about three inches long. two-fifths of an inch wide. The dried pods are sometimes seen in the city markets of our eastern states. pointed at the apex. They are supposed to have been the "locusts" eaten by John the Baptist. south It is generally not very abundant at least . OR BEAN VINE Phaseolus polystachyus THIS perennial vine climbs over bushes or trails upon the ground. John's Bread. is native of the Great Plains from Minnesota to Saskatchewan and south to Missouri and Texas. OR BUFFALO PEA Astragalus caryocarpus Geoprumnon crassicarpum THIS wild plant. a member of the pea family. branching at the base. Boiled and baked with bacon or mashed and added to soups. The plant is often called Buffalo Pea or Buf- and do not The Sometimes the pods are cooked and spiced for pickles. and is generally about a foot high.123 what flattened. are used for food raw or cooked. George F. Freeman adds: "Well-cooked teparies are light and mealy and have a rich bean-like aroma. When cooked. and fleshy. It is claimed that prairie dogs gather falo Bean. this wild vegetable food is greatly appreciated. This found on mountain sides and in the narrow valleys from western Texas to Arizona. which resemble green plums. Dr. The plum-shaped pods are each about three-fourths of an inch long. they form most acceptable dishes. oval. It is a perennial. Freeman which seems suited to the hot dry regions of the Southplant west. To such as are fond of the onion. Freeman in The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture says: "It has been cultivated by the Papago and Pima Indians from prehistoric times and in all probability formed one of the principal foodcrops of that ancient and unknown agricultural race. Dr." GROUND PLUM. the ruins of whose cities and irrigating canals are now the only witnesses of their former presence and prosperity. . pale green in color. thick. The violet- purple flowers are arranged in a short raceme. In parts of Nebraska and in some other states.'* A cultivated variety of the Tepary Bean was developed by Dr. a small amount of this vegetable finely chopped and stirred in during boiling makes a pleasing addi- tion. Either by dry farming or by irrigation larger crops of the Tepary can be raised in that part of the country than can be produced by the garden beans by the same methods. They are spongy or corky when dry split open. they are usually prepared and served in the same manner as the garden sugar pea where the entire pod is eaten. and in northern Mexico. shortpointed. is Tepary Bean The bean itself resembles a very small Lima. The compound leaves have from fifteen to twenty-five oblong leaflets. unripe seed pods. when in the They region of South Dakota. THIS is a similar but larger species. The . then practically unknown. The mice referred to were without doubt prairie dogs.Ground Plum 124 the pods and store them up as part of their winter food supply. and the bean is the Buffalo Pea. record among the things received a quantity of a large. LARGER GROUND PLUM. In Lewis and Clark's westward journey in 1804. collected the beans. they exchanged presents with the Indians. OR BUFFALO PEA Astragalus mexicanus Geoprumnon mexicanum last. rich bean which grew wild and was collected by mice. with larger fruits than the The leaves have from seventeen to thirty-three leaflets. and cooked and ate them. The Indians Ground Plum (Astragalus caryocarpus) hunted for these deposits. 125 Ground Plum cream-colored flowers, purple only at the tips, are in short racemes. They are about an inch long, or larger than those of the above fleshy seed pod is nearly round, not pointed, an inch and a quarter in diameter. The edible qualities of this species are about the same as those of the one described above. The plant has a more southerly range, being found on open plains and prairies from Illinois to Nebraska south to Louisiana and Texas. species. The to an inch UNICORN PLANT, OR DOUBLE-CLAW Martynia louisiana Proboscidea louisiana plant is an annual that grows one to three feet much-branched, and wide-spreading. The stout stem and branches are covered with soft hairs or down. The leaves are large, sometimes nearly a foot across, broadly oval or nearly round, high, THIS unique with a heart-shaped base and blunt or rounded apex. petioles are long as the blade. The stout flower clusters are arranged in short racemes of several blossoms each. The flowers are an inch to two inches long, nearly as broad, funnel-shaped spreading lobes. They are white or pink-purple, generally tled with yellow or purple within. The fruit is a two-beaked sule, four to six inches long, strongly curved, woody when The and a half five with motcap- ma- ture. tic. The two beaks are longer than the capsule, strong and elas- The Unicorn Plant is native from Indiana to Iowa, south and west to Texas and New Mexico but is much cultivated for its fruit, or for ornament, or as a curiosity in the North and East, New York and New Jerwhen young are soft, tender, and somewhat fleshy, and in that stage are much used for pickles. They reach the pickling stage in summer and early autumn. The plants are sometimes grown in eastern gardens just for "pickling" and has escaped from Maine to western south to Georgia. sey, The fruits purposes. CHIA Salvia columbariae THIS sage, one of the best known of all the food plants of the hills, American Indians, grows on the plains, and valleys over Chia much of California and in northern Mexico. It is 126 an annual that begins its growth when the winter rains set in, and reaches a height of six to sixteen inches. There are usually several stalks from the same root, sometimes only one. all at One stem. The dark green leaves are nearly the base, deeply cut, rough or hairy. or two pairs of leaves appear on the The blue flowers, with form charmint family, occur in one lobes of the acteristic of the or two dense whorls. The calyx are prickly. Flowers appear from March to May, and the seeds ripen a quite low and ligid, the seeds are not easily shaken out by the wind. In places, on the hills and low month or two later. As the plants are mountains, on the west side of the Colorado Desert of California, I found this stalks still held the seeds. plant abundant. In July, the nearly dead The Indians take a flat basket in one hand and a stick in the other, and knock the seeds into the basket by beating the dried flower heads. The seeds are cleaned and parched, then ground into meal. The Spanish word pinole is used for meal of wild plants. Pinole is made from seeds made from Chia is sometimes used alone, forming darkit colored cakes or loaves, but usually it mixed with wheat flour or corn meal gives to the cakes ; made from this a pleasit ing nutty flavor. The Indians also mix Chia (Sal via columbariae) with corn meal when making mush or with ground wheat for gruel. Chia is the Spanish name of this plant, and it is claimed that Cortes found the natives of Mexico using the parched ground seeds for pinole. Even today they are often found in the Spanish markets of the Southwest and in those of Mexico, and Chia seed is an article of trade slightly flattened, among the Indians. The dark brown seeds are and when crushed and moistened are oily and it mucilaginous. In the early days of California was considered 1 27 Chia made the "finest poultice for the seeds of the Chia. that ground Chia seed, moistened, gunshot wounds." very popular drink A is also made from For this purpose, the seeds are generally steeped. is are crushed or ground, and a quantity of water meal; after standing for some time the water strained. is Sometimes they poured over the Sometimes said to is drawn off, and drunk before the fine particles settle. It be a healthful and nourishing beverage. it is pinole. seeds of several other species of wild sage are used for of these is the White Sage, Salvia apiana. The seeds of this species are not mucilaginous. The One COMMON SUNFLOWER Helianthus annuus THE Common Sunflower is a rough annual plant that grows wild from three to six feet high, but in cultivation sometimes ten feet. The alternate petioled leaves, rough on both sides, are ovate, three-nerved, with toothed margins. The lower leaves are gen- erally heart-shaped. The flower heads of the wild plants are from three to six inches in diameter. The brown or dark purple disk is one to two inches broad, surrounded by a row of showy bright yellow ray flowers. This, the state flower of Kansas, is apparently native from Minnesota to Idaho, south to Texas and California, extending into Mexico. It is said to be also a native of South America. It has long been cultivated, and as a garden plant has flower heads nearly a foot in diameter. It has escaped from cultivation about our eastcities, where it quickly deteriorates into the wild form. Although the seeds have long been used as food by the American Indians, the Sunflower is much more appreciated in some countries of Europe than in our own. It is claimed by one of our government authorities that the flowers yield a fine yellow dye that seems permanent, and the bees make a superior quality of honey from them. The seed yields 20 per cent oil which may be used ern lent food for cooking, burning, or for soapmaking. for cattle. Lastly, the stalks The when oil cake is an excel- treated like hemp, produce a fine silky fiber. In Russia the sunflower is is much of value in feeding all kinds of poultry. It cultivated for the seed, which is said that the Rus- Sunflower 128 sians sometimes get fifty bushels of seed per acre. In that country, the hulled seeds are ground into meal and baked into bread and cakes. In parts of Europe, they are roasted and used as a substi- tute for coffee. We the flower buds also find that nearly three hundred years ago were boiled and eaten with butter like artichokes. In Lewis and Clark's Journal, July 17, 1805, along the Missouri River in western Montana, when they were we find the fol- lowing record: Along the bottoms, which have a covering of high grass, we observe the sunflower blooming in great abundance. The Indians of the Missouri, more especially those who do not cultivate maize, make great use of the seed of this plant for bread, or in thickening their soup. They first parch and then pound it between two stones, until it is reduced to a fine meal. Sometimes they add a portion of water, and drink it thus diluted ; at other times they add a sufficient propor- tion of marrow-grease to reduce it to the consistency of dough, and eat it in that manner. This last composition common we pre- ferred to all the rest, and thought dish. it at that time a very palatable ADDITIONAL EDIBLE SEEDS AND SEED VESSELS WILD or Indian Millet, or Sand Grass, Oryzopsis hymenoides, Eriocoma cuspidata. The Wild Millet grows from Iowa to Texas, west to Washington and Lower California. It extends into Canada. It is found on prairies, deserts, and dry hillsides. The Indians made the seeds into flour for cakes or gruel. "The ground seeds were sometimes mixed with cornmeal and made into dumplings." Wild Oat, Avena fatua, a native of Europe, now found in fields and waste places in the Middle West and especially abundant on the Pacific Coast. but have stiff hairs. the seeds to flour. The grains resemble those of the common oats The Indians singe these off and then crush The common cultivated oats, Avena sativa, has a tendency to go wild in old fields and along roadsides. Large Rye Grass, Elymus condensatus, grows from Minnesota, Colorado, and New Mexico, west to the Pacific, in damp alkaline soil, reaching a height of six or eight flour feet. The grains are gathered and made into by the Indians. Wild Wheat, or Squaw Grass, Elymus triticoides, is a more slender grass than the last but grows in similar situations and over much the same range but farther south. The grains are gathered 129 species of Edible Seedi by the Indians and made into meal for cakes and porridge. Othei Elymus are also used for food by the Indians. Large Cane, Arundinaria gigantea, Arundinaria macrosperma is the large grass that forms the "canebrakes" from Virginia tc Missouri, south to Florida and Louisiana. It grows in rivei marshes and swamps and is especially common along the Mississippi River. The Large Cane grows from fifteen to twenty-five feet tall, is somewhat woody and branching at the top. Large clusters of seeds are formed at the summit. These starchy seeds were much used by the Indians and early settlers as a substitute for wheat and are said to be nearly as good as that grain. The young shoots are sometimes used as a potherb. Red Amaranth, or Prince's Feather, Amaranthus hybridus, z weed in waste and cultivated grounds, is found over most of North America. It is cultivated in India for its seeds, which are eaten anc used as a potherb in the West Indies. Its seeds are eaten by Indian; of the Southwest. See Green Amaranth, in following section. Prostrate Amaranth, Amaranthus blitoides, which is found a* a weed from souri, and Kansas, and seeds are North Dakota, south to New Jersey, Mis native west of the Rocky Mountains. Th< the Indians and made into meal mixed with gathered by Maine to is that from corn, for cakes or gruel. Goosefoot, or Chenopodiurn. Seeds of several species of Goose- Chenopodiums, especially Chenopodiurn leptophyllum anc Chenopodiurn Fremontii, were gathered by the Indians and parched or ground into meal and used for cakes or gruel. Saltbush, A triplex f of several species, have starchy seeds used bj foots, or the Indians. Islay, Prunus ilicifolia, is an evergreen cherry or plum oi California and Arizona. The 1 is been eaten by the Indians. astringent, but this quality kernels of the large seeds have long have found the kernels bitter and removed by leaching or soaking Lupinus perennis, ranges and Louisiana. The in hot water. Wild Lupine, or Wild Maine to Minnesota, south Pea, frorr to Florida seeds are cooked like domestic peas. Black Medic, or Nonesuch, Medicago lupulina. This clover is widely distributed as a weed over most of the United States. The Indians of southern California greatly relish the seeds. Vetches, Vicia sp. Several species of Vetches were eaten bj the Indians. The starchy seeds, which much resemble those of the Edible Seeds cultivated pea but are smaller, are often eaten by people of rope. Some are said to be edible green. 130 Eu- Prairie Bean, Phaseolus retusus, of the western United States, has seeds the size of peas which are said to be very good when well cooked. Cowpea, or China Bean, or Black-Eyed Bean, Vigna sinensis. Cultivated and escaped from Georgia to Missouri and south. Seeds edible quite like the common bean. Blue Flax, or Wild Flax, Linum Lewisii. Found from Wisconsin to Texas west to Alaska and California. Melvin R. Gilmore says in his "Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region": "The seeds of the wild blue flax were gathered and used in cookery both because of their highly nutritive value and for the agreeable flavor which they added to that with which " they were cooked. Chile Tarweed, Madia sativa, is a common plant found about cities and towns and along roadsides on the Pacific Coast. It was probably introduced from Chile. The seeds are sometimes used for pinole. Seeds of some of our native tarweeds could probably serve that purpose. fence rows. where fresh vegetables cannot be secured at the markets. Some should be parboiled that is. majority of potherbs and C. JOHN MILTON THE list of salad plants and potherbs is a large one. It is believed that the reputation of the American people as a bilious race is well founded a condition due chiefly to their lack of eating enough salads and potherbs. In the springtime. which are supposed to be partially are rich in vitamins A A destroyed by long cooking. or even into the deep woods. is in gathering the mafollowing along hedges. with firm tissues require long cooking. This is probably due. I find that in our country people from abroad are far more likely to make use of wild foods than the native Americans. Most potherbs should not be cooked long or with much water. or by the brookside. 1 have purposely omitted a few belonging to the parsley family (Umbelliferae) because of the danger of mistaking poisonous species of the same family for them. to the fact that the struggle for existence is always keener in a thickly settled country.SALAD PLANTS AND POTHERBS Which Herbs. the human body seems to demand green food. Half the pleasure of using green foods terial A 131 . good observer sees much more than the plants he is hunting. in part. A few . the neat-handed Phillis dresses. yet I have no doubt there are many more that could be used. and the time spent in the open air gives one an appetite that makes any food taste better. The habit of gathering wild green foods for salads and potherbs is much more common in Europe than in America. This is especially noticeable in China. This is especially true far out in the country. and other country messes. the water should be changed once or twice to remove a bitter or undesirable flavor. it is packed ready for shipment. large quantities of it are gathered and prepared for the market. forked stems or fronds. sary element of our food. When chocolate is added. It is gathered at low tide. sugar and flavoring added.Irish Moss IRISH MOSS." After it is thoroughly dried and bleached. Other starchy seaweeds are used for food in different parts of the world. of a greenish. made into jelly by steeping the plant in boiling water is until the jellylike substance is soaked out. When exposed to sunlight. then thoroughly washed in fresh water and dried. Nearly all cookbooks give recipes for the making of Irish Moss jellies and custards. The name "Carrageen Moss" comes from where this seaweed has been in use since the earliest days and is held in high esteem by the peasantry. Irish own supply. The dulse of the English coast is a good example. They all contain iodine. it bleaches creamy inches long. On the rocky coasts of Maine and Massachusetts. OR CARRAGEEN MOSS 132 Chondrus crispus THIS marine Europe and the is alga or seaweed is common on the rocky shores of east coast of the United States and Canada. blancmange. it makes a pleasant and healthful drink. It has flat. but when dried becomes brittle. If milk is used instead of water. it forms a custard. and when cooled. It may It be often Moss is used for making soups. It a variable plant clinging to stones and rocks and is under water It often grows in abundance where water is quite deep. etc. brown or reddish brown color. somewhat cartilaginous and flexible. It is plentiful in . When only a small amount of the dried plant is used. purplish It is white and is then frequently called "pearl moss" or just "sea moss. where it often forms an important part of the food of the inhabitants and is also an article of commerce. now considered a neces- ICELAND MOSS Cetraria Islandica THIS lichen gets its common name from its abundance in Iceland. we have a substance similar to chocolate pudding. It is then strained. two to twelve most of the time. is in the form of jelly. People living along the coast often collect their gathered at any season. Ireland. light brown beneath. It is gathered usually in summer and autumn.133 Iceland Moss northern countries of Europe and America. especially in the mountains and we include it here because it has been found as far south as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The thallus of this plant is leaflike. For the table. leathery. It is Iceland often have but said that in seasons of scarcity. but roll in on the margins. It is a lichen not a moss its but it somewhat the appearance of and channeled. It has long been considered a food and tonic for convalescents and can generally be pro- writer states that more cured from the drugstores. OR BLISTERED ROCK TRIPE Umbilicaria pustulata THIS Rock Tripe is a common lichen with ruffly disks one to three inches in diameter. brownish green above. This is the largest sometimes nearly as large as a man's hand. grayish brown to greenish gray above. but when dried and packed. effect is The damp. after which it is made into cakes or bread. It is leaflike. forming tubes which end in flattened lobes with fringed edges. a substance apparently intermediate between dextrin and starch. ROCK TRIPE. The branches are flat stance. Iceland Moss grows from two to four inches high. then dried and crushed to a powder. the poorer people of little else to eat. but occasionally on rocks. I find it most abundant along the eastern ranges of that system. usually on the ground. and species. Sometimes a white powder develops on the upper surface of this species has a warty or blistered is with corresponding pits or indentations below. forming a jellylike sub- erect or leaflike habit gives a moss. black beneath. most abundant in the Arctic regions but extending in the Appalachians as far south as North Carolina and Tennessee. It is somewhat brittle in dry weather but flexible when the weather surface. It is palatable and nour- ishing and is believed to contain about 70 per cent of lichen starch. or boiled with milk. One it contains more starch than potatoes and flesh-building food than oatmeal. Another common species in the eastern United States Um- bilicaria Dillenii. It is pale or grayish brown. it becomes light gray. I find this . Iceland Moss is first boiled to remove the bitter taste. attached to the rock at a point near the middle of the underside. growing on large boulders and rocky ledges. smooth. being quite smooth and leathery. sometimes rigid. It is large. darker beneath. it is agreeable and nutritious. described. species of Rock Tripe with a more northern distribubut found in the higher mountains of the eastern United It is quite similar to the one just States. greenish above. Another tion. Another Rock Tripe. brown . this species is more pleasant to eat than the others. leathery.Rock Tripe species 134 most abundant along the western ranges of the Appalachian system. irregularly pitted. is Umbilicaria vellea. It is eaten by the natives of the far north. greenish gray with a Rock Tripe (Umbilicaria) bloom above. extends from the far north into the mountains of the eastern United States. According to Sir John Franklin. Umbilicaria Muhlenbergii. brownish to nearly black beneath. Franklin states that when boiled with fish roe or other animal matter. on one occasion. each of which is again subdivided into sessile leaflets. snipping off the gritty parts of the roots where it held onto the mother rock. straw-colored or purplish brown. In fact. have experimented with three species of Rock Tripe and find them much alike in taste and food value. It is found nearly throughout North America and in Europe and Asia as well. and other northern explorers diet of Rock Tripe for weeks. It is often eaten by Canadian hunters and Indians I when food is scarce. quite high in nourishment. I believe. the taste is not pleasing. with scarcely any other food. Then roast it slowly in a pan till dry and crisp. The stipe. washing it again and again. or stalk. It prefers open situations in woods. Ernest Thompson Seton tells us how to prepare Rock Tripe: First gather and wash it as clear as possible of sand and grit.mature.135 Sir lived Rock Tripe on a John Franklin. stiff when . It looks like thick gumbo soup with short. along roadsides and in waste lands generally. They are somewhat mucilaginous and. pastures. . The fronds are one to three feet broad. 1 am quite convinced that they would be much better cooked with meat or other tasty food. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. cut into three widely spreading branches. Next boil it for one hour and serve it either hut or cold. Richardson. but they are almost tasteless. OR EAGLE FERN Pteris aquilina Pteridinm aqnilinum THE common Brake or Bracken is perhaps the most abundant and widely distributed of all our ferns. is one to four feet high. erect. I would call it an emergency food. BRAKE. thick pieces of black and green leaves in it. at least. even months. In the East it does not grow so luxuriantly but often covers large areas almost to the exclusion of everything else. It tastes a little like tapioca with a slight flavoring of licorice. Rock Tripe is said to have saved his life. I have seen acres of it as high as a man's head. OR BRACKEN. when Franklin was reduced to starvation in the Arctic regions. The upper leaflets are nearly entire above but much indented toward the base. Onoclea sensibilis. with narrow deep-cut segments. in its size. OR PALMETTO Sabal Palmetto THE such as Florida. This is the chief use of the plant in England. nearly half an inch in diameter. It is said that during famine in Europe. The sori. hence the common name of Cabbage Palm. the tender stalks and fronds may be gathered and used as a potherb. This to is and treated another abundant fern in lowto unfold lands from Newfoundland Saskatchewan. Under favorable conditions In spring or early summer. In the spring. and find that they were used for food by the American Indians. and appearance. CABBAGE TREE. along rivers and lake shores. or fruit dots. is The Sensitive Fern. who use it chiefly in soups. The stalks are somewhat mucilaginous. really a beautiful sight. The sterile fronds are taken when ready like those of the bracken. should not be used as food. The leafstalks are five or six feet long. find in places along the St. boiled them. vegetables were scarce and the miners gathered the tender fronds of this fern. south to the Gulf of Mexico. are continuous on the under margin. A forest of these trees is we Johns River in Florida. It especially Palmetto is native from North Carolina to southern is most abundant in fertile areas called hammocks. The bracken is a splendid decorative plant beautifying the woods and roadsides and. The large terminal bud of the Palmetto. the rootstocks are ground and made into bread. it grows from forty to sixty feet high with a diameter of nearly two feet. also used for food. In the early days in Cali- fornia. The Indians of the Pacific Coast often cook and eat the widely creeping rootstocks. unless abundant. OR CABBAGE PALM. I have tried this and found the bracken rather pleasant eating. shape. This bud with the surrounding tissue is . I have watched crows and blue jays feast on the berries. The brake is highly prized by the Japanese. just as they are unfolding. and ate them as asparagus. and the fanlike leaves are four to six feet long and fully as broad. large clusters of white flowers appear which are followed by black drupes. or one-seeded berries.Bracken or Brake 136 The lower leaflets are deeply cut. suggests the head of a cabbage. It is the first plant to bloom in the spring. almost white leafstalks and prepared them for cooking. My young leaves with their thick.137 Palmetto considered excellent eating. All the offensiveness had disappeared. The Skunk Cabbage grows in moist or swampy ground from Nova Scotia to Minnesota. were pushing through the soil. At an isolated area in Florida. As I said before. They are taken at all seasons of the year. he seasoned with butter. the tender leaves of this plant. sometimes in February pushing up its purplish brown or green-mottled shelllike spathe. It should be used only as an emergency food. often two feet long and a foot wide. offensive I Skunk never dreamed of such a thing until one spring when Cabbage! 1 was camping with friends and a member of the party suggested it. I was first to condemn the plant. and the taste was pleasing. in some sections. I was the first to condemn it. SKUNK CABBAGE Symplocarpus foetidus Spathycma foctida WHO ever thought of eating the disagreeable. When he had cooked them tender. and salt. either cooked or raw. knowing the fetid odor that accompanies the plant and the charges by some that the root is poisonous. Here the bee gets its first pollen. Within this is the round fleshy spadix covered with small perfect flowers. friend carefully collected the . in Florida. I once came across dozens of palmettos dying because their tops had been removed. all neatly folded and packed. In low grounds by the brookside not far from camp. It was eaten by the Indians. pepper. The Skunk Cabbage is too well known to need description. but now I was first to test its edible qualities and pronounced them good. lifting the leaf mold here and there. and even today. In the spring of 1932. I saw Palmetto cabbages in the public markets. for to remove the tender top of a palm always kills the tree. south to North Carolina and Iowa. he changed the water two or three times. My friend assured me that he had tested the edible qualities of the Skunk Cabbage and found it agreeable and whole- some. In the boiling process. We are all familiar with its large leaves. the inhabitants make much use of it. the stem densely covered with stinging hairs. This is a plant familiar to many American boys. Missouri. covering much the same range as the Great Nettle. with sharp but deep teeth. Urticastrurn divaricatum. There are records of the Wood Nettle. heart-shaped. rather stout. is taller but more slender than the above described species. that but on the same plant. Another species. It is also eaten in northern Persia. The Stinging Nettle is a perennial that grows two to four feet high. greenish. is not used for food in America. yet the Stinging or of nettle suggests something repulsive as an Great Nettle has long been used for food. Laportea canadensis. so far as I know. but extends west to the Pacific Coast and is common in lowlands. It prefers waste places and roadsides but apparently is never very abundant any- where. staminate Nettle. When boiled in soups. Urtica gracilis. It makes a good potherb especially when cooked with other greens. is. often called Slender Nettle. especially those who have . In the spring. having been used as food. forming a panicle. the young tender tops are often boiled and eaten as greens by the it The common at one time cultivated people of Scotland. I believe it was Oliver Goldsmith who wrote that in olden days a French cook could make seven different dishes out of a Nettle top. The tender tops are frequently eaten in Belgium. taken when young that is. It may be served with melted butter and a little vinegar. It has few stinging hairs. and other countries of Europe. only a few inches high is quite tender.Stinging Nettle 138 STINGING OR GREAT NETTLE Urtica dioica THE very name article of diet. This nettle is also used for food and. it is said to be very palatable. Germany. and the leaves are narrower and more rounded at the base. or a cream sauce may be used. has long been used for that purpose in Europe. The flower cluster is large. much-branched. monoecious. According to Sir Walter Scott. The leaves are ovate. This plant is a native of Europe and Asia but was introduced here and now ranges from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and south to the Carolinas. and Colorado. It is a native. The and but pistillate separate flowers are very small. it was in the gardens of Scotland as a potherb. dark green plant. the Patience Dock or Spinach quite common in the East and extends as far west as Kansas. as far west as the plains. with a deep yellow root. Another introduced species is Dock. This plant has long been cultivated is Europe for early greens. one to three feet tall. six inches to a foot long. It is generally It also has a more bitter taste. pastures. They should be parboiled or the water changed by those who do not like the slightly bitter taste. and a small amount of vinegar added. The leaves should be gathered in the spring when young and tender and cooked as a potherb. using dock. The greenish flowers are arranged in whorls in panicled racemes. is also recommended for greens. It sometimes cultivated for that purpose It is in this country but seldom gets to the markets. It is a smooth. NARROW. or salt pork is generally cooked with the dock. Rumex obtusifolius.LEAVED. quite similar to the Curled Dock. It is Wood Nettle tender and somewhat watery or succulent dur- ing most of its growing period. dandelions. The Broad-Leaved or Bitter Dock. OR YELLOW DOCK Rumex crispus THE in Curled Dock is a very common. In now a many is more robust with broader leaves. potherb. smooth species. The in flower pan- icle is dense. with ovate-oblong or lanceolate Patientia. It is native of is Europe and Asia but was early introduced into America and now found nearly throughout the United States. It is Rumex now leaves. often troublesome weed waste places. The leaves are nearly all at the base. The stem leaves are similar in shape and appearance to those at the base but only about half the size. They are oblong or lanceolate. A little bacon. CURLED.139 run barefoot. and the tender tops of Horse-Radish or Mustard. It is a tall. The margins are wavy or curled. The leaves are sometimes two feet long. It has a wide range through most of the United States east of Kansas. It is a native of Europe but is common weed respects it in this country. and cultivated fields. ham. considered a good . Housewives often prefer to mix the greens. generally with a slightly heart-shaped base. generally from three to five feet high. Many of the Indian tribes of the Southwest gather and cook it as a spinach. The generic name for Goosefoot. the plants are succulent and tender. It weed that might be used as human ilies is probably the most common food. six to ten inches high. In Europe it has long been used as food though rarely cultivated. I have a friend who much prefers it to the latter plant. or the uppermost lanceolate with angular toothed edges. It has broad smooth. I have seen Lamb's Quarter enough to supply a dozen fam- On two or three meals a week. The Lamb's Quarter is a native of Europe and Asia but was early introduced into this country and is now found all over North America except the extreme north. This plant usually grows in cultivated fields. When small. The leaves are rhombic-ovate. In the East it is found as far south as the White Mountains.Mountain Sorrel 140 MOUNTAIN OR ALPINE SORREL Oxyria digyna of the buckwheat family is found from Alaska Greenland and in northern Europe and Asia. The leaves are generally white mealy beneath. It should be cooked and . LAMB'S QUARTER. chiefly basal leaves. It has an especial liking for potato fields. It often grows about in the northern mountains. and to THIS member The greenish or reddish flowers in a panicle resembling that of a dock. They are one to four inches long. From their shape the plant is Chenopodium is Greek sometimes called Goosefoot. fleshy or succulent leaves have a pleasing acid taste. toes. The minute green flowers are arranged in spiked panicles. and in that stage are very desirable as a potherb. Large plants are often much branched. The whole plant often has a pale bluish green color. coman acre planted in potaing up after cultivation has ceased. but in the West it extends through the higher mountains to New Mexico and southern California. and the plant may mining camps be used in salads or as a potherb. OR WILD SPINACH Chenopodium album THIS two coarse weed is a very common annual that grows from to seven feet tall with a stem slightly grooved and almost woody when mature. Quarter. The plants should be gathered spring and summer when small and tender. spinach. was often growing with it. of sufficient merit. the broad. The Lamb's Quarter was growing about almost every pueblo visited." Fremont's Goosefoot Chenopodium Fremontii. It has long been cultivated in Europe. a similar plant. the margins are entire or slightly wavy. cooked." The young shoots have although certainly been used as a substitute for asparagus. and served the same as spinach. where it was apparently cultivated or at least protected. Many of the Indian tribes of the West gather and cook Lamb's It is sometimes eaten raw. The natives call it "Quelite. a plant that is THIS comes up from the same roots year after year. The Upright or City Goosefoot. Part of August and September. with the angles quite acute or sharp. where I studied the food habits of the Indians. but those of the upper leaves are short. Before the introduction of spinach. The Good-King-Henry is a native of Europe that was introduced into American gardens and later escaped. succulent leaves were much used as a potherb. from one to two feet tall. 1934. They also gather the seeds. Chenopodium urbicum. OR WILD SPINACH Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus another goosefoot that closely resembles the Lamb's but the leaves are not mealy. the beet. I spent in New Mexico. and the plant grows only Quarter. The leaves are triangular. In fact. In this country it is apparently never abundant anywhere. that is. resembling those of the Lamb's Quarter in appearance and ar- rangement. south to Maryland and Ohio. One authority says : English gardens but of late neglected. and one . The small flowers are green. It is a perennial. GOOD-KING-HENRY. and Lamb's Quarter all belong to the same botanical family. It may now be found wild from Nova Scotia to Ontario. The lower leaves have long petioles. This potherb should be "Formerly cultivated in prepared. where it was a favorite with good King Henry.I4 1 Lamb's Quarter served like spinach. In England it also goes under the names of Mercury and Allgood. grind them into meal which is baked in cakes or used in gruel. It is said to be best when cooked and a in little for about twenty minutes and served with butter lemon juice or vinegar. clay soil of desert valleys.Russian Thistle 142 or two other species of this genus are also used as a substitute for spinach. fleshy leaves are flattened above. the narrow. OR PIGEONBERRY Phytolacca decandra Phytolacca americana THE Pokeweed is a stout. it in the springtime several thick succulent erect shoots ap- The stalks which branch and spread near the top vary in . The root is large and poisonous. carefully washed and cut into short pieces and boiled until tender. strong-smelling perennial that grows from four to eight feet tall. it is When is cream sauce is added it may be edible is inexhaustible but the period when supply rather short. then served with butter or cream sauce. tender plants when only a high. but some housewives in the few inches western states take the >oung. From pear. served on toast. then serve with butter. POKE. found from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific It usually grows three or four feet high but may reach a height of six or eight feet. RUSSIAN THISTLE Salsola kali var. over the western states on the plains and along the eastern seashore. This is the most common "tumbleweed" states. The of the in Rocky Mountain and plains spring and early summer. One would think that a plant so prickly would be unfit for food. The numerous young branches are grayish white. in vacant soil. The tender twigs of this shrub are sometimes gathered by the housewives of Utah (and probably by those of other western states). It is too familiar to need description. OR SCOKE. Plants should be gathered GREASEWOOD Sarcobatus vermiculatus THIS shrub is in alkaline. tenuifolia THE Russian Thistle grows most everywhere. rounded beneath. carefully cut and wash them and boil until tender. OR REDROOT Amaranthus retroflcxus THE from tropical part of cultivated Green Amaranth. are five to ten inches long. GREEN AMARANTH." In the United States it is not cultivated in the proper careful to allow sense of the word. Frederick V. or even in waste lands. or four feet or even more. The flowers and fruits are in racemes. The Poke is a native from Maine to Minnesota. wavy margins. It grows as a weed in gardens and soils.143 color Pokeweed from green to reddish purple. is naturalized America and now may be found over the greater the United States. when the young Poke shoots are a few inches high. which are ovatelanceolate. The blossoms are greenish white. and the berries when ripe are dark purple. however. about one-third inch in diameter. Coville wrote of the young stems of the Pokeweed : They are thick and succulent like the stems of asparagus. Dr. long-pointed. They were parched or ground into meal. Care must be taken not to get any of the root in with the green shoots. The leaves . or in uncultivated ground. It especially likes clearings or "new ground. have introduced the plant into cultivation in Europe. filled with a purhence the plish crimson juice which is sometimes used for ink name Inkberry. The leaves. The French. four to seven inches long. always apt in testing and making use of every kind of food. with wavy margins. The ovate. along fences. with in long panicled spikes. and somewhat rough." In the spring. although those who bring it into the markets are it to maintain itself in the areas in which it becomes established. but are commonly brought into the city markets where they are sold under the name of "sprouts. often called Pigweed. they are cut off just above the ground and cooked after the manner of asparagus or spinach. which is often applied to this plant. pointed. It prefers a rich loamy soil in neglected places. and dull green leaves are the petioles or leaf stems are nearly as long as the leaves. reaching a height of three The stout stem is little branched. south to Florida and Texas. which was baked in cakes or used for porridge. The greenish flowers are The shiny black seeds of this and other amaranths were formerly used for food by the Indians. and are not only used by the country people. for the root is bitter and poisonous. slightly hairy. but in Europe several upright cultivated varieties have been developed. They are small and last but a six or seven. It has never been much valued in America. It Indians of the southwestern states cultivated seeds. greasy thing. where it was used for food more than two thousand years ago. wrote: "As a potherb it is very palatable. and often becomes a troublesome weed." In Mexico it is frequently seen in the markets where vegetables are sold. In southern Europe it is sometimes used in soups. The fleshy stems are sometimes pickled. when cooked. a fertile sandy soil. Charles Dudley Warner calls it "a fat. The small alternate leaves are thick and tuse. still retaining. On account of its mild flavor it may flavored greens to make it more appetizing. OR PUSLEY Portulaca oleracea THIS fleshy. a slight acid taste. Like the Lamb's Quarter it mav be found in a young growing state from spring until autumn. trailing annual is a native of India. spreading." Purslane is cooked and served like spinach. where it has been used as a potherb for centuries. Coville. . fleshy. The plant should be taken when young and tender. Some think that it may have been native to Persia. if the latter is desired. but over Mexico and even into South America. It can be heartily recommended to those who have a liking for this kind of vegetable food. western United States. be cooked with strongeris claimed that the this plant for its PURSLANE. It was early introduced into Europe. It acts like a native in the south. is erally number few hours. botanist of the United States Department of Agriculture. In China and India it is much used as a potherb.Green Amaranth 144 were also used for food. The petals genand the stamens about eleven. In England the young stems and leaves are often used as a summer salad. It should be cooked like spinach and served with butter and vinegar. ob- The light yellow flowers open only on sunny morn- ings. ground- The purslane found It especially revels in clinging. spatulate. scattered. I and the most propagatious plant know. As a food plant it certainly has value. Dr. in almost every old garden in this country. During colonial times it was naturalized in America and it has spread not only over this country and southern Canada. 145 Miners' Lettuce INDIAN LETTUCE. arises from a bunch of basal leaves. the stalk there More is than halfway up a single pair of leaves so united as to form a disk or cup completely encircling the stem. Arizona. OR SPANISH LETTUCE. on long petioles. Some are very narrow. In the early gold-mining days of California. preferring a moist situation. it was very difficult to get eat fresh fruits and vegetables. The Indians are said to be very fond of it and it raw as a salad or cooked as a potherb. sepals and usually leaves. therefore the name of Miners' Lettuce. five stems arise Generally several from one cluster of basal Altogether this is an odd and dainty plant which grows larger and coarser in cultivation. The somewhat fleshy leaves and stems are tender and crisp. The stem. Above this is a raceme of white or sometimes pinkish flowers. The miners resorted to this and other plants for greens. and northern Mexico. a very close relative of the eastern Spring Beauty. is found native from British Columbia and Idaho south to California. others nearly round or even kidney-shaped. OR MINERS' LETTUCE Montia perfoliata Claytonia perfoliata Indian Lettuce. There are two petals. the lack of which brought on scurvy and other diseases. where it grows on banks and under trees. I have found it in THE abundance at many places in California. The miners probably learned its use from the In- Miners' Lettuce dians or possibly from the Spaniards on (Montia perfoliata) . These leaves vary greatly in shape. which is six inches to a foot high. where it was introduced and has escaped. ones. COMMON CIIICKWEED media Stellaria Alsine media THIS very common weed has been naturalized from Europe and Asia and is found in gardens. In places in Europe It also it has escaped as a weed." MARSH MARIGOLD.Miners' Lettuce the Pacific Coast. west to Saskatchewan and Nebraska. and is used for salads or as a potherb. . where it is cultivated under the name of Winter Purslane. much The in the year. ovate. In the central United States it probably could be found in bloom every month branched. in fact. it should be gathered in the spring. The five petals are The Common Chickweed when properly prepared makes a splendid potherb. OR AMERICAN COWSLIP Caltha palustris is a common wild flower growing in swamps. This plant has been introduced into Europe. ters The lower leaves are petioled the upper small white flowers are in terminal leafy clus- The or solitary in the axils of the leaves. It must be familiar to many people. sometimes a foot long. It is much used in some parts of Europe. with entire margins. rather sharp-pointed . 146 For food. it is now found over most of the world. Charles Pierpoint Johnson writes. The plant is tufted and very stems are weak and reclining. cultivated grounds. marshy and wet meadows from Newfoundland to South Carolina. grows wild in Cuba. fields. I have tested its edible qualities and can recommend the plant. deeply two-cleft. "It spinach in flavor and forms when boiled an excellent green vegetable much resembling is very wholesome. waste places. for more than twenty-five common names have been ap- THIS places. sessile. The duckweed is an annual although it frequently lives over winter. in Useful Plants of Great Britain. or in the woods over most of the United States. The leaves are opposite. three to six inches across. The flowers appear in April or May. Marsh Marigold It is be protected. The basal leaves are on long fleshy petioles. The blade of the leaf is heart. palustris) wavy. especially in the spring at or near the flowering season and before most garden greens are ready for use. The upper leaves are nearly sessile. and many people say that and even superior of the latter plant. The leaves and stems are boiled and served in the same manner as spinach. The Marsh Marigold (Caltha margins are entire.147 plied to it.or kidney-shaped. It is to the plant's advantage that it often grows in swampy regions far out of reach. They There are bright glossy yellow. one of our most beautiful wild flowers and should its edible qualities should also be a matter of The Marsh Marigold has a stout. sepals. In many parts of the country the Marsh Mangold is much used as a potherb. In some parts it is the equal of the country. . nearly an inch and a half across. are five to nine petal-like which drop early. or sometimes with rounded teeth. but record. hollow branching stem from twelve to eighteen inches tall. The leaves and tender shoots have been used for greens and for salads since ancient times. familiar plant. thrives best in cold water. The Water Cress now grows from Nova Scotia to Georgia. nine segments. In its wild state. and mix thoroughly. The leaves have from three to the largest. it it highly recommended the Persians. In western India Xenophon prized to is by the Mohammedans. The pods are half an inch to an inch long. Put a tablespoon of butter into a saucepan. naturalized from Europe. or sometimes creeps. Stir until well mixed and you have an appetizing dish ready to serve. Salt and pepper to taste. it is better known and appreciated by people from foreign countries. 148 the tender flower buds are pickled and used as a substitute for slips: me the following recipe for creamed cowthe cowslips. west to Idaho and California. In this country.Marsh Marigold capers. great quantities are produced for the markets of . rooting at the nodes." TRUE WATER CRESS Radicula nasturtium-aquaticum Sisymbrium nasturtium-aquaticum THIS clear. the terminal one much The flowers are small and white. grown and cared for in Now it is much many parts of (Radicula nasturtiumaquaticum) Europe. The it Romans considered as excellent food for those who had it. Add greens and housewife gave One "Cook one-half cup of cream or rich milk. deranged minds. It floats. add a tablespoon of flour. in elongated racemes. drain well and chop fine. Lord Bacon urged land to use but the people of Engit seems that it was little cultivated in that country be- True Water Cress fore the last century. add salt. It is also used as a garnish. or Yellow Water Cress. It has small yellow blossoms and short pods. . a plant with similar leaves but with upright habit. They are on long. I find that it is quite a good substitute for the Water Cress. growing at the My years at exactly the same place. and toothed. abruptly branched at the end. The leaf blade is nearly a foot long and about to two A half as wide. The Horse-Radish has white roots often a foot long and one jority of the leaves mainches in diameter. oblong. with wavy edges and spreading teeth. In some sections of the East it is reported as a weed. often after dwellings have disappeared. white. I have seen statements to the effect that it was once cultivated as a salad plant in Europe. HORSE-RADISH Radicula Armoracia Armoracia Armoracia Cochlearia Armoracia THE Horse-Radish is a perennial plant introduced here from England. The same spot years grandfather planted it by his home in western Pennsylvania probably eighty years or more ago. Radicula palustris. People who buy it in closely packed bunches generally do not recognize the plant floating in the water. The flower clusters are arranged in panicled racemes. where it was probably naturalized from European countries farther east. stout. I have seen large patches of Water Cress growing undisturbed in cool running water in unused lands at the very edge of a small city. having spread but little. introduced in the East but apparently native in the West. It is found over much of North is America. and the clusters still remain after all these plants are very persistent. In this country it was first planted about dwellings but has since escaped to moist grounds in waste places especially along brooks.149 Water Cress our larger towns and cities. It grows in wet or marshy places and along watercourses. but be careful that growing is not polluted. yet quantities of the plant were brought from a distance to that city's market. It may the water in which it is be gathered at all seasons. The flowers are small. come from the roots. channeled petioles. The stem leaves are smaller. sessile. The Marsh Cress. only one common name is in use. which appear from April to June are yellow. As a cultivated crop. arranged in long racemes. The seed pods are one and a half to three inches long. and oysters. and furnish the well known little sauce or condiment which is used on roast beef. OR SCURVY GRASS Barbarea verna Barbarea praecox THE Winter Cress is a native of Europe and has been intro- spreading as a weed in cultivated ground places. The tender leaves in the spring is botanical literature. strange to say. palachian Mountains.Horse-Radish and like all other plants of the 150 mustard family. pork. The Horse-Radish has gone under several scientific names in said to be increasing. The use of Horse-Radish the plant is now are frequently used for greens and are good for that purpose especially when mixed with dock or other wild plants. each blossom has four petals. It may now be found from Massachusetts and southern New York south to Florida and west to and in the Ap- duced into and waste this country. For this purpose. rarely produce seed. formed at all. they are grated and mixed with a vinegar. mounted on short. and as a result. As in all plants of the mustard family. very From New York southward. In Washington City and elsewhere. the Winter Cress is often cultivated for use as a potherb or winter salad. often cultivated. but. the seeds are generally sown broadcast sections is in late it summer. rather sharply four-angled. biting taste are nearly round. OR BELLE ISLE CRESS. it usually goes under the name of Scurvy Grass. The The glossy green leaves have four to eight flowers. . if The seed pods. is commonly seen in the markets. pairs of lateral lobes. it is grown in gardens in England and highly much used Germany." WINTER CRESS. about a quarter of an inch across. In cultivation. although I have heard country folk refer to it as "Sting Nose. have four petals. and in some appreciated. The roots may The roots have a hot. It in is in early spring. especially in the South. and are thick stems or pedicels. The plants be taken at any season. It prefers low cultivated and waste grounds. The plant is sometimes called "Bitter Cress" and is occasionally for sale in the markets under the name of "Upland Cress. It has spread is believed to be native from Lake Superior north and west to the Pacific Coast." It is said to be also cultivated pedicels." It has a bitterness that to me is not altogether pleasant. Barbarea vulis another European introduction in general appearance quite similar to the last species. Barbarea Barbarea. This is chiefly removed in cooking by changing the water once or twice. The seed pods are not more than an inch long on rather slender spreading stems or This plant is sometimes used as a salad or potherb and probably best mixed with other "greens. Cress or Yellow Rocket. has glossy green leaves with one to three over the eastern and central states but lateral lobes and a much larger rounded terminal lobe. It grows from one to two feet tall.Winter Cress Bitter-Cress (Barbarea verna) The Common Winter garis. The bright yellow blossoms appear from April to June. and in places is a pest. is . The plant has a rosette of leaves at the base with lateral leaves along the stem. and Asa Gray says of it: "Leaves with just the taste of the English water-cress. Water Cress. Round-Leaved. and places from Newfoundland to Minnesota and Montana. . It is slightly bitter but not disagreeable. and the showy white or rose-colored flowers are half an inch or more broad. The small white flowers are followed by slender seed pods about an inch long when mature. or American. . or Meadow Cress. Tennessee. This plant is an excellent substitute for the common Water On with Cress. Among them are the following: The Cuckoo Flower. It is used as a salad plant. in THE wet This plant is an annual or sometimes a biennial with erect smooth stem eight inches to two feet high. also in Europe and Asia.Winter Cress in gardens in parts of 152 England and Scotland it is . PENNSYLVANIA BITTER CRESS Cardamine pennsylvanica Pennsylvania Cress is common along brooks. hikes in the woods. Cardamine rotundifolia. often much branched. the terminal one obovate and much larger than the others. Cardamine pratensis. and Kansas. is found in cold springs and brooks from New York to Ohio south to North Carolina and Missouri." BLACK MUSTARD Brassica nigra DESCRIBED under Edible Seeds and Seed Pods. often reclining plant with oval or round leaves. in general appearance quite similar to the Pennsylvania Cress but the lower leaflets are rounded. The leaves have from seven to eleven leaflets. north to Labrador. swamps. It is not abundant but may be found from New Jersey to Minnesota. and in places on the Continent of Europe boiled as kale or spinach. south to Florida. It is a weak. Several other plants of this genus have also been used as substitutes for the Water Cress. I have often gathered this cress to eat my sandwiches and have found it a pleasing relish. OR MOUNTAIN LETTUCE Saxifraga micranthidifolia Micranthes micranthidifolia THE Lettuce Saxifrage is a perennial plant that grows on the borders of cool mountain streams and in swampy places in the Appalachian Mountains from central Pennsylvania south to Georgia and Tennessee. This perennial May On has a thick fleshy horizontal rootstock from which arises early in the season a naked stem bearing a panicle of white or pale pink . They seem to be careful not to destroy the roots. for in places I have found it in abundance along cold mountain brooks. then placed in a stewpan or frying pan where a little bacon or fat salt pork has previously been cut fine and partly cooked. flowers appear from May to July. is highly prized by the people. The edges of the leaves have short sharp teeth. Some sour in fact. the leaves are carefully gathered and washed. In that region. They are sometimes nearly a foot long. proach I saw the plant was larger and coarser. The In some of the mountainous sections of southern Pennsylvania. The white flowers are nearly a quarter of an inch across.153 Lettuce Saxifrage LETTUCE SAXIFRAGE. which was along a rocky moun- tain stream in northern California. In most households it is cream more than is an acceptable dish. The calyx lobes turn backward. rounded at the top. but the cooking is slight wilted. The leaves are in a thick mat at the base of the plant." probably from the shape of the leaves. followed by sharp-pointed seed pods. garden lettuce is usually scarcely prepared and served in the same manner. In the springtime. The flower scape is one to two feet tall. For salads it is probably used more than any other wild plant of the region. INDIAN RHUBARB Peltiphyllum peltatum Saxifraga peltata WHEN I first saw this plant. tapering downward in a margined petiole. terminating in a loose panicle. the leaves are added. There the natives call this plant it "Deer Tongue. I immediately thought of the a nearer apcommon Apple or Mandrake of the East. It is found from to Florida west to Missouri and Texas. from central California to central Oregon. slightly cupped or depressed at the center. from one to three feet long. the plant has thick fleshy petioles or leaf stems. irregularly toothed. seems to suit it best hence we growing with the Low-Bush Blueberries and Winter. with toothed margins. lobed margin. esif it it often find green. crisp On and juicy. In order to support such large leaves. there often appears an irregular growth an inch or two across. The thick fleshy leafstalks are peeled and eaten by the Indians. but have cut or dissected many of them and have found no trace of insect life. It is quite heavy and It may have been made by an insect. which has given to the plant the name of Wild Honeysuckle. at elevahundred to nearly six thousand feet. The individual blossoms are large. or Whitsunday. which are bright green above. Early this Dutch settlers about New York named Flower from Pentecost. because that movable date. is rocky and sandy. Sometimes they are The Indian Rhubarb tions of fifteen cooked after the manner of asparagus. They should be used in AZALEA OR PINXTER FLOWER Rhododendron nudiflorum Azalea nudiflora THE lightful wild Azalea or Pinxter Flower is one of the most de- Maine pecially flowering shrubs of the springtime. or often slightly earlier than. slightly obovate. I . The nearly round or They are from one from two feet across. who consider them a delicacy. An acid soil. The pink or nearly white glandular corolla has a very pleasing odor. in the Sierra Nevada. shrub the Pinxter it blooms near the leaves or twigs of the Azalea. paler beneath. are two to four inches long. to six feet high with alternate which are generally crowded toward the ends of the branches. Cascade and Coast Ranges. The clustered flowers appear in April or May according to the latitude. the leaves. with pistil and stamens that extend much beyond the flower. is found along mountain streams. 154 shield-shaped leaves all arise to the base. These short-petioled leaves. spring and summer. not as a gall. and open with. The Azalea grows from two leaves. It is probably an abnormal growth solid.Indian Rhubarb flowers. Its cool. . not so many know that the plant is good as a potherb. I find they make a good it. and others they seem scarce. especially Some years they They are usually COMMON MILKWEED. salad. as they are sometimes called." May when mixed with other greens.155 Azalea produced or started by bacteria. translucent. are quite plentiful. especially in early autumn when the pods burst and the seeds with their parachute arrangement go sailing off in the wind." And again he writes: pulp it is like "How makes the corners of my jaws ache with thirsty yearning as I think of Azalea or Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron nudiflorum) These apples. are excellent for pickling with spiced vinegar and have been used for that purpose since Pilgrim days. thirsty small boy. in Sharp Eyes. By experiment. at their best near the end of May. pale green balm to his thirsty lips. William Hamilton Gibson. OR SILKWEED Asclepias syriaca Asclepias Cornuti NEARLY every person is familiar with the Common Milkweed. However. Some think it may be a modified bud. says: "It has no mission in the world except to melt in the mouth of the eager. or warty seed pod. nearly half as wide. when only a few inches high. It prefers a rich. It grows from three to five feet tall with a sturdy tough stem. and in waste places from New Brunswick to Saskatchewan. its each with an incurved horn. in opposite pairs. along roadsides. then them. with five upright hoods. somewhat sandy soil. are ob- long. with short stout petioles. splitting on All parts of the plant contain a milky juice. Wash them thoroughly. The follicle. The numerous sweet- Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) scented flowers are arranged in globular umbels. one is three to five inches long when mature. The flowers have five sepals. The leaves. changing the water once or twice to remove the milky have tested this plant several times and find that it juice. from four to eight inches long. is.Milkweed This plant 156 is a native perennial found in old fields. a corolla deeply five-parted. For greens. south to North Carolina and Kansas. orchards. the plants are collected when young and tender side. and five stamens. tapering at both ends. The corolla with hoods is greenish purple or nearly white. that boil We . with forked branches. There are several species of the Corn Salad native of the United States. As a salad. Asclepias tuberosa. with only three stamens. their most marked in the fruit or seed. good brown sugar can be made A Fremont found the Indians of the Platte River country eating the young pods. The Corn Salad is a native of Europe. rounded. is also reported that the Indians ate the pods and stems of the Butterfly Weed. the Goosefoot Corn Salad. sessile. small pale blue corolla is nearly regular and funnelform. all are tender and somewhat suc- culent. They are also collected for salads and to use as spinach. The names Fetticus and Pawnee to Ontario. One. CORN SALAD. south to Virginia fields Maine Lettuce are also used for this plant. It is commonly sold in the markets about New York. and often toothed . The stem leaves are opposite. In Canada. OR LAMB'S LETTUCE Valerianella Locusta Valerianella olitoria THE Corn Salad is a smooth annual plant that grows from six to twelve inches tall. where it is much culti- The vated as a potherb and salad plant. It often forms a rosette of leaves in the autumn and may be gathered then. the tender stems and tops are prepared and eaten like asparagus. is much like spinach. In some regions of this country it is cultivated but it has escaped and become naturalized from . and Arkansas. and even more difference is difficult to tell from one another . for alone it is rather tasteless. and will probably become more abundant as the years go by. it is best served with lettuce and Water Cress.157 Milkweed needs more cooking than some greens but. when well prepared. with salad dressing. flowers. where it usually goes by the name of Field Salad. cooking them with buffalo meat. The basal leaves are spatulate. This plant has tuberous from the It roots which were also cooked and eaten by the Indians. a common milkweed from the Great Plains east to the Atlantic Coast. It may be gathered in spring and early summer. or obtuse at the apex. It grows in and waste places and occasionally along roadsides. Valerianella . They have white blossoms but otherwise are so nearly like the European Corn Salad that they are difficult to tell from it. It grows from one to three feet in tall with rigid angular branches. and Several cultivated forms of the Chicory have been developed. lobed. These leaves are from three to six inches long. south to Florida and Kansas. south to Florida and Texas. They generally close by noon. along roadsides. From the color of the blossoms. are gathered and boiled as a potherb. or toothed edges. forming a rosette on the ground similar to that of the Dandelion. it generally grows taller than Another is the Beaked Corn Salad. They are from an inch to an inch and a half across. also on the Pacific Coast and locally elsewhere in the South and West. and of a beautiful blue color. where it has become a weed in pasture fields. south to Virginia and Kentucky. The water should be poured off once or twice to remove the bitter taste. Occasionally the flowers are white or pinkish. the plant is frequently called Blue-Sailors. or as Emerson says: Grass with green flag half-mast high. and in waste lands from Nova Scotia to Minnesota. in late years it has become a farm crop in some sections. The flower heads are sessile. but in cloudy weather may remain open all day. with cut. which closely resemble those of the Dandelion. sometimes they occur singly. The stem leaves are very small and clasping. The leaves are nearly all at the base of the plant. THE spatulate. It .Corn Salad 158 chenopodifolia. OR WILD SUCCORY. CHICORY. In the spring. often clustered but generally two at a place. is found from western New York to Minnesota. Valerwhich grows in low ground from Massachusetts to Minnesota. OR BLUE-SAILORS Cichorium Intybus Chicory is a native of Europe and Asia but has escaped North America. the young leaves of the Chicory. ianella radiata. the European species. often curled. Others are native of the Middle West. They are then served like spinach. It is a stiff-branching perennial with a deep taproot. Succory to match the sky. but all may be used alike. They are gathered when young and tender. In New Orleans and some other southern cities. The edges of the leaves have teeth that are supposed to resemble those of a lion. meaning "lion's tooth. The plants are much more numerous in the eastern states than they are in the West. hence Linnaeus gave it the generic name Leontodon. then boiled. much of the coffee is flavored with Chicory. and those who do not relish the bitter taste had better change the water once or twice. They are generally served with a lump of butter and a dash of . The tender roots are sometimes boiled and served like carrots and parsnips but they have never become popular. The leaves of the Dandelion are highly prized as a spring green. DANDELION Taraxacum officinale Leontodon Taraxacum Taraxacum Dens-leonis is a plant too common to need description. and I have never seen them growing wild so robust or in such profusion as along Lake Champlain. thoroughly cleaned. The ground roots are roasted and used as a substitute years. The blossoms are most abundant in May. forming a stemless THE Dandelion a weed it plant above ground.159 Chicory has often been observed that this plant requires the same climatic conditions as the sugar beet. As a salad plant. Even common name Dandelion refers to the lionlike teeth of the leaves. The hollow flower stems vary from one inch high on a the The smoothly cut lawn to fifteen or more inches amid the tall grass. The leaves grow in a rosette. yellow flowers are in a cluster or head that usually opens only in the sunshine. They are oblong or spatulate. large headlike forms with fine-cut blanched leaves have been developed. The cooking should not be too long. As has spread over most of the civilized world." The specific name Dens-leonis means the same thing. rather stout root. variously cut and toothed. but about New York I have found them every month in the year. or sometimes merely to flavor coffee. millions of or adulterant of coffee. Great quantities of this form are sold in the city markets. Some pounds of the root have been imported from Europe for this purpose. It is a perennial that grows from a long. or basal cluster. . In spring and early summer. They are often cooked and served cold as a salad with or without vinegar. Several horticultural varieties have been developed that form large leafy plants. the roots have been used as a salad. Some Many bacon chopped fine. the Dandelion is now a com- mon vegetable in the city markets of New York and vicinity. On the vegetable farms of New Jersey I have seen fields or plots of three or four acres planted in Dandelions and cultivated in the same manner as Potatoes.Dandelion vinegar. The Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) dried roots have been used as a substitute for coffee. yet has only recently been cultivated. 160 prefer to cook them with a little fat salt pork or then serve with a sour-cream dressing. prefer the leaves mixed with other greens. I also find that it This plant has been used as a vegetable since ancient times. Dandelions are sometimes blanched and used raw as a winter salad. The flower heads are about half an inch high. etc. variously cut and toothed. the water should be changed to remove the milk and slight bitter taste. The leaves twist or is Compass turn edgewise to the sun. and New Mexico. a native of Europe and well known to the ancients. Their margins are sharp-toothed is is almost bris- The fields. The hollow stem has a whitish bloom and is very leafy up to the panicle. OR HORSEWEED Lactuca canadensis Wild Lettuce is a smooth annual or biennial plant. but not many open at one time. The plant has a wide range. The basal leaves are variable. that grows from four to nine feet tall. The wild Lettuce prefers a rich. It frequents waste places. up to fifteen inches. The flowers are yellow and numerous. unless the latter is desired. Louisiana. thickets. THE soil in open places. The lower part of the stem and the midrib of the leaves are beset with weak prickles. often to the midrib. Some add a little vinegar. It is also edible. whitish beneath the upper ones are often lance-shaped and entire. A little bacon or other fat meat. tall. is often preferred. and roadsides and a few inches high. It grows from two to five feet high. hence the name Horseweed. a very good potherb. . it often a trouble- some weed. now a very familiar weed over much of this country. The leaves clasp the stem with earlike projections. have tried the Wild Lettuce and know that it may be used as a substitute for the We garden variety.161 Wild Lettuce WILD OR TALL LETTUCE. for that reason it is sometimes called Plant. along fences. rather moist in hayfields. When may be cut for salad or a . generally the latter. The cooking should not be is When the Wild Lettuce a few inches the leaves and tender stems make long continued. When boiling. growing from Nova Scotia to British Columbia. cut fine and cooked with the plant. Horses are very fond open of it. tle-tipped. especially as a potherb. PRICKLY LETTUCE Lactuca scariola Lactuca virosa THIS plant. plant a biennial or sometimes an annual. deeply cut. from five to twelve inches long. The stem leaves are clasping. south to Georgia. Solomon's-Seal. It should be used only an emergency food. Most of them have not tested. Uvularia perfoliata. Cladonia rangiferina. The young leaves are very tender. Some botanists believe that the cultivated lettuce was developed from this species. Asparagus officinalis. The tender plant in spring is said . This is common in swamps nearly throughout North America. This and other Commelina are now becoming common as weeds in species of cultivated ground. and for that reason it makes a very good salad plant. or Wild Oat. Some prefer it cut in pieces with a little chopped onion and served with French dressing. True south to Florida and Tennessee. Commelina communis. it needs very little cooking and is excellent when served with a hot dressing of melted butter and vinegar. It escaped from cultivation in America. It should be gathered in the spring or early summer. The tender part or base of the stem is eaten fresh and raw by the Indians of the NorthI west. I know of country people who gather it regularly. paragus. As a potherb. Dayflower. Polygonatum biflorum. as The young shoots are an excellent substitute for AsThe roots are edible when cooked. Perfoliate Bellwort. The roasted seeds have been used as a substitute for coffee and are still recommended for that purpose in Europe. as a stimulant. This lichen is common on the ground in the northern states and Canada. ADDITIONAL PLANTS WITH EDIBLE STEMS AND LEAVES I FIND record of the following plants being edible. The Prickly Lettuce is found from coast to coast. This bellwort is found from Quebec and Ontario south to Florida and Mississippi. The True Solomon's-Seal is found from New Brunswick to Ontario and Michigan.Prickly Lettuce 162 potherb. The Asparagus is native of Europe and Asia and was cultivated in Rome before the Christian Era. Asparagus. Woodsmen of Canada sometimes drink a strong tea made from it. They are used as potherbs in foreign countries. When crisp it is sometimes eaten by people in Norway. Reindeer Moss. Scirpus validus. Great American Bulrush. The first Asparagus that I ever recall having eaten was obtained from plants that grew wild in fence corners along a field. the writer and his companions chewed it with apparently no ill effects. are prepared by the Indians. Amaranthus Palmeri. The Indians of the Missouri River valley cooked the bark with buffalo fat in rendering out the tallow. Polygonum Persicaria. To remove it from large roots shows less. Persicaria a weed introduced from Europe. It is from this and other Century Plants of the Southwest that the Apache Indians prepare their famous mescal. This forest tree is found from Quebec to North Dakota. According to Kephart. and cooked in the same manner Slippery Elm. also in eastern Massachusetts. Century Plant. It greatly resembles Spinach. south to Florida and Texas. as a salad plant or potherb. or in America. It is a native of tropical America and is much used when young and tender. now found nearly throughout North America. Native of the Southwest. or Glasswort. Used as in the last species. is or Heartweed. The large budding flower stalk is roasted in stone-lined pits until tender and is then enjoyed by the natives. like that flour prepared with milk. said to be palatable and wholesome. When a boy. Emerson. Ulmus fulva. This annual weed ranges from Canada south to the Tropics. south to Texas. Thumb. Robin." This should be used as an emergency food. Amaranthus hybridus. Trunks of this tree should not be mutilated by removing the bark. to give the latter a pleasing flavor. Salicornia europaea. this and other Trilliums "make good greens when cooked. south to North Carolina and Missouri. The inner bark is mucilaginous with a sweet and pleasing flavor. or Keerless. or Pickle Plant. This Persicaria. or Spleen Amaranth. Found in dry soil from Missouri and Kansas. Indians fed upon the starchy root. forms a wholesome and nutritious food in his for infants and invalids. Agave parryi. Wake The Sotols. mixed Arrowroot. . Horace Kephart says: "Used as an early salad plant in the southern mountains. Saltwort. Francis Parkman states that roots of this plant were used for food by the half-starved French colonists Trillium. Trillium grandiflorum. especially in the South. Palmer's Amaranth. plants related to the Agaves." Slender Pigweed. species of Dasylirion. or Red Elm. except in the extreme north. says from the bark by drying and grinding. The LargeFlowered Trillium ranges from Quebec to Minnesota.163 to be Edible Leaves and Stems an excellent vegetable when boiled and served The American like Asparagus. Lady's Trees and Shrubs of Massachusetts. south to New Jersey and Kansas. is native from California to Texas. Mesembryanthemum edule. Sanguisorba minor. Eriogonum inflatum. or Garden Burnet. says: "A delicate. Tastes somewhat like cabbage. or Wild Rhubarb. but is much more used as a potherb. Mesembryanthemum crystallinum. The young leaves taste like ." family It is Peppergrass.Edible Leaves and Stems 164 Scotia to Georgia. Another Glasswort. It grows from one to three feet high. south to Kansas and Utah. The stems of the leaves and stalk are crisp and tart and are often cooked as a substitute for Rhubarb. which grows in salt marshes along the Pacific coast and also along the Atlantic coast is sometimes used for pickling. Lepidium virginicum. is a native of Europe and Asia and is now naturalized from It Maine to New York and Maryland. has been introduced on the California coast as a sand-dune binder. Horace Kephart good substitute for spinach. Desert Trumpet. Sea Fig. and is spreading. The tender. fields Shepherd's-Purse. Thlaspi arvense. It frequently goes under the springs in central New York name of Wild Pieplant. It is edible. fleshy stems and leaves have been used as a salad. Rumex hymenosepalus. Delicious when blanched and served as a salad. a weed along roadsides and in waste places. is found as a weed in and waste places nearly all over the world. also about salt Found in salt marshes from Nova (where it is much used for pickling) and in salty soil from Manitoba to British Columbia. This is another member of the mustard family naturalized from Europe and now found in waste places from Quebec to Minnesota. is an edible cress cultivated in places in Europe. or Pie Dock. Salicornia ambigua. native of South Africa. Penny Cress. The Hottentot Fig. This wild dock. This member of the mustard is occasionally used as a garnish and sometimes as a salad. which it quite resembles. Salad Burnet. whose roots are used in tanning leather. or Ice Plant. also Europe and Asia. Sometimes used as a potherb in Europe but chiefly used for pickling. as the name indicates. It is best in early spring. or Sour Dock. grows wild along the southern California coast. Canaigre. repeatedly forked. It has the peppery flavor of other members of the mustard family and was formerly The Chinese still use the plant. or Poterium. This member of the buckwheat family is a common and familiar plant on deserts from California east to Colorado and New Mexico. Capsella Bursa-pastoris. These inflated stems are tender when young and may be eaten raw or used for pickles. The lower internodes are generally much swollen or puffed out. or Pickles. Found from Massachusetts to Minnesota and south. they are gathered and used as a substitute for Asparagus. Found in . Found in cold damp woods from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan. Pythagoras thought highly of it as a spinach. or Deer Grass. in parts of Europe. It has long been cultivated in gardens as a minor vegetable. or Cheeses.' " Meadow Beauty. Red Clover. south to Florida and Texas. acid flavor. The flat carpels or "cheeses" are edible. Sorrel. The Mallow in Egypt. It is found from Maine to Minnesota.Jump-Up. "A wholesome vegetable when boiled. and elsewhere. Malva verticillata. The Round-Leaved Mallow is native of Europe and Asia and was early introduced into America and now grows in waste lands and cultivated grounds over most of our country. Trifolium pratense. as a spring vegetable. Leaves acid. Greeks and Romans generally thought well of it. are eaten by children for their pleasing They are sometimes used in salads.165 Edible Leaves and Stems is green Cucumbers and are used in salads. In woods from Massachusetts to Minnesota. Introduced from Europe and now found in waste places from Nova Scotia to South Dakota. also in Europe and Asia. It and several varieties have been developed. Oxalis violacea. Early Blue Violet. or Johnny. especially along the mountains to Georgia. south to Florida and in appearance. Probably difficult to digest. High Mallow. Arizona.The young shoots are tender and somewhat resemble Asparagus In places in New England. Viola palmata. Tender shoots are eaten today as a salad in France and Italy. but never extensively. Used as a salad and. Malva sylvestris. Louisiana. Wild Indigo. and is employed by negroes for thickening soup under the name of 'wild okra. This and other species of Clover are eaten raw or as a salad by the Indians of California. Violet Wood Sorrel. Mallow. Porcher says: "The plant is very mucilaginous. south to Pennsylvania. south to New York and New England and in the mountains to North Carolina. White or True Wood Sorrel." The seeds are eaten by country people. "A good potherb" (Kephart). Its acid leaves are edible. Whorled or Curled Mallow. sometimes cultivated. Rhexia virginica. Oxalis Acetosella. The Yellow Wood Sorrel and also the Sheep or Field Rumex Acetosella. Baptisia tinctoria. Malva rotundifolia. Introduced from Europe into is cultivated as a potherb United States and Canada. it is eaten as a salad by the Into dians. is much more common and is found in waste lands over much of the United Germany . Kansas." (Scientific Plantain. Found also in Europe and Asia. west to Iowa. The young leaves shoots are used as a substitute for Asparagus. weed in cultivated lands. It is reported that in England the leaves are sometimes used to adulterate tea. Make a good addition to a salad. sandy soil from Maine to Florida. anti-scorbutic. All too American. Plantago major. York to Is said to make good greens." Great Willow Herb." Great Burdock.Edible Leaves and Stems 166 moist. Used as a spring green. Europe. Used in salads in France and Germany. It claimed that this plant was eaten by some of the early settlers in this country. Delightful in flavor. American Brooklime. New North Carolina. Waterleaf. Scarlet Pimpernel.) Common in in common as a weed North America. and may be eaten with impunity. introduced from Europe. The Common Burdock. In woods. In parts of Asia it is eaten as greens. and California. When is South Carolina. south to North Carolina. Native of Europe and Asia. or Indian Salad. and Asia. healthful. "A salad plant equal to the watercress. also on the Pacific Coast. and southern California. as a potherb Sow Thistle. Sonchus oleraceus. or Poor Man's Weatherglass. Generally very common in burned-over lands. or Fireweed. Hydrophyllum appendiculatum. The and young stems when boiled are used as a potherb in Canada and in northern Europe. Anagallis arvensis. west to South Dakota and young and tender. the young shoots are eaten in the spring as a salad (in Kentucky and probably elsewhere) and are highly prized by all who eat them. Accord- ing to Barton. found over most of the cultivated regions of the world. yet acidulous taste. New Mexico. Veronica americana. According to Kephart. south to Pennsylvania. Epilobium angustifolium. Greenland to Alaska. Formerly eaten China. and Louisiana. "The leaves have a sweetish. Used in Great Britain and A Now as a potherb. Chamaenerion angustifolium. Missouri. Hydrophyllum virgini- anum. Arctium minus. or Hare's Lettuce. Introduced as a weed from Europe. Said to be "exceedingly wholesome. west to Minnesota and Kansas. Nebraska. Naturalized in this country from Newfoundland to Florida. west to Minnesota and Texas. Virginia Waterleaf. Arctium Lappa. Quebec Kansas. In brooks and wet places from Quebec to Alaska. . in Edible Leaves and Stems These despised weeds are said to be cultivated as vegetables Japan. and Oregon. used as a salad. or cooked as Asparagus. Should be used in spring and early summer. The young flower stalk is cooked in the same manner. The stout scaly rootstocks were cooked. Impatiens biflora. succulent stems of the Touch-Me-Not are said to be edible. The Spotted Touch-Me-Not. northwest to British Columroot is The also peeled Ostrich Fern. Newfoundland to Virginia. or Jewel Weed. Matteuccia Struthiopteris. if taken when the plants are young. bia.167 States. which it is said to resemble in flavor. The large tender leafstalks are peeled and eaten raw. It is found from Nova Scotia to southern Alaska south to Florida. and boiled. Onoclea Struthiopteris. boiled. Kansas. or roasted and eaten by the Abnaki Indians of northern New England and Quebec. It often grows in great abundance. . and possibly potatoes. to- did depend. after which they may be ground into meal. Sometimes it is removed by boiling. where the dry bacco. bitter. pumpkins. I find it is a general belief that the North American Indians got their vegetable food entirely from wild material. JOHN G. This was particularly true in the Far West. to prepare it. especially from roots. This starchy material may be turned to man's account. but of course this was not the case. WHITTIER FOR our vegetable diet we depend much upon cultivated root crops such as carrots. Many roots have an acrid. and frequent changing of the water is necessary to remove this. Even to this day.EDIBLE ROOTS AND TUBERS Where Where the groundnut trails its vine. however. amid plenty. They had their cultivated plots or gardens. and beets. turnips. the wood-grape's clusters shine. OR ARROWLEAF. where they grew corn. They climate made gardening almost impossible. during certain seasons of the year. It grows from a few inches to two or three 169 . parsnips. or undesirable taste. then allowing the roots to dry out thoroughly. the western Indians make great use of fleshy roots and tubers. It even extends into Mexico. particularly in the East. OR WAPATOO Sagittaria latifolia Sagittaria variabilis THE Arrowhead is a familiar plant growing in shallow water in ponds and marshes. majority of our edible roots are perennials that store up food for the future use of the plant. beans. or along the borders of sluggish streams nearly throughout the United States and southern Canada. much on wild foods. especially fleshy roots. not how ARROWHEAD. along with the potato. which in reality is an underground stem. A Many human beings have starved on knowing what to eat or the plains and deserts. observed the Indian collecting the roots women joins the Columbia. It was also much used by the Indians of the West. It is claimed that a species of Sagittaria cultivated in China for its tuberous roots. The upper flowers generally bear stamens only. For our purpose we will consider these forms as one species. that would hold one person and several bushels where the Willamette of roots. The Algonquin Indians called the plant Katniss and were very fond of it as an article of food. It was their chief vegetable to eat with fish or meat. are winged on both mar- gins. especially those of Oregon. The women used a very light. they record: "We purchased from the old squaw. pistils. the three sepals persist.Arrowhead feet tall 170 in the and varies wonderfully form of the leaf. The seeds. Lewis. They are generally arrow-shaped with long-pointed basal lobes. and an important article of trade. on which we subsisted. The rootstock is a tuber with numerous fibrous roots. The leaves are basal on long petioles and vary greatly in size and shape. The tubers are eaten by the Chinese in the lower Sacramento valley where this plant is very common and is is called Tule Potato. more properly called achenes. Lewis and Clark record how at the mouth of the Multnomah on wapatoo. They are nearly equal in flavor to the Irish potato and afford a very good substitute for bread. the native tribes subsisted chiefly size of a hen's egg and closely resembling a potato. The blossoms are an inch to an inch and a half broad . they continued to trade for wapatoo. a few wappatoo roots. who called it Wapatoo. The flowering season occurs from July to September." All through the winter of 1805-1806. The white flowers are borne on the upper part of the scape. an edible root about the called the Willamette. shallow canoe ten to fourteen feet long and two feet wide. now Near the mouth of the Columbia. On the return journey. The tuberous roots of the Arrowhead were much used for food by the Indians. and was never out of season. River. and where next to the Camas it is said to be the most valuable native food plant. when encamped near the mouth of this river. Several other species are very similar. ending in a curved beak. It was their chief vegetable food. the botanist of the expedition. He says: . for armbands and rings. but the three rounded showy petals drop after a few days. usually in clusters of three. and the lower ones. They were boiled like potatoes. or sometimes roasted in hot ashes. and the earlier botanists of this country did not attempt to separate them. The grasslike leaves THE which appear near the base have a prominent midrib and are the light green. rises immediately to the surface of the water and is thrown into the canoe. is an edible plant belonging to the sedge family. and sometimes becomes The tubers. and many-flowered. these patient females remain in the water for several hours. about as long as the stem. clustered about the base of the plant. It is a bad weed in many places in the South.171 Arrowhead She takes one of these canoes into a pond where the water is as high as the breast. and many tropical countries. triangular. Asia. even in the depth of winter. which on being freed from the mud. At the top of the stalk are three to six smaller leaves forming an involucre umbel or flower flat. also on the Pacific Coast from California to Alaska. sometimes see them We advertised in seed catalogues. In this manner. The plant is cultivated. The spikelets cluster. It is occasionally found in the North. OR EARTH ALMOND Cyperus esculentus Chuf a. especially in the South and in Europe. The nutlike tubers of this plant are also edible. OR NUT GRASS. and by means of her toes. five to eight rays. strawto colored. south to Florida and Texas. have cultivated the plant and enjoyed eating the tubers. separates from the root this bulb. sometimes Grass. It is perennial from tuberous bearing rootstocks. It has fewer in the umbel with dark brownish purple spikelets. are sweet and edible with a nutty flavor. rather stout. but does not grow on the Columbia farther eastward. The culms or stems are one to two feet tall. It spreads by the nutlike tubers a troublesome weed in low or moist fields. This plant is found through the whole extent of the valley in which we now are. It goes under many common those given above. The cultivated form of the plant rarely We blooms in the North. Cyperus rotundus. one of which is Edible Galingale. names beside called Another Nut Grass. are The umbel has sometimes compound. spreading. It is found rays in sandy fields from Virginia to Kansas. or Nut Grass. and in Europe. for these tubers. where it was introduced especially about the seaports. is Coco very similar to the species described above. around which are numerous. south to Florida and Texas. CHUFA. is The Nut Grass found from New Brunswick Minnesota and Nebraska. . Botanists have described these as separate species. Even the burning acid nature of the rootstock or bulb has been learned by a great many people in the bitter school of experience. The two petioled leaves are sheathed with the flower stalk. The leaves vary greatly in appearance in some plants. they have a white bloom beneath in others. pointed leaflets. OR INDIAN TURNIP Arisaema triphyllum FEW if any of our native wild flowers are better known than the Jack-in-the-Pulpit. each has three ovate. . with entire or sometimes lobed margins.Ja ck-in-th e-Pulpit 172 JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT. but for our purpose we will consider the various forms as one. This perennial grows from one to nearly three feet Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) high from a starchy bulb or corm. At the top of the flower stalk is a round. the under surface is dark green and glossy. club-shaped spadix two or three inches long with the : . after boiling and changing the water two or three times. and Louisiana. may be collected in spring or summer SWEET FLAG. Pencilled by nature's hand. south to Florida and Texas. The colors of the spathe vary greatly and are generally brightest in plants that get the most light. Surrounding the spadix is a green and purple striped spathe ending in a flap over the top. and along sluggish streams. both belonging to the arum family. Green is his surplice. It is starchy. is and are extremely acrid. staminate. The slightly moist. the upper. or Calamus. burning thing to be found in the woods. It has fleshy . brown. west to Minnesota. The bulb. is a close relative of the Indian Turnip. or until they were thoroughly dried. the acrid condition naturally left them and the starch became pleasant and nutritious. OR CALAMUS ROOT Acorus Calamus THE Sweet Flag. In this country it ranges from Nova Scotia to Minnesota. and is a native of Europe and Asia as well as America. I have experimented with the Indian Turnip . In general appearance. Jack-in-the-Pulpit grows in rich woods.1 73 Jack-in-the-Pulpit small greenish yellow flowers near its base. marshy grounds. The poet has well described it: Fair is the canopy over him seen. with numerous rootlets around the outer edge. It (for experiment). green are his bands. The lower blossoms are pistillate. The blossoms are followed by a cluster of green berries which ripe become bright red when or corm. the plant resembles an iris. the roots were still too pungent to eat. then dry them. Kansas. In his queer little pulpit the little priest stands. often where it is from Nova Scotia to Florida. slightly flattened or turnip-shaped. after which these roots were cooked with venison. and green. This would indicate that the burning is produced as by physical properties of the bulb instead of chemical properties is generally supposed. It is claimed that the Indians removed the burning taste by boiling. black. Perhaps it would be best to first boil. but at the same time is the most stinging. When I left them for several weeks. It grows in masses in swamps. afterward they could be ground into meal and baked into cakes or used for gruel after the Indian fashion. Calamus Root rootstocks in extent, 174 which grow in closely matted masses often many feet and to the exclusion of all other plants. The sword- shaped leaves resemble those of the iris, but they are glossy and yellow-green while those of the iris are bluish green and dull. The leaves are one to three feet long and about an inch wide with sharp /TI\ Calamus (Acorus Calamus) edges and a prominent midvein. the base. They closely sheath each other at The three-angled scape is nearly as tall as the leaves. About halfway up is the spikelike spadix, standing out at an angle, two or three inches long and about half an inch thick at the base. It thickly covered with tiny yellowish green flowers. The spadix is is not surrounded by a spathe as in most other members of the arum family. The leaflike extension of the stalk is really a spathe. The interior of the stalk is sweet hence the name Sweet Flag. Edible Morel (JVlorchella esculenta var. cornea/ Yucca-Southern Texas, probably Yucca Treculeana Mandrake or May Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) Wild or ocanet strawberry (*ragaria virginiana) uiacKDerry one ot our best edible wild fruits American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) California Fan Palm California. Fruit ^ ... Photo by George T. Hasting* (Washingtonia filifera), Palm Canyon, may be seen hanging from the trees Acacia ) 1 . Hastings .Nest of the pack rat in New Mexico under which is his store ot Photo by Ueorge Black Locust (Robinia Pseudo. metto or Cabbage Palm (Sabal Palmetto) . Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) . common 1'okc or Figeonberry (Phytolacca dccandra) . Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) . Frank Overt on Ne<w York at i folia) Arrowhead or Wapatoo (Sagittaria .Courtesy of American Museum of Natural History of 1 Photo by Dr. Prairie Courtesy American Museum of Natural History. New York Apple or Indian Bread root (Psoralea esculenta) . 85 2 2 1 2. . C .S o 0.I -a 1 . 0* I D. QJ . J4 3 g 'a cl . C4 OJ s a ctf 3 . 8 3 . Some of the western states have about . and flowers in a terminal umbel. channeled. it is NODDING WILD ONION Allium cernuum people would think that the wild onion belongs to the family but that is the case. little of the leaves or bulb may be used to very good to eat. flavor soups or other eatables where desired. New Mexico. The bulbs are usually clustered. or nearly flat. shorter than the style and slender stamens. and nearly all three times as high. leaves tubular or nearly flat. it is similar prepare it. from the bulb. The petal-like segments of the flower are rose-colored or sometimes white. The Nodding Wild Onion grows ten to twenty inches tall from an oblong bulb about half an inch in diameter or less. according to Sturtevant. The bulbs are someis A times pickled. when properly prepared. All have a strong penetrating odor. I have experimented with it and find that. The tender base of the stalk is better than the root for flavoring candy. The flower scape is bent or nod- ding at the top. even then apt to be too pungent. removed and again boiled in a thick syrup. South Dakota. All lily FEW are quite similar in appearance with a bulb at the base. with the bell-shaped blossoms which appear in July or August arranged in an umbel. and are excellent for that purpose. To they cut in slices The pieces should be cut very thin. biting. The Nodding Wild Onion is common on banks and hillsides from and New York to South Carolina. The leaves. generally shorter than the flower stem. There are many species of the genus Allium that go under the name of wild onion or wild garlic. are very slender. aromatic flavor. Wild onions or garlic are found over nearly the entire United States and southern Canada.175 Calamus Root fleshy rootstock has a pungent. The bulb of this species is of very strong flavor but. if parboiled. fectioners as a candy. west to Minnesota. little try people as a cure for indigestion. it goes west to the Pacific Coast. The This furnishes the drug calamus. The pieces are then A is often eaten raw by is the coun- The rootstock it used by con- and boil. In the northern part of its range. to candied ginger. This forms a candied sweetmeat which. is sometimes sold on the street corners of Boston. is common from New Brunswick to Florida. The Meadow Garlic. In 1674. is found from Washington to California. Swamp considerable altitude. Hall in his Yosemite Flora says of it: "This onion is common in moist places of western plant. were eaten by the Indians. Although its bulbs are somewhat fibrous they are very acceptable as . Allium validum. naturalized from Europe. their chief food was wild onions. Its bulbs. Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum) The Field Garlic. probably this species. Wisconsin. west to Minnesota.Wild Onion 176 a dozen species growing within their borders. to near the present site of Chicago. In places. the bulbs that grow on the top are highly appreciated for pickles. All may be used alike for food. Harvey M. the A growing in woods. tainting the flavor of milk and butter. like those of the other species. Allium vineale. Allium tricoccum. Allium canadense. The Wild Leek. and Texas. Dr. when Father Marquette and his men went from Green Bay. Colorado. the plants often growing in small beds. is another common species Onion. is a pest in pasture fields of the eastern states. " SEGO LILY. Sego Lily (Calochortus Nuttallii) The walnut. The plant bears several large . must not forget that many wild plants We of the lily family (this is one of them) have edible bulbs or corms. OR STAR TULIP Calochortus Nuttallii FEW good for food.177 Wild Onion a flavoring ingredient for soups and stews in a region where vegetables are difficult to procure. The leaves are few. and narrow or grasslike. OR MARIPOSA LILY. but people realize that the beautiful Mariposa or Sego Lily is it is. Sego Lily grows from a perennial corm about the size of a The stem is four to eighteen inches tall. depending much upon climatic conditions. only two or three inches long. The bracts are slightly longer than the pedicels. They are boiled. The base of the petal is yellow with a purplish spot or band above. or steamed in pits and are is much used as an article of food by the Indians of Utah. west to California and Oregon. with the flowers arranged in the form of a eighteen loose raceme. are very palatable and nutritious. Its use for food should be a last in their first years in in great quantities. linear. OR SQUILLS Camassia esculenta Quamasia hyacinthina OF this and other is species of Camass there is much confusion re- garding the scientific Wild Hyacinth. generally blooming in early May. It is a member of the lily family and grows from a coated bulb much resembling a small onion. The flower scape is six to inches tall. As a wild flower it should be preserved. about half an inch long. . It is a beautiful wild flower and should be protected. or corms. open woods. However. single flower stems. The bulbs. It grows in rich damp soil in meadows. The three wedge-shaped petals are one to one and one-half inches long. or one of the most beautiful of our wild flowers. The flowers of six petal-like segments are pale blue or nearly white. the Eastern Camass. west to Minnesota and Texas. but deserve our protection. It that the claimed Utah consumed the bulbs This may have influenced the people in making the Mariposa Lily the state flower of Utah. and along streams. The Sego Lily is found from Montana to New Mexico. roasted. They vary in color from white to nearly purple. The leaves are basal. resort. inches long The three-celled seed pod is about one and one-halt when mature. WILD HYACINTH. or grasslike. Mormons There are other species of Mariposa Lilies in the western all states with edible corms. an inch or an inch and a half high. The three outer segments or sepals are green with lighter margins. It is most abundant in meadows and on grassy hillsides.Sego Lily 178 flowers on erect stems. OR EASTERN CAMASS. names. The Wild Hyacinth is native from western Pennsylvania to Georgia. The bulbs are edible and were much eaten by the American Indians. or with a ridge on the back. It raceme.179 Wild Hyacinth Wild Hyacinth (Camassia esculenta) CAMASS Quamasia quamash THIS is a similar but larger species that grows in the Northwest. It is claimed that the bulbs form a great part of the vegetable food of the Indians . in a loose California. It ranges from Montana and Utah west is to British Columbia and a beautiful wild flower growing two feet high with dark blue to almost white blossoms an inch across. It grows so abundantly in some places that one writer says the wet meadows look almost like blue lakes. pointed at both ends. The flowering plants have another whorl of three leaves (rarely four or five) at the top. The Camass should be gathered in spring and summer . like the Onion to which the plant is related. When the stones get thoroughly heated. These leaves are smaller than the others. They more green leaves and the whole heaped over with earth and left to steam for a day and a night.Camass of 180 Vancouver and the adjacent mainland. Just above the middle of the stem there is a whorl of five to nine sessile THE which are three or four inches long. "White settlers. but. form a very good molasses used by the Indians on festive occasions. these leaves stand at the top like an leaves open umbrella. it is well provided with loose wool which soon drops or disappears. but the Indian method is probably stones. INDIAN CUCUMBER ROOT Medeola virginiana Indian Cucumber is an unbranched perennial that grows from one to two feet tall. broadest in the middle. Saunders. This method is used by the Indians in cooking both vegetables and meats. From the upper leaves springs a sessile umbel of three to eight greenish yellow flowers which are recurved or bent down. When well cooked. they are of excellent flavor and highly nutritious. in the days before their orchards and gardens were established. They are generally prepared by boiling or roasting. which is highly prized by them. found in Camas a welcome addition to their meagre and monotonous bill of fare. In young plants or those that do not bear flowers. when boiled in water until this evaporated. they rake out the embers. There are six reddish ." dish in many an old time We also find is it recorded that the bulbs. put in a lining of green leaves and place the Camass bulbs upon them. then build a fire over dig a hole and line the bottom and sides with flat it. they may be kept for bulbs of the weeks. According to Charles F. The earth and leaves are then scraped off. only one or two inches long and about half as wide. about an inch wide. When it first appears in the spring. These are covered with the best. and the bulbs carefully removed. They are short-petioled or sometimes sessile. and Camas pie was a not uncommon Oregon or California household. The blossoms are about half an inch across with six petal-like segments. Wild Ginger has a strong aromatic flavor. These leaves are kidneyshaped or broadly heart-shaped. It grows in rich damp woods from Nova Scotia Tennessee. south to Florida and WILD GINGER. In camping or tramping through the woods where they were abundant. to Minnesota. generally enough. thick tuberous rootstock. The Indian Cucumber has a white. The Wild Ginger grows in rich soil in woodlands from New The appears in May Brunswick to An evergreen species North Carolina and west to Manitoba and Kansas. three to six inches wide. three-celled pulpy berry about a third of an inch in diameter on erect pedicels. It was once used as a remedy for whooping-cough. one of the best known of a creeping. two leaves appear in early spring. aromatic root- stock. It is brittle and much resembles the Cucumber in taste and smell. which is at or near the surface of the ground. at one time in this a substitute for ginger. The flowers vary greatly in the shape of the lobes. half an inch or more thick. two or three inches long. and stout petioles are four to ten inches long. and persists until the seeds have ripened. For this country they were commonly used as purpose they were dried and pul- . In Canada the dried rootstocks are used as a The rootstock of the is A very little and spice. I have often gathered two or three to eat with my meal and always found them very agreeable.181 brown stamens and Indian Cucumber three long threadlike styles. nodding stem from between the bases of the leafstalks. The entire flower suggests a spider. OR ASARABACCA Asarum canadense THE all Wild Ginger is our wild flowers. It is brownish purple without. with a deep and broad sinus or heart-shaped base. From a familiar plant. creamy within. The blossom is an inch or more wide with three long-pointed spreading lobes. rather large flower (there is but one to each plant) on a short. The blades petioles are generally covered with soft hairs forming a velvet- The like surface. shortpointed at the apex. The Indians are said to have relished it. branching. Where not plentiful this plant should be protected. The fruit is a dark purple. is found from Virginia and West Virginia south. and chiefly from this characteristic separate species or varieties have been described. Wild Ginger 182 verized. It is native from Montana. The high range of mountains between Montana and Idaho received its name from this plant. Its generic name Lewisia . OR SPATLUM (INDIAN) Lewisia rediviva edible wild plant of the West is the Bitter Root. it was made the state flower of Montana. after the manner of that of Calamus. and Utah west to the Pacific. The taste is Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) much like that of the collected at ginger of commerce. The rootstocks may be any time during spring and summer. with partial success. Wyoming. BITTER ROOT. Probably because of its importance to the American Indian and to the early settlers. a of the purslane family. I have tried to candy the rootstocks of Wild Ginger. as well ANOTHER member as from the beauty of its blossoms. sepals are generally four to eight. OR PEPPER-ROOTS. This was an important food plant (Lewisia rediviva) among the western Indians. The generic name derived from the same thing. The InBitter dians are said to gather it in the springtime when the outer covering or bark. wheel-shaped with eight to fifteen white The or pinkish petals. The root of this plant is intensely bitter when raw.1*3 Bitter Root was given in honor of Captain Meriwether Lewis. The name "pepper-root" of course comes from the peppery mustard flavor of the root. Two species are common. Root which contains most of the bitterness. west to woods and along streams from Quebec to Minnesota and Louisiana. The little only a flowers are solitary at the ends of short stems that rise above the leaves. but this property is chiefly removed when cooked. and without doubt nutritious. but others are found in the South and West. The rootstock is deep . persistent. opening in the sunshine. starchy. The blos- soms are an inch to two inches across. possibly often from necessity rather than choice. coleader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. putting forth leaves and flowers. The leaves are only about an inch long. somewhat fleshy. After being uprooted and dried for weeks or even months. slips off easily. rich Florida. Its specific name refers to this ability to return to vigor. carrotshaped root. or pepper-roots. TOOTH WORTS. from is The Cut-Leaved Toothwort grows in moist or Pepper-Root. OR CRINKLE-ROOTS Dentaria THE toothworts. The plant has wonderful tenacity of life. are familiar wild plants belonging to the mustard family. it has the power of reviving when placed in water or in the ground. The Bitter Root is a stemless perennial with a rosette of spatulate or narrowly oblong leaves growing at the top of a fleshy. Dentaria laciniata. It is white. The name "toothwort" comes scales or teeth on the long fleshy rootstock. It is toothed. . The Two-Leaved Toothwort. Dentaria diphylla. with shorter petioles than those of the three-leaved species described above.Toothwort 184 and jointed with somewhat of a necklace appearance. of a lighter green. The four-petaled flowers are white or pink-purple. linear segments. often branched. opposite or nearly so. They are generally a little larger. somewhat flattened. from a half to Cut-Leaved Toothwort (Dentaria three-fourths of an inch across. therefore the name Crow's. The stem is eight to twelve inches high with the three petioled leaves in a whorl. The leaves are two in number. laciniata) The slender seed pods are about an inch long. the joints separating freely. sometimes a foot long. has a rootstock just beneath the surface of the ground. They are divided into three leaflets with toothed margins. It is long and continuous.Foot. The leaves are deeply cut in three plied to this plant. but the common name of Crinkleroot is well applied to either species. The flowers are white. sometimes apThe divisions of the leaves are toothed or lobed. 1 85 Toothwort The Two-Leaved Pepper-Root is found damp woods from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. The mustard flavor about half an inch long. but found it so tempting that he frequently nibbled it before the recess period. They frequently grow in large patches of hundreds of plants. I have taken up a root of the toothwort to eat with This can generally be done without destroying the plant. and the roots of one or two are sufficient to eat with a meal. . Both species of toothworts have or brittle with much the taste of Water Two-Leaved Toothwort (Dentaria makes them diphylla) desirable as a relish. which are crisp Cress. woods. in rich Kentucky and Minnesota. Often in eating my lunch of sandwiches in the it. west to edible rootstocks. I believe it was John Burroughs who with his companions often gathered some of the pepper-root on their way to school to eat with their lunch. are enclosed in the calyx tube. It was often peeled and eaten raw. generally with a few branches. They are one to two inches long and less than half as wide. PRAIRIE APPLE. Tipsin (Indian). The pods. The Prairie Apple grows on prairies and high plains from Manitoba. The stems are clothed with leaves are soft whitish hairs. it has gone under many different names. spikes. Wisconsin. and Pomme de Prairie. six to fifteen inches high. less The purplish blue flowers are arranged in short dense blossoms. and Texas west to the Rocky Mountains. or occasionally a cluster of roots. . rolling over the prairie like tumbleweeds . which are not more than a quarter of an inch long. especially of the Sioux. of an agreeable flavor. Like other plants used by the early settlers and explorers. Among those not given above are Prairie Turnip or Wild Turnip. The roots are entirely beneath the surface of the soil. Pomme Blanche. This plant belongs to the pea family and is a perennial with a large tuberous or turnip-shaped starchy root. peeled and braided in long strings and hung up in the The Prairie Apple not only was eaten by the Indians but was important to the white adventurers who explored the Great Plains in the early days. This is the Prairie Apple. and makes an excellent food. or Indian Breadroot. Prairie Potato. The stalk is erect. but generally it was boiled or roasted in the campfire. and the tops mature and break off early. The root is both starchy and glutinous. OR INDIAN BREADROOT Psoralea esculenta OUT in the prairie states there is a plant whose root was very important to the American Indians of that region.Indian Breadroot 186 HORSE-RADISH Radicula Armoracia DESCRIBED under Salad Plants and Potherbs. It was a favorite diet of the plains Indians. therefore They were the Indians had to gather the roots for winter use in June and July. with entire margins. shaped quite like those of a pea. The composed of five obovate leaflets tapering toward the base. It is recorded that John Colter of Lewis and Clark's expedition escaped from the Indians and lived a week tents to dry. surrounded by bracts and calyx lobes nearly as long as the flower. are a little The than half an inch long. west into the Rocky Mountains. growing in Brunswick to Florida. These are pounded into a sort of meal. but rounded at the base. but in my opinion are much better . one of which stands apart from the other nine. and cooked with dried meat and corn." See note under Buffalo Berry. pointed. Psoralea hypogaea. among GROUNDNUT. a kind of turnip which grows in great abundance in these regions. It is believed that it would do well in cultivation in the prairie states. about three inches long. one to three inches in diameter. OR BOG POTATO Apios tuberosa Glycine Apios Apios Apios THIS perennial plant is long. The pods are nearly straight. and on thickets and damp places from The Groundnut a is member New west to Minnesota. It has a wide range. in often along the borders of ponds or marshes. and Texas. George Catlin. The tubers are sweet and edible. odorous. the American author and painter. who lived the Indians from 1832 to 1839. In a smooth slender vine. The compound leaves have five to seven ovate leaflets. is a twining vine with milky juice and of course of the pea family. OR WILD BEAN. its root system are one to a dozen tubers connected by narrow fibrous strands. each one to three inches long. The individual blossoms are about half an inch across. five to ten feet low or damp soil. and much resemble those of a slender bean. It is also stated that the Indian women found a regular sale for them to white settlers and travelers. ferns. There are ten stamens. Kansas. They may be eaten raw.187 Indian Breadroot on Breadroot tubers. Its habitat is the plains region from Nebraska to Texas. shaped like those of a pea or bean. The numerous brownish purple flowers are in axillary racemes. It is quite similar to the above species but smaller with a short round root which in flavor and texture is quite similar to that of the Prairie Apple. These tender tubers are round or somewhat elongated. wrote when camping with the red men in Montana: "The Indians have in store great quantities of dried squashes and dried pornmes blanches. If so it would be a wholesome and nutritious vegetable. sharp-pointed. and sedges. Another edible plant belonging to this genus is the Small Indian Breadroot. climbing over bushes. It is said to be grown in the flower gardens of France and I have seen it advertised in the florists' catalogues of this country. the wood-grape's clusters shine. we should probably be cultivating the Groundfathers.Groundnut 188 boiled or roasted. the groundnut trails its vine. that if The civilization great botanist Asa Gray once gave his opinion had started in America instead of in the old first world. It seems to be better known in New England Groundnut (Apios tuberosa) than in other parts of the United States. I have eaten the groundnut with enjoyment and personally prefer it to the cultivated potato. It is without doubt one of our very best wild foods. nut for food. knowledge was probably handed down by the Pilgrim according to Winslow. during that first hard winter the Pilgrims "were forced to live on ground-nuts/' They formed an important food of the American Indians. for. this would have been the edible tuber to be developed and cultivated. During colonial days. . If we did not have the potato. It was there that the poet Whittier as a barefoot boy secured that knowledge never learned of schools: Where Where Where Some of that the freshest berries grow. the Swedes on the Delaware ate them for want of bread. broadly ovate. They vary from white to pale purple and are about half an inch long and rather showy.189 Hog HOG PEANUT. They are . which appear from July to September. Down near the roots of the plant on threadlike creeping branches appear tiny blossoms without petals. The seed pod is only about an inch long. three to eight feet woodlands. The stem is often clothed growing in rich Hog with brownish hairs. It is generally branched at the base but is simple or sparingly branched above. These flowers are self-fertile and produce pods that develop one big light brown seed in each about the size and shape of a peanut. flattened. It is a perennial that trails on the ground or twines and climbs over low shrubbery. sometimes along roadsides and fences. shaped much like that of a small bean. Peanut (Amphicarpa monoica) The leaves have three leaflets half an inch to two The inches long. sharp-pointed. OR WILD PEANUT Amphicarpa monoica Falcata comosa Peanut THE Hog Peanut is a delicate. with rounded bases. slender vine. flowers. are in small loose clusters in the axils of the leaves. OR COW AS Lomatium geyeri IN the journals kept by Lewis and Clark 1804-1806. there are several species much alike in appearance. According to Porcher. Generally only a botanist can separate the two species as the forms intergrade. In fact. It may be only a robust form of the above species. One of these found in Idaho and Washington was referred to as Cowas now know it as the Biscuitroot of the or sometimes just Cows. They seek them in the places where the mice and other little animals. These large seeds are often quite abundant and appear beneath the dead leaves. securing "big piles of them. The small. yellow or white flowers are in was The leaves are few. another Lomatium farinosum. The women in autumn and early winter robbed the nests of whitefooted mice and other rodents. Father De Smet. They can be gathered without destroying the plant. says "The earth pea and bean are also delicious and left : nourishing roots found commonly in low and alluvial lands. The Hog Peanut was a very important food plant among the American Indians. larger chiefly west of the Allegheny Mountains has been de- A Amphicarpa Pitcheri. They are rather low perennial plants arising from fleshy roots. in fact are very pleasant eating. this plant was once cultivated in the South for its peanutlike fruit or seed. Hogs running in the woods often root up the leaves and soil in search of them." BISCUITROOT. and Louisiana. we find frequent reference to edible roots obtained from the Indians. The Hog Peanut is a common plant from New Brunswick to form found scribed as Florida. rather small. generally just under the surface of the ground. We Indians. geveri. The above-named roots form a considerable portion of the sustenance of these Indians during winter. west to Manitoba. the ground squirrel.Hog Peanut 190 more agreeable than a raw peanut. the Christian missionary to the tribes of the upper Missouri. Nebraska. hence the common name of Hog Peanut." The Dakota Nations when taking these seeds from the nests of animals corn or other food in exchange. compound or deeply . have piled them up in heaps. in particular. OR INDIAN BISCUIT. a plant closely related to the cultivated Parsnip. The genus formerly called Peucedanum. especially those of the Missouri valley. One is Lomatium compound umbels. white wax. From the above abundance. dried. during a greater part of which we lay in the water. bread. We see citations we how the natives of the Northwest. hence by the white people the plant was generally called Biscuitroot. A little later they say that most of the Indians are on the plains for the purthis Cowas pose of collecting Quamash and Cows. was to is still used among many Indian IPO. The Indians sometimes made the cakes large enough to be strapped on the saddle and carried for miles on horseback and used when desired. which here grow in great described the Quamash elsewhere. The plants grow is in meadows or on hillsides and are frequently it is abundant. The Biscuitroot sometimes eaten raw. on the second day of June. generally considered the finest food plant of the northwestern Indians.Biscuitroot cut. 1806. THE . with which they obtained several bushels of the root of cows. Probably the first entry in the journal concerning wild food is where they traded for a few large cakes of halfcured bread. OR SQUAWROOT Carum gairdneri is Ipo. on the opposite side. and some bread of the same material. the weather became fair . It is found from British Columbia to southern California. Usually it is peeled. OR YAMPA. or Yampa. or Cowas. two men were sent out to trade with the Indians. and armbands. made of a root resembling the sweet potato. was one of the chief articles of trade among Again they tell us that with some brass buttons cut from their uniforms and basilicon (an ointment made of black pitch. while they in Idaho in the early summer of 1806: After a cold. They returned with three bushels of edible roots and some root of this plant The the Indians. then mashed or ground into a sort of flour and made into cakes. we then sent some men to a village above us. It tribes of that region. They carried with them for this purpose a small collection of awls. closely related to the commercial Caraway. resin. important the Biscuitroot. to purchase some roots. when said to have a celerylike flavor. and olive oil) and a few small tin boxes. On were encamped their return journey Lewis and Clark recorded. rainy night. knitting-pins. The cakes are said to have the taste of stale biscuits . Fremont. believe it may some gardens and public markets. and the brown skin was removed by tramping with the bare feet. They exchanged it. John C. the Some who have tried it. and New Mexico. Travelers and settlers in the West and Northwest in pioneer days made much use of this wild food. They were again washed and cooked as a vegetable and served with venison or other meat. Lowlands are sometimes whitened by the blossoms. or traded it to the white settlers for flour or meal. suggesting the Wild Carrot of the East. . The upper leaves are small and undivided. The white flowers are in compound umbels quite like those of the plains Wild Carrot. who ate it as a vegetable with wild duck. It usually grows and meadows but sometimes on hills. .Ipo or Yampa cast to the 192 on Black Hills. The Indians in spring and early summer took the fleshy roots from the Squawroot (Carum gairdneri) has adopted the white Yampa is but little used. declared it to be the finest of all Indian foods. which are pinnate with three to seven very narrow leaflets. Colorado. The white settlers treated the roots much as we do parsnips or potatoes and pronounced them fine eating when seasoned with butter. Sometimes the roots were dried and then ground into flour and baked in cakes. Since the Indian man's method of producing his food. and its sweet nutty flavor appealed to the Indians. The plant has a single stem with but few leaves. The fleshy roots are single or in clusters. day find its way into our ground and washed them they were placed in water. there is only one root to the vine. The great fleshy root. It much resembled a sweet potato but had a slightly bitter taste. but the root remains in the ground year after year. The stems. and without doubt ft was a favorite food among them. In shape. Ipomoea the plains just east of the Rocky and Montana south to Texas and root than the leptophylla. erally a the cultivated ground. The petioled leaves are nearly as broad as long. The herbaceous vine dies each autumn. and Kansas. I dug out a smaller root and roasted it in my campfire. open waste lands from Connecticut west to southern Ontario. They could easily roast the fleshy roots also in the ashes of their campfires. In the spring. with heart-shaped bases. It is eaten by the western Indians when . the summer. which grows on Mountains from South Dakota New Mexico. Genin few of the leaves are contracted at the middle. Friends of the writer unearthed a plant in southern New Jersey that weighed more than thirty pounds. I and once dug up a root of the Wild Potato. was two and a half feet long and weighed fifteen pounds. the flowers are like those of the sister plant. Far beneath the surface of the weighs from ten to twenty pounds. and south to Florida and Texas. trail on the ground or climb up supports when these are convenient. margins entire. Like those of the Sweet Potato. OR MECHA-MECK. the roots of the Wild Potato Vine are brittle and slightly milky when fresh. the greater part of it being below the frost line. along roadsides. They are sometimes three inches in diameter. a stem is quickly pushed up through the soil. It extended nearly vertically to a depth of three feet or more. The large handsome blossoms are white with a pink-purple eye or center. has an even larger Wild Potato. when the warmth of the sun reaches this reservoir of food. resembling a large sweet potato. sharp-pointed. becoming fiddle-shaped or lobed. OR MAN-OF-THE-EARTH Ipomoea pandurata THIS member tive of the of the morning-glory family and very close rela- and Sweet Potato is found in dry soil in fields. Michigan. this plant has a great fleshy root that often but unlike them.193 Wild Potato Vine WILD POTATO VINE. three to twelve feet long. The Indians named this plant the Mecha-meck. the plant spreads its leaves and flowers to the light. Morning-Glory. They may be used any time during The Bush Morning-Glory. OR EARTH APPLE Helianthus tuberosus Jerusalem Artichoke is a perennial sunflower. another wild morning-glory native of the states. is reported to have a root that weighs from I forty to fifty pounds. The basal leaves are spatuiate. In the mountain regions.Wild Potato Vine food is 194 which are said to be not very from the ground. people. THE . but know nothing of its edible qualities. it is said to extend as far south as New Mexico and Arizona. making Sturtevant says that when "sweet. palatable. The Indians collected the roots in The baking process is said to remove it is them sweet and wholesome. strong-smelling plant. The roots are difficult to extract south Atlantic Ipomoea Jalapa. the spring and baked the bitterness. is It is sometimes cultivated It inhabits for food in the eastern states and escaping. palatable. scarce. with the margin fringed stem leaves are parted or cut into three to seven narrow divisions. with in a hairs. It was one of the chief edible roots of the Indians west of the Rocky Mountains. It is nutritious but is reputed to be agreeable only to some The root of this plant inside. them. Edward cooked. It grows from one to four feet tall with few stem leaves. and nutritious. They roast the roots. THE almost fleshy. that has a deep carrot -shaped perennial root. wet plains and prairies. The Edible Valerian is a native from Ontario to Ohio and west to the Pacific Coast. blooming from May to July." CHICORY Cichorium Intybus DESCRIBED under Salad Plants and Potherbs. JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE. EDIBLE VALERIAN Valeriana edulis Edible Valerian is an erect. The small yellowish white flowers are arranged long interrupted panicle. bright yellow shaped like that of a carrot or parsnip. thick. native of America. that grows from six to ten feet high. black outside. is six to twelve inches long. Dr. branching above. The four to twelve inches long. these tubers are of a longish. formerly of the United States The Artichoke toba. William Saunders. which the mice collect and hoard in large numbers. The rays are from twelve to twenty in number. Helianthus laetiflorus. which produce tubers potato. west to Maniand Kansas. near some driftwood. is native from Ontario to Georgia. found from Pennsylvania to Minnesota produces tubers that are said to be little inferior to those of the cultivated artichoke. Arkansas. This plant has numerous creeping common They are used in soups. four and sometimes six roots are attached to a single stalk. slightly flattened shape. except that the latter is much larger. Its flavor as well as the stalk which issues from it resemble those of the Jerusalem artichoke. and generally of the size of a man's finger. and two. It is also found in places east of the Appalachian Mountains where it has escaped to roadsides and waste lands. possibly gophers]. The wild tubers should be collected in autumn.195 Jerusalem Artichoke The ovate or oblong leaves have a sharp tapering point. The yellow flower heads. . stick the holes of the mice [probably prairie dogs. The root is white. and may be eaten by invalids when other vegetables are denied them. Department of Agriculture. and are considered to be more nutritious than those of the potato. when in what is now North Dakota: and after penetrating with a sharp stopped for dinner the squaw [Sacajawea] went out. and they make fine pickles when partially boiled. it of sufficient importance to secure ment attention. but from the productiveness of the plant and it its seems probable that may become suitability to warm and dry climates. of an ovate form. We are all familiar with the cultivated Artichoke. Selection and tillage explain the larger size of the cultivated variety. This plant has fleshy thickened rootstocks bearing edible tubers. in selecting particularly valuable varieties with improveof flavor. When properly cooked. In flavor they do not equal the common potato. and are rough. from one to three inches long. are from two to three inches across. When we The Showy Sunflower. sliced into half-inch thicknesses. Without doubt it was the Jerusalem Artichoke that Lewis and Clark describe in their Journal under date of April 9. often numerous. 1805. The Indians cultivated it for food and probably introduced it in the East. hairy above. has the following Jerusalem Artichoke like the : to say concerning the roots. and placed in vinegar. they are well flavored. brought to us a quantity of wild artichokes. or Virginia Tuckahoe.Edible Roots 196 ADDITIONAL EDIBLE ROOTS root and Florida Arrowroot. from the root to the height of eighteen inches. The spikes are taller but more slender than the broad-leaved species. which is mainly starch. Native in bogs from Nova Scotia to Minnesota. in swamps and shallow water from Maine to Ontario. Typha latifolia. dried. Zamia Floridana. Ohio. Typha angustifolia. Broad-Leaved Cattail. or Wild Calla. also in Europe and Asia. The young fruiting spikes are said to be edible roasted. is abundant in marsh lands along the Atlantic coast and sometimes inland. is said to weigh three or four pounds. south to Florida and Louisiana. Narrow-Leaved Cattail. It is starchy with the biting qualities of the Indian Turnip. This. The roots are eaten by the Indians of California. and ground into meal by the Indians. The central part of the rootstock. are fernlike or palm- like plants found on the eastern side of the Florida peninsula. is peeled off. Found in swamps and borders of streams and ponds. Water Arum. It is said that the early poor settlers of Virginia ate the roots and were fond of them. . it was much used by the Indians of Virginia. which is bulbous. It is also said that the Indians ate the boiled spadix and berries as a luxury. nearly throughout North America. and the white tender part within makes a pleasant article of food. and Iowa. and the upper Missouri valley. The Arrow Arum grows Green Arrow Arum. Peltandra virginica. Arizona. or Coontie. The arrowroot was a very important food of the Seminole Indians. Calla palustris. who roasted it in pits for a day or two. The root. This Arrowits very near relative. According to Captain John Smith. south to New Jersey." The rind of the young stem. The root has the acrid qualities of the last species. also in Europe and Asia. Missen bread is made in Lapland from roots of this plant. Scirpus validus. Great American Bulrush. Zamia pumila. After cooking. is found in wet or marshy lands throughout most of North America. also in Europe and Asia. They are sometimes used as food under the name of "Cossack asparagus. The roots and lower part of the stem are sometimes eaten in salads. the common Cattail. the roots were generally dried and ground into meal. except the extreme north. The edible qualities of the plant are the same as those of the last species. The large starchy roots are made into flour which is sometimes sold commercially. was dug. Lilium canadense. according to Thoreau. or Cluster Lily. Chlorogalum pomeridianum. as by slow roasting in hot ashes. south to Florida and Arkansas. The bulbs are pleas- .197 Edible Roots Golden Club. Brodiaea capitata. is native of California. Orontium aquaticum. Erythronium americanum. generally growing along streams." Harvest is Brodiaea. The fleshy bulbs were eaten by the Indians. It is called Soap Plant because "its which forms a lather with water. or Taw-kee (Indian). generally along the coast. or Soap Plant. in fields Brodiaea grandiflora. and the leaves are sometimes used for greens. are often eaten by children who. This beautiful wild flower is found in meadows and low grounds from Nova Scotia to Minnesota. south to North Carolina and Missouri. common tral best and meadows from Washington south to cenCalifornia. Amole. Saunders says of it: "Its bulbs are cooked. The bulbs are said to be very good when cooked slowly for half an hour." Turk's-Cap Lily. or Grassnut. Found in swamps and ponds from Massachusetts to Pennsylvania and south to Florida and Louisiana. This close relative of the onion is common throughout California. Star-of-Bethlehem. may be used washing" (Harvey M. The bulbous rootstocks are edible when cooked. Cooking acrid properties of the bulb. south to Georgia and Missouri. This beautiful wild lily is found from New Brunswick to Minnesota. in in diameter. Hall says: "The small bulbs. who often used them in thickening soups. or Blue Dicks. This should be used only as an emergency food. prefer them uncooked. Lilium superbum. Hookera coronaria. Charles F. Found in moist woods and along streams from Nova Scotia to Minnesota. Yellow Adder's-Tongue. This and the last species should be protected . Bulbs are edible when cooked. Hall). Harvey M. Dr. like the Indians. This member of the lily family has an egg-shaped bulb from one to three inches fibrous-coated bulb. which develops the sweetness. Introduced from Europe and Asia. This was after repeated boilings. Ornithogalum umbellatum. The bulb is edible when cooked. now often abundant in fields and meadows from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania and Virginia. The dried seeds. making it is said to destroy the a good wholesome food. Wild Yellow Lily. known as grass-nuts. or Fawn Lily. were eaten by both Indian and white colonists. therefore they should be used only as emergency foods. or Canada Lily. or Wild Potato. which resemble peas. It Wild Hyacinth. south to Florida. Abronia latifolia. then water was added and the whole strained through a basket. The roots are edible. it is Seacoast Abronia. Found along the seashore from Newfoundland to Florida and along the Great Lakes from New York to Minnesota also on the coast of California. and Kansas. or Long-Stalked Greenbrier. the fleshy root is said to . makes very good hot cakes or fritters. when food was scarce." The plant should be protected. Smilax pseudo-china. The large tuberous roots were ground into meal by the Indians and used for bread or gruel. very nourishing and wholesome.Edible Roots ant and nutritious 198 when cooked. Found in Utah. Utah Aloe. According to Bartram. a fine reddish meal remained. Arizona. They also mix it with fine corn flour. Found over the same range as the last species but not extending so far south nor so abundant." Bristly Greenbrier. seashore plant from Vancouver to California. Abronia arenarla. Claytonia virginica. in Canada. Nevada is The large bulbous root considered a del- properly prepared icacy by the Indians. This is a The long stout roots Spring Beauty. Anemonella thalictroides. The starchy tuberous roots were ground fine by the Indians. China Brier. Syndesmon thalictroides. Cakile edentula. said to be sweet and delicious. south to Florida and Texas. The small starchy bulbs were much prized by the Indians. I know of mountainous districts in Pennsylvania where these roots are collected and eaten under the name of "wild potato. When and roasted. which being fried in fresh bear's grease. Smilax Bona-nox. Found in dry or sandy soil from Southern New Jersey to Kansas. past. south to Florida and Texas. This Greenbrier grows in thickets from New Jersey to Missouri. This delicate spring flower is found from New Hampshire to Minnesota. They are often eaten in eastern Europe and western Asia. when cool. Broad-Leaved Spring Beauty. The starchy tuberous roots are edible when cooked. to eastern California. When the water was evaporated. Agave utahensis. Claytonia caroliniana. becomes a beautiful delicious jelly. south to Florida and Texas. Tennessee. yet they should be preserved. "A small quantity mixed with warm water and sweetened with honey. This beautiful wild flower of spring is found in open woods from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan. Rue Anemone. Although the plants are often abundant. of this. In times much . are eaten by the Chinook Indians. American Sea Rocket. can probably be used in the same way northwestern species. The Evening Primrose is native from Labrador to Minnesota." Wild Licorice. It was introduced from America into Europe as early as 1614 and in was formerly cultivated English gardens for its edible roots which. It was recommended to American gardeners under boiled. Its long flexible roots are sweet. south to Florida and Texas. after its introduction. I have chewed the fleshy roots of this plant in the southwestern United States and found them pleasing. of Europe and Asia. northern Mexico. Silverweed. Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Osmorhiza longistylis. The roots should be Washingtonia Smooth Sweet . Found on river banks and lake shores. are sometimes used as a potherb. The long fleshy perennial roots are sweet and are eaten by the Indians. when wholesome and nutritious. west to Alaska and New Mexico. Cicely. south to Alabama and Kansas. Potentilla Anserma. of the northwestern states. In New Mexico. the roots were used for food and the young shoots for salads. is found in central Canada west to Alaska. or Ameiican Licorice. Licorice Root. like those of Edible Roots have been ground. J. The roots are edible and wholesome. or longistylis. Hedysarum Mackenzii. Hedysarum boreale. Argentina many Anserina. Sweet Myrrh. mixed with flour and made into bieaJ. This plant ranges from Nova Scotia to Assiniboia. or in salads. resembling licorice and are much eaten closely related species. the roots have often supported the inhabitants for months together. also in brackish marshes from Greenland to New Jersey. The Pimple Mallow. Gly- cyrrhiza glabra.199 fleshy leaves of this plant. they taste like parsnips. and California. also in California and in Europe and Asia. a found in southern Canada and the extreme It northern United States. I found it growing near the Indian vil- lages as though once cultivated. as the in spring licorice of the trappers of the is by the Indians. roots resemble those of a parsnip and are used for food by the Indians from Nebraska to Idaho. The other plants in the mustard family. In Germany. Oenothera biennis. Lightfoot remarked: "Boiled or roasted. The root has the spicy taste of anise and is often chewed by boys. This is the wild Northwest. Evening Primrose. In Hebrides. Callirhoe pedata. or Goose Tansy. The American Wild Licorice is native from Hudson Bay to British Columbia. south to Missouri. They closely resemble the roots of the cultivated licorice. are said to be name of German Rampion. They are said to be sweet and quite agreeable in taste. softer. The roots of this were formerly eaten by the Indians from California to Wash- ington. but they are more pleasant when cooked. Tragopogon porrifolius. and more tender than the parsnip. is a similar plant. native of Europe. a similar plant growing over much the same range. Orobanche ludoviciana. The Elk Thistle. or Oregon Sunflower. Jamesii. It does not grow in wet ground. A used for food. Montana to Washington." Boiled like potatoes.Edible Roots 200 gathered with caution. Common in the mountainous sections of New Mexico and Arizona. Wild Potato. The Water Parsley is found from British Columbia to central California. south to Colorado and California. Oenanthe sarmentosa. The roots when tender may be They or are Salsify. are edible when boiled or roasted and are said to resemble in taste boiled chestnuts. Cirsium foliosum. Carduus e dulls. Balsamorhiza sagittata. Hooker's Balsam Root. escaped from cultivation in the northern United States and on the Pacific Coast. thistle Indian Thistle. which grows from Washington to Utah and California. They are that this species Solanum original of the cultivated Potato. The Indians often eat the roots raw. The Tragopogon tops are sometimes used for greens. they are sweet. The Yellow pratensis. sweeter. also has small edible tubers. It is suggested but extending farther north. Solanum fendleri. The Nez Perce Indians cook the fleshy roots on hot stones. Balsam Root. Solarium tuberosum boreale. starchy. Broom rape. Cirsium edule. "The tubers form one of the dainty dishes of the Oregon Indians. with a slight flavor of parsley. found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This parasite grows on the roots of plants in sandy soil from Illinois to South Dakota. Water Parsley. Gamote or Camote. much consumed by the Pah Ute Indians. "Root parsnip-like. has been used like the purple species. All the plant except the fruiting part grows underground. which are about the size of marbles or grapes. Salsify. Purple Oyster Plant. which grows from . Balsamorhiza hookeri. south and west to Texas and California. for sometimes the deadly poison Hemlock or the Water Hemlock is mistaken for it." The root is much used by Mexicans and Indians. Cymopterus montanus. The tubers. much used by may be the the Navajo Indians. Be certain that you have the right species. also escaped. therefore the thick stems are white and tender. the roots of this plant more than anything else kept him from starving. also has an edible root. .2Oi Washington Edible Roots to Wyoming and north. In 1870. when Truman Everts was lost for more than a month in the region of Yellowstone Park. . The nearest place that it could be obtained was nearly seventy-live miles away." Spices from far-off India. and beverages from many wild plants came into use. At least two varieties were quite acceptable. that have had their coffee every morning for years without missing I believe it is possible for a person to become accustomed to drinking tea from wild plants and the longer they were used the . corn. Should one have forgotten or exhausted his supply. then the native wild mints and other aromatic plants were pressed in the interior of into service. using wild plants that were familiar to the miners. and a change is a great relief but it is not so with beverages such as tea and coffee. and that is NOTHING more refreshing tea.) When commercial tea could not be obtained. made tea from native plants. better they Our forefathers often went through hard privations for food and beverages.BEVERAGE AND FLAVORING PLANTS to the tired camper than a cup of hot day has been spent in tramping. used for seasoning. they relied upon the bountiful supply of Nature. but when the old-fashioned herb garden failed to supply the proper materials. for they all went west of the Appalachian Mountains when it was nothing but an Indian wilderness. especially if the they knew were used for beverages. 203 . for "coffee. Even the American Indians relish drinks made from native plants. and wheat. For a week we had a different kind of tea almost every night. were also scarce our country. During the Revolutionary War the Americans did not take kindly to Oriental tea flavored with an English tax. I was once camping with some prospectors in the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains when our supply of Oriental tea ran short. (I know that mine did. One quickly gets tired of almost any kind of food after eating it for several meals in succession. and many wild plants may be used for this purpose. both North and South. I have known people . and rye were roasted and ground would be relished. then Nature's offerings are welcome. once. During the Civil War many people. Mints and other fragrant plants were brought from abroad and planted about the homes. Alphonso Wood. edges doubly serrate. SWEET. sessile. While the Black Birch grows best in rich. often starting on old logs or stumps or perched on rocks or growing from cracks or seams of rocks. cylindric. For this purpose. The leaves are ovate or ovate-oblong. Found from Maine to western Ontario. but at that season of the year the bark easily separates from the wood and is generally eaten by the boys. south to Delaware. rather moist woods. easily separates from the wood in spring and early summer. It may be dried and kept for months without losing much of its spicy taste. and in the mountains to Alabama and Tennessee. short-petioled. Indiana. the American botanist. pendent. The staminate catkins are two to four inches long.Black Birch 204 BLACK. Sugar and cream added to the tea is preferred by most people. Large quantities of the oil of wintergreen are distilled from the twigs and bark of the Black Birch. wintergreen flavor at all times. silky when young. and Iowa. but to remove it injures and disfigures the tree. the same in taste as that of Mountain Tea or Wintergreen. spicy. about an inch long. The bark of younger trees much resembles that of the cultivated Sweet Cherry. and is strongly flavored. with dark bark. Both the bark and foliage have the sweet aroma of Wintergreen. OR CHERRY BIRCH Betula lenta I bring sweet thoughts of birchen trees fountain. . The sap of the Black Birch may be used for making sugar. for the inner bark has the sweet. base somewhat heart-shaped. The thick inner bark from the trunk is good. Dr. The Black Birch makes a most delightful tea. wrote of the Black Birch: "In spring the cambium affords the boys a delicious morsel. it can adapt itself to a variety of conditions. When boys. It is . smooth in young trees but becoming cracked or furrowed in old ones. the rapidly growing young twigs are generally used. long-pointed at the apex. and half an inch thick." It is not only in the spring. Growing by stream and THE Black Birch is a large forest tree sometimes eighty feet high with a diameter of two feet. Fruiting catkins erect. The essence is exactly the same as that produced from the true Wintergreen (Gaultheria) Mother to make bark from the larger roots. we often gathered birch for tea (when we could induce it for us) and generally preferred the This bark is almost red. Virginia. I recently found quite large trees twenty-five miles north of Galveston. The flowers are in umbeled racemes. The petioles are generally less than an inch long. Iowa. and in the mountains to Tennessee. mittenthat is. The blossoms are greenish yellow. Apparently the staminate trees are much the more numerous. broken in broad flat PROBABLY few species of trees are better It is than the Sassafras. preferring a sandy loam. OR AGUE TREE Sassafras variifolium Sassafras Sassafras known to country people dry soil. in younger trees often separating in thin layers. unfolding with the leaves or just stamens and before the leaves appear. much more abundant our northern The bark has a yellowish tinge. in is a larger tree than the Black states. the route the soldiers took could be traced by the peeled birch trees. and seem to greatly relish it. as recorded by Henry D. In Maine the Indians make a tea from the leaves of the Paper or Canoe Birch. The ripe drupe or berry. Thoreau in The Maine Woods. rough. . south to Florida and Texas. The shaped The twigs and young shoots are bright green. after the Battle of Carricks Ford. or about a month later than that of maple trees. This found from Newfoundland to Manitoba. often on the same twig. The larger trees have thick. the edible bark of Black Birch probably saved the lives of hundreds of Garnett's Confederate soldiers during their retreat over the mountains to Monterey. It flows freely in April. In northern New Jersey. reddish brown bark. Betula lutea.205 Black Birch only about half as sweet as that obtained from the Sugar Maple. I have seen trees nearly three feet in diameter. It is claimed that in 1861. and Kansas. The bark has the spicy wintergreen flavor but not so pronounced as in the Black Birch. alternate leaves are of three forms: oval and entire. mucilaginous. tree is and SASSAFRAS. south to New Jersey Illinois. with one lobe on the side lobe in the middle. the larger same tree. The fruiting catkins are larger than those of the Black Birch. For a number of years after that. It is generally a small tree in the northern part of its range but often grows large in the South. found in ridges. All three forms are on the or three-lobed. The Yellow Birch and is Birch. Betula papyrifera. from Massachusetts to Michigan. The flowers are dioecious pistils on separate trees. about a quarter of an inch across with a spicy odor. Sassafras (Sassafras variifolium) It also has a making candy. the veins or hard parts being discarded. throwing up along numerous suckers often forming thickets. and berries all have a rich. is dark blue. tree is generally found along roadsides. The bark of the root makes an excellent tea. or as Clinton Scollard. spicy odor. etc. bark. in fence corners. scenting perfumery. In the South. the poet says: When This There's perfume the sassafras you bruise fit to fill a cruse. and borders of woods. twigs. The roots are rather deep.Sassafras 206 on a thick red stem. Country people . especially in Creole cookery. nearly half an inch high. the leaves are dried and used for thickening and flavoring soups. The kaves. The the oil. bark of the Sassafras root is distilled in large quantities for which is used in flavoring medicines. medicinal use and is often sold in drugstores. especially when served with sugar and cream. especially in the South. or dug at the roots for a bit of their aromatic bark? Or who has not searched among the in regions that leaves for mittens? Surely they are people whose youth was spcn*knew not this little tree of the fence corners and woodland borders.207 often drink blood. on Cuttyhunk Island. Rogers in The Tree Book says: "Who has not nibbled the dainty green buds of sassafras in winter. OR WILD ALLSPICE Benzoin aestivale Benzoin Benzoin THE Spicebush is a common shrub that grows from five to fif- teen feet high. at least one We carload of these roots was shipped to the Pacific Coast. form- ing a round-topped globular cluster. smooth. the English explorer. with . it goes under a variety of names in different localities. it Sassafras in the springtime with the belief that it purifies the During the Civil War it was much used. and the tree probably re- during the early Spanish explorations. Gosnold is said to have transported several trees back to England. Snapwood. Like most familiar shrubs and plants. The oval or oblong alternate leaves are dark green. Gosnold. Tennessee. It is stated that the Sassafras was first discovered by Bartholomew in 1602. brittle twigs. when tea from the Orient could not be obtained. And they have missed something very much worth while out of their childhood. moist soil. It prefers rich. Sassafras root is believed to have been the first plant product exported from New England. In 1937. Spicewood." SPICEBUSH. and Kansas. During colonial days Sassafras root was in great demand in Europe. Julia E. Feverbush. and slender. where they were sold for three shillings a pound. and it became an important article of commerce. Usually several stems develop from the same clump of roots. Others than those mentioned above are Ben- jamin Bush. The name ceived it Sassafras is of Spanish origin. It is native from Maine to Michigan. with smooth. dark bark. It was used for tea and flavoring and was long sold in the stores of London. south to Georgia. have bought Sassafras root in the country markets of Pennsylvania and have seen it for sale elsewhere. or niereiy Spice. one of the Elizabeth Islands off the coast of southern Massachusetts. often growing where it is quite swampy. The apex is pointed. the base tapering. the French botanist. bark. less than half an inch long. oval drupe or family). The three sets or rows. The leaves. In earlier days it was used in medicines. containing one large seed of the same shape. twigs. appear before the leaves.Spicebush 208 entire edges. The pioneers also used it in colonizing the American wilderness. in They are are yellow. During the Civil War. and the dark green leaves of summer turn golden >ellow in autumn. and berries of Spicebush have a strong aromatic odor and taste. The numerous yellow blossoms and red berries are pleasing. but spect. or in March or April. the Sassafras (both members of the laurel separate shrubs. They used the leaves as well and bark. spicily scented. The pistil forms a bright scarlet. however. but six-parted. in as twigs . it was much used as a substitute for tea both by the it is doubtful is It soldiers and by their friends at home. The entire berry is oily and aromatic. stamens and pistils are on stamens are nine to a blossom. The veins are depressed above. The Spicebush is decorative and should do well in cultivation. Like its the calyx near relative. prominent below. Andre Michaux. especially in the South. is dense clusters. the petioles short. The blossoms have no petals. if the plant has any particular virtue in that reused for tea. The flowers. arranged in Spicebush (Benzoin aestivale) berry. at least cookery. The petioles are a third of an inch to an inch long. espe- They are exceptionally important in Creole In almost any grocery or drugstore in the country. are quite like those of the Sassafras but are a little larger. bright green above. . By "perfect" same flower. However. SWEET BAY. Laurus nobilis. OR ISABELLA WOOD Persea Borbonia THIRD member of the laurel family (the one to which the Sassafras and Spicebush belong) is the Sweet Bay. The Sassafras and Spicebush are both dioecious that is. They are somewhat leathery with entire margins. was very tired when I arrived. about half an inch in diameter. in those that sell spices. one can buy packages of Sweet Bay or Laurel leaves. A with dark reddish brown bark in flat ridges. The ever- green leaves are two to five inches long. pale beneath. often rather long-pointed at both ends. The blue. and used as a substitute for allspice. about one-third as wide. pistils on one tree or bush. and it had that effect. It is sometimes shrublike. OR RED BAY. I was told that milk makes it much more agreeable This beverage restores strength. powdered. It is claimed that at the time of the American Revolution the berries were dried. It grows along streams and in swamps near the coast. sugar is added and it is drunk for I like tea. it makes quite a pleasant drink. I prefer Sassafras or Wintergrcen. apparently never away from the coastal plain. to the taste." I have made tea from both twigs and bark of the Spicebush and find that when sugar and cream are added. famed in song and story. has boiled at least a quarter of an hour.209 traveling through the Spicebush A American wilderness wrote in his journal 1796. thirty to fifty or even sixty feet high. They are supposed to be from the Sweet Bay or Laurel of southern Europe. after stopping at a settler's cabin: "I had supped the previous evening on tea made from the shrub called Spicewood. handful of young twigs or branches is set to boil and after it February 9. west to Texas and as far north as Arkansas. All parts of the tree are aromatic. From the axils of the leaves arise small panicles of yellowish green perfect flowers. which is found from Delaware to Florida. OR LAUREL. cially in the South. The dried leaves of the bay tree are much used in cooking. one-seeded berries on red pedicels we mean pistil and stamens are in the . but usually is a small tree. stamens on another. especially crab gumbo. OR dioica AMERICAN COFFEE BEAN Gymnocladus THE Kentucky Coffee Tree reaches a maximum diameter of nearly three feet and a height of about ninety feet. also in "stuffing" or dressing for roast fowl and other meats. APPLE (FOR CIDER) Pyrus malus DESCRIBED under Edible Wild Fruits. somewhat poisonous. it may be of interest that the Avocado. The European Laurel and the southern Sweet Bay are closely related. a shrub belonging to an is entirely different family of plants. KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE. The name the Laurel is Mountain Laurel (Kalmia rather unfortunate in this connection. then spread out to dry. although they can be gathered at any season since the tree is evergreen. When collected some in kept for a year or two. They are used to flavor certain types of soups. or they may have learned to is use from the Indians. a brother of the Sweet Bay described above. The gray bark is rough. for latifolia). both are members its know of the same genus. The leaves are used in confections and to flavor roasts and stews. when the occasion demanded. The southern colonists probably learned its use because it so closely resembles the Laurel or Sweet Bay of Europe. In passing. The best time for this purpose early summer just after the new growth has been made.Sweet Bay whose 210 leaves were used to crown Greek heroes. OR CHICOT. The great majority of trees are much smaller. We thoroughly dry they may be Texas and used them The Sweet Bay has been in favor since colonial times. or Alligator Pear (Persea gratissima). rather . and I find practically no difference in the flavor produced by each. while the Sweet Bay not only is harmless but gives off a pleasing aroma wherever employed. The leaves should be carefully gathered and washed. Many people prefer to collect and dry their is own leaves. Friends of the writer in southeastern Texas who used both the leaves of the wild Sweet Bay of the South and the store material are under the impression that they not only are alike but come from the American tree. enfor STAGHORN SUMAC. used these seeds as a substitute coffee and found the drink wholesome and palatable. then used as a substitute for coffee.211 Kentucky Coffee Tree deeply fissured. The comStaghorn Sumac is our largest species. This is one of the last trees to come out in leaf in the spring and drops its leaves quite early in autumn. The Kentucky Coffee Tree ranges from central New York to South Dakota. each surrounded by a dark sweetish pulp. The large seed pods on thick stems generally remain on the . growing to a height of more than thirty feet and a diameter of nearly six inches. The legumes or seed pods are reddish brown with a grayish bloom. tree all winter. an inch and a half wide. sharp-pointed. It is planted as a shade or ornamental tree farther east. five to eight inches long. and one is much more likely to find it in cultivation. often covered with rather thin recurved scales. The slightly oval flattish seeds are nearly three-fourths of an inch long. which means "stump. very hard. when it was practically impossible to get commercial coffee to that region. The pioneers apparently made much use of the seeds of this tree. Kentucky was settled early. which were roasted and ground. OR LEMONADE TREE Rhus hirta Rhus typhina sumacs are well known to most country people." and the generic name means "naked branch" the tree is without leaves such a long period of the year. moist soil. when camped on the Missouri River. grayish brown. There are six to nine seeds. The French Canadians call it Chicot. The branchlets are few and stout corresponding to the size of the leaf. with entire or wavy margins. This was in the interior of our country before and during the Revolutionary War. flattened but quite heavy. The young twigs are densely covered with velvety hairs resembling the THE mon . The Q\ ate leaflets are rounded at the base. It is also recorded that Long's expedition to the Rocky Mountains in 1820. The greenish white flowers in terminal racemes appear in June. south to Tennessee and Oklahoma. It prefers a rich. and usually grows in lowlands along streams. As a wild tree it is rather rare. It is claimed that the seeds were roasted and eaten by the Indians. The secondary leafstalks have each from seven to fifteen leaflets. The leaves are doubly compound and sometimes are nearly three feet long and two feet wide. and Iowa. gravelly. It is generally clustered. The small. spreading by the roots. and the wood orange streaked with green.Staghorn Sumac 212 horns of a stag in appearance and mode of branching. blooming period June and the corolla has five petals. Indiana. the juice or sap milky. along the borders of woods. The fruit of the Staghorn Sumac is very sour. the pith large. making a compact fruit cluster. The bark is smooth. The pinnate leaves are about twenty inches long with eleven to twenty-nine leaflets. The fertile panicles are smaller and very dense. The flowers Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) occur in dense terminal panicles. rounded at the base with saw-toothed edges. and others have the pistillate blossoms. and south to Georgia. It grows rapidly but is short-lived. or frequently in old fields. in thickets. yellowish The calyx is is five-lobed. green. sharp-pointed. The Staghorn Sumac grows in dry. Some trees bear stamens only. fences. The sometimes later. or berries. mature early in autumn and remain on the trees all winter. The blossoms are small. or rocky soil from Nova Scotia to South Dakota. hence the name . the average number being about twenty-one. one-seeded drupes. The oblong-lanceolate leaflets are three to five inches long. They are dark green above and pale beneath. covered with crimson hairs. The staminate panicles are sometimes nearly a foot long and spreading. known to boys as "Indian lemonade. south to Florida and Texas. The flower and fruiting panicles the ade. Schmaltis very similar to the last species and by many botanists is considered only a variety of it. situations from Vermont. It is native from Illinois to Texas. When the berries are placed in water for a short time. west to the Pacific Coast. from and Louisiana. south and Texas. I know by experiment that they can be used in making Indian lemonade. Nova Scotia to Minnesota. It is generally most common in mountainous regions. sometimes a small tree.213 Vinegar Tree which Stay horn Sumac is sometimes applied to this species. Rhus glabra. to Florida The zia trilobata. but the rachis. The Fragrant Sumac is a shrub of rocky feet high. Hall in his Yosemite Flora says of this shrub: "The Squaw Bush is of great service to the . Its panicles of bright red fruits may also be used for making Indian lemonade. which occur in small clusters. is a shrub five to quite similar to the Staghorn in general appearance. The bright red fruits. Rhus its southern part of similar to the two copallina. Dr. The fruits have taste and are just as good for making Indian lemon- They Smooth Sumac are sometimes used as a substitute for lemon juice. along roadsides and borders of woods. or leaf stem. Ontario. The is common in neglected fields. Rhus trilobata. or Squawbush. is a shrub or. but the young twigs are smooth with a pale bluish or whitish bloom. Ill-Scented Sumac. are very acid. south to Florida The Dwarf in the or Mountain Sumac. It is summer or early autumn. It is quite preceding species. range. to which the leaflets are attached is wing-margined a feature that distinguishes it from the other sumacs. especially at a distance. a pleasing and agreeable drink is formed. same sour are also quite similar to those of the Staghorn. Harvey M. and Minnesota. or Scarlet Sumac." For this purpose the berries are best in late The Smooth fifteen feet tall. THE FRAGRANT OR SWEET-SCENTED SUMAC Rhus canadensis Rhus aromatica Schmaltzia crenata THE few Fragrant Sumac is a sweet-scented shrub usually only a The leaves have three leaflets which are aromatic when crushed. It grows in dry soil from Maine to Minnesota. brought in English vessels. The alternate ovate leaves are three inches long. The small white flowers appear about the first of June. edges sawtoothed. Rhus vernix. Rhus toxicodendron. especially by the soldiers. makes an excellent drink. The Indians made use of it it. Few wild flowers attract such a variety of insects as the blossoms of the New Jersey Tea. was very unpopular. It does not extend far back from the coast. usually several from the same root cluster. and its use considered unpatriotic. pointed at the apex. NEW JERSEY TEA." The Poison Ivy. all of which have red fruits. the Poison Oak. fruits and the Poison Sumac. This plant was used as a substitute for tea during the American Revolution. when soaked in water. it is attractive and decorative in cultivation. LEMONADE BERRY Rhus THICKETS integrifolia of this shrub are often found on hillsides and growing about the sand dunes of southern California. Rhus quercifolia. and an infusion made from them which was very palatable. but certainly not so pleasant as that of real tea. less than half as wide. In fact. However. The leaves were dried. as do boys of this age. all have white and cannot well be confused with any of the above described species. They are larger than those of most other sumacs and excrete an acid substance that. it is a good substitute. I have tried the bev- erage and find a good substitute for lemonade. when Oriental tea. They are arranged in small dense two or panicles on the ends of the branches. and no doubt would . The shrub is conspicuous in blossom. are one to three feet tall. The upright stems. base often heart-shaped. south to Florida and Texas.Squawbush 214 Indians who utilize the split stems in basketry and who prepare a refreshing beverage by soaking the berries in water. OR REDROOT Ceanothus americanus THE New Jersey Tea is a common shrub that inhabits dry sandy or gravelly soil in open woods and thickets from Maine to Manitoba. The evergreen leaves are rounded at the apex. The red berries are arranged in stiff panicled spikes. rather strongly three-nerved. The red root makes an excellent dye. the tea occasionally acts as an emetic. the may be gathered at any season. served New Jersey tea made from leaves which I had previously gathered and dried. sometimes a as to and often is so abundant form dense thickets. The petioles are about an eighth of an inch long. and of the hundred or more women who partook of this colonial beverage. The leaves are often used for tea along the south Atlantic coast and sometimes can be purchased in the markets. OR YAUPON. The shrub is a very close relative of the Mate. I cared little for the tea made from them neither did I like leaves . I collected the leaves. the flavor . pale beneath. and in the interior of the country was used by the native tribes on both sides of the Mississippi River. It apparently was an article of trade among the Indians. at the close of the meeting. To me. In southeastern Texas. J latter are the better. the Paraguay tea which I secured for comparison. elliptic in outline with crenate or wavy edges. As the shrub is evergreen. or a little smaller than those of the Holly (Ilex opaca). the refreshment committee. the and cream and sugar improve the flavor. When I was discussing colonial life and customs before a women's club. and the beverage is said to be quite like that of the latter plant. It is west to Arkansas and Texas. CASSENA. generally a shrub. some seemed to enjoy it and spoke highly of its flavor. OR INDIAN BLACK DRINK Ilex vomitoria in THE Yaupon is an evergreen holly of the southern states found swamps and along streams near the coast from Virginia to Florida. From the leaves of this shrub. The leathery leaves are small. When very strong. and four stamens. four corolla lobes. The small white flowers are in short axillary clusters. washed and dried them. It added much interest to the meeting. or Paraguay Tea (Ilex paraguayensis). New Jersey Tea cheer and refresh a tired soldier camping under unfavorable con- have made tea from both the green and the dried leaves. They are deep green and shining above. The red berries are about one-fourth inch in diameter. For this purpose the leaves were dried and often toasted. There are four sepals. usually little more than an inch long. where this shrub is abundant and goes under the name of Yaupon. the American Indians obtained their famous black drink. small tree.215 ditions. The inches long. It is common northward. densely covered with light brown foliage is quite thick and leathery." The tea pre- . The small calyx is five-toothed. it made a fairly good iced tea. blunt or end with the margins rolled in. entire or sometimes toothed toward the apex. Minnesota. less than half an inch across. but in the southern part of its range is confined chiefly to mountain swamps and bogs. In speaking of this shrub. and fragrant when crushed in the hand. oblong. Michigan. The twigs are densely covered with wool. This shrub is found growing in swamps. The flowers of the Labrador Tea.Yaupon of the 216 two was quite and I alike. one author says its juices are "bitter. When a little lemon was added. and damp woods from Greenland and Labrador southwest to Connecticut. The numerous blossoms. are white. astringent. think a person could develop a liking for them. Both are said to be stimulating beverages. there are usually five stamens and a five-celled seed pod. Pennsylvania. It was not disagreeable. are on the ends of the twigs in short umbel-like clusters. The tea had a slight aroma and a taste (to me) somewhat like Oriental tea. I recently collected some in a mountain bog in northern Pennsylvania and tested it out after the leaves were dried. dark green above. which appear in early summer. The rounded at the alternate entire leaves are oblong in outline. They are one to two wool beneath. and I think could be enjoyed by the camper. and Washington. DAHOON HOLLY Ilex Cassine THE lantic Dahoon Holly is a shrub found in swamps along the Atand Gulf coasts from Virginia to Louisiana. and narcotic. In some re. with five spreading petals. spects it is quite like the species described above but the evergreen leaves are larger. The Creek Indians parently fond of the tea made from the toasted leaves. were ap- LABRADOR TEA Ledum groenlandicum THE Labrador Tea is a beautiful evergreen shrub that grows from one to three feet high. It is said to have been used as a tea during the Revolutionary War. bogs. The leaves are used for tea and are said to be sold in the markets along the south Atlantic coast. WINTERGREEN. is said to be poisonous. Ledum glandulosum. however. The Western Labrador Tea. and I would not advise drinking more than a cup of this tea at one time.217 Labrador Tea Labrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum) pared by me showed none of these qualities. CREEPING SNOWBERRY Chiogenes hispidula DESCRIBED under Edible Wild Fruits. there was apparently a slight physiological effect. . OR MOUNTAIN TEA Gaultheria procumbens DESCRIBED under Edible Wild Fruits. terminal. south to Florida. OR COMMON MINT spicata Mentha Spearmint. from The leaves are sessile or nearly so. Sprigs of it are often used for making mint julep and mint jelly. it is called Lamb Mint. very strongly feet tall. The flowers are in terminal spikes.Spearmint 2 1 8 SPEARMINT. This plant is often grown in gardens for household use and is served with vinegar as a sauce for roast lamb. WE wet places. It is used for flavoring. It grows tall. Texas. toothed. The pale purple flowers are whorled in slender. is a common plant in low or marshy ground. like the other species of this genus. The Indians of Maine roasted the leaves before a fire and ate them with salt in the belief that they were nourishing. with sharp-toothed edges and pointed apex. and California. They are from one to three inches long and about half as wide. on short petioles. narrowed at the base. It may be found THE along watercourses and in wet places from Nova Scotia to Washington on the Pacific Coast. with opposite lanceolate leaves. They are usually purplish. Mentha canadcnsis. The American Wild Mint. It is sometimes cultivated in gardens for its fragrant odor and pleasing taste. is used more for flavoring than it is for a beverage. long-pointed or sharp at the apex. but was introduced into this country more than two hundred years ago and is now well established. one to three inches long. This is one to two feet a smooth perennial with creeping roots. It The square to is a perennial spreading by creeping stems characteristic of the mint family grow from one near the summit. The Spearmint. are ovatelanceolate. branching opposite leaves. The oil is distilled in the same manner as that of Peppermint and is used for flavoring chexving gum and candies. west to the Pacific Coast. branched. PEPPERMINT Mentha piperita are all familiar with the taste and odor of peppermint. In some parts of the country. generally dense but sometimes loose or inter- . well known to the ancients. two The scented with peppermint. interrupted spikes. found from New Brunswick to Virginia. but not many people know the plant as it grows along brooksides and ditches and in rootstocks. is a native of Europe and Asia. SWEET GOLDENROD Solidago odora are found in one that appeals to both sight and smell. Northern Indiana and the is southern part of New York State also produce it.219 Peppermint rupted. the name being derived not from the flower cluster but from the odor of the crushed leaves. The Peppermint is native of Europe and Asia but was early inis now a common plant from Nova Scotia to Florida. and is said to produce half of the world's supply of peppermint oil. It is the Sweet or Anise-Scented Goldenrod. Southern Michigan is the center of the peppermint oil industry. The Sweet Goldenrod ranges from Maine and Vermont south to Florida and west to Missouri and Texas. The numerous purple-pink blossoms are nearly a quarter of an inch long or about the same length as the four stamens. or on . for seasoning and the plant purpose. The leaves are sometimes used is occasionally grown in gardens for this householder can get the flavoring from fresh leaves by boiling them in water for a few minutes and using the solution which contains the oil. The CHIA Salvia columbariae DESCRIBED under Edible Seeds and Seed Pods. west to Minnesota and Arkansas. It is largely cultivated for the pungent oil found in glands in the leaves. CHICORY Cichorium Intybus DESCRIBED under Salad Plants. in open woods. The majority of these plants are striking in appearance but have odors that are not pleasant. This troduced into America and obtained by pressure and distillation. Peppermint is much more used in candy making than any other flavoring substance. It grows in fertile but all AMONG our goldenrods more than there is fifty species the northeastern United States at least dry or sandy soil along the borders of thickets. It also has a medicinal value. which grows in dry." "The ADDITIONAL PLANTS USED FOR BEVERAGES AND FLAVORING Bird's-Foot Fern.Sweet Goldenrod sunny hillsides. Black Spruce. are common trees of southern Canada and the northern border of the United States. the gathering of the leaves to dry and peddle in the winter has formed a minor rural industry. form a The plant is sometimes referred to make Blue Mountain Tea. 220 a slender species. Picea mariana. yielding a modest revenue. When we ran out of Oriental tea and could obtain no more. often rocky situations from near sea level to six thousand feet." In Alphonso Wood's Manual of Botany we find it recorded: only species of solidago which has properties generally considered agreeable or useful. recall once camp- ing with gold prospectors in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. "spruce beer. often reclining. or Bird's-Foot Cliff Brake. I find it recorded that the dried flowers a pleasant and wholesome tea substitute. sessile. It is native to California. and have been exported to China. is often used as a beverage. or Tea Fern. with entire margins and a prominent midvein. we used this as a substitute and found it rock-fern tea." Hemlock. inches long and about half an inch wide. The plants may agreeable. Pseudotsuga taxifolia. dried and steeped in water. Charles F. The leaves are aromatic and yield by distillation a fragrant volatile oil from the pellucid reservoirs. Pellaea ornithopus. sometimes called Spruce Pine or . farther south in the mountains. A magnificent tree Fir. whose young twigs and leaves are used in making the famous beverage. It blooms from July to September. The leaves have numer- ous tiny clear dots which secrete an aniselike fragrance. Saunders in his Useful Wild Plants says of this species: "In some parts of the country. This fern. sharp-pointed. is when beverage that quite pleasing. They are a good substitute for tea. Tsuga canadensis. is The tea made by I steeping the stems and leaves tasty and somewhat aromatic. The spreading racemes of yellow flowers form a one-sided panicle. or Douglas from California to Alaska. growing only two or three The lanceolate leaves are two to four It is feet high. for it it as is evergreen. and Red Spruce. Picea rubra. Native tea made from the leaves of this is used by the Indians and sometimes by the whites. Douglas Spruce. The miners spoke of be gathered at any time. The as fragrant leaves. Chaparral Tea Western Texas or Encinilla. Croton corymbulosus. said to be valuable in giving a pleasant flavor to roasts. Geum rivale. The Sweet Gale is a shrub two to four feet high growing in swamps and along ponds and lakes from Newfoundland and in the mountains to Alaska. Sweet Gale. The leaves are reduced to mere bracts in whorls around the joints. I have not tried it. but evergreen in the South. south to Florida and Texas. Myrica feet tall one to three Sweet Bay. south to North Carolina and Indiana. extending south tea made from the leaves was used A by the Indians. Coffee Senna or Coffeeweed. grows from to Arizona and south into Mexico. Ephedra The Tea is two to five feet high belonging to the joint-fir family. It is said that the leaves give flavor to roasts and gravy and perfume is made from the very fragrant flowers. south along the northern tier of states. are roasted and used as a substitute for real coffee. The purplish root is used in making a beverage used as a substitute for cocoa. all growing in the dry regions of the Southwest. known as Magdad coffee. The plant is sometimes called Chocolate Root from its color and use. Comfitonia peregrina. who Maine and Canada a shrub apparently relished it. in the is Beverage Plants mountains to Alabama. Cassia occidentalis. to Virginia. related to the junipers. The seeds. The Sweet Bay is a shrub or small tree deciduous in the North. A tea made by boiling the branches has long been used medicinally and has since become a popular beverage with both the Indians and the whites. or Teamsters' Tea. Found in swamps east of the mountains from Massachusetts to Florida and westward to Arkansas and Texas. It grows on dry wooded hillsides and in neglected fields from Nova Scotia to Saskatchewan. It has an aromatic root and an orange-purple flower about an inch across. The leaves are reported to have been dried and used for tea during the Revolution. is a shrub with fernlike leaves that when crushed give off a pleasing sweet fragrance. sp. Myrica Gale. It has spread into the United States from Virginia to Kansas. Magnolia virginiana. The leaves have a pungent spicy odor. The flowering . or Laurel Magnolia. There are three or four cpecics very much alike. lumbermen Desert of Desert Tea. asplenifolia. This perennial plant grows in swamps and wet ground from Newfoundland to New Jersey. Sweet Fern. Even in Africa it is used as a coffee substitute. west to Alberta and Colorado.221 Hemlock Spruce. is a native of tropical America and also of the old world. a familiar tree in the north. Purple or Water Avens. The often resort to hemlock tea. It is sometimes called Mexican tea. Hyssopus officinalis. It was once cultivated for these purposes. or Winterberry. Micromeria chamissonis. Tennessee. Melissa officinalis. Kansas. probably the most abundant weed of the south- . It is said that the poor in England often use the leaves making tea. and in medicines. Gill-over-the-Ground. is a fragrant plant with large heads of scarlet flowers.Beverage Plants 222 tops boiled in water make a very palatable drink. Monarda narda have the same properties brought into the fistulosa. also Feverwort and Tinker's Weed. Yerba Buena. is an aromatic little plant of the Pacific Coast. to flavor liquors. Oswego Tea. species of The Wild Bergamot. west to Missouri. grows from Nova Scotia to Florida. Summer Savory. is a shrub in swampy or wet places from Nova Scotia to Wisconsin. south to Georgia and Tennessee. According to Havard. south to Georgia. Origanum vulgare. called Coffee. or Bee Balm. Dried leaves of this shrub are used as a substitute for Paraguay tea. The dried leaves steeped in water make a palatable beverage. Nepeta hederacea. Marrubium vulgare. Marjoram. grows in rich woods and along fences and roadsides from Massachusetts to Nebraska. The dried and toasted berries are said to have been used by the early Pennsylvania Germans as a substitute for coffee and pronounced good. Tea is sometimes for made from in cooking. mainly near the coast. Its leaves have also been used as a substitute for Oriental tea. Several additional plants belonging to the mint family were this country from Europe for flavoring or other culinary purposes and have escaped. Its strong mint flavor It frequently is is mentioned as the in lists of pot sometimes employed and sweet herbs. It is used in seasoning. the leaves. The Black Alder. or Horse Gentian. south to Alabama and Missouri. Satureja hortensis. and Colorado. It may be found from Quebec to Michigan. belonging to the mint family. Hyssop. This lemon-scented plant is a native of Europe. The Appalachian Tea. Glecoma hederacea. Monarda didyma. Among these we may mention Common Horehound. south to Florida and Missouri. now extending from Newfoundland to Minnesota. Ilex verticillata. and other Mo- Oswego Tea. the colored soldiers of the southwestern frontier in our country preferred it to coffee. Wild Ground Ivy. Introduced from Europe. Garden or Lemon Balm. or Evergreen Winterberry. Ilex glabra. It was planted in gardens in this country and has now escaped from Maine to Georgia. Triosteum perfoliatum. is a plant in pine woods from Virbelonging to the thistle family. and Field Mint. It grows to Florida.Beverage Plants ern Catskill Mountains. The crushed leaves have the ginia odor of vanilla. Agastache Foeniculum. The Fragrant Giant Hyssop. west to Louisiana. probCatskill Mountains. Thymus Serpyllum. a native mint. by tobacconists to flavor smoking . Horsemint. Trilisa odoratissima. In Florida it is used to some extent commercially tobacco. ably the most abundant plant of the northern Mentha longifolia. was used by the Indians of the Missouri valley for making a beverage and as a flavor in cooking. Carolina Vanilla. Mentha arvensis. or Vanilla Leaf. Wild Thyme. . many young people in the mountains seem to a The sugar gradually dissolves. the exuding sap forms lumps of a sugary sub- THE five leaves or needles in a cluster. leaving gummy substance which might serve for chewing gum. Other plants and trees have a resinous substance with their sap. Some of these exude a gummy A was chewed by the American Indians long before the few have become popular with the whites advent of white people. in the Arctic regions and on mountain 225 THE . SUGAR PINE Pinus lambertiana Sugar Pine has thick brown bark with rough ridges. but cared is at first was the best of sweets. and The leaves are two to four inches long. However. and are even sold commercially. When it is cut into or is injured. John Muir. relish it. little for the resinous quality. who admired beautiful trees. Sugar is very common in the juices of fruits. The gums are often mixed with material that A sugar which dissolves in the chewing. when boiled down. and many plants and trees have sap that is sweet and. For quality. This is a common tree in the mountains of California and Oregon. BALSAM FIR. a sweet substance that bees gather and make into honey. sometimes reaching a height of eighty feet or even more. Muir thought I have collected it fresh from the trees the Sierra Nevada Mountains and found it sweet.SUGARS AND GUMS GREAT many flowers have glands that secrete nectar. called it the Queen of the Sierras. OR FIR TREE Abies balsamea Balsam Fir is a slender tree. forms syrup or sugar. and thirteen inches long sometimes longer. stance that this in white but later turns brown. the peer of these is the Sugar Maple. The cones are about six inches thick when opened. For chewing purposes. The taste able. small warty with "balsam paler beneath. and wet places over almost the entire United States. 1 I am told that the pitch of the White times substituted for that of the Balsam. People make a regular business of going into forests of Fir Trees. pecially in the forming lumps or blisters. blisters. Pinus Strobus. Like uncut jewels. The culms. stuff. dull and rough. it was generally molded into short sticks. describes one of these spruce- gum collectors: He showed me lumps of the scented . The bark is smooth. slightly more than an inch thick. The Balsam Fir ranges from New- foundland and Labrador to Hudson Hay and Alberta. marshes. Robert Frost. OR COMMON REED GRASS Phragmites communis Phragmites Phragmites THE Common Reed Grass is found in swamps. It is also found in Europe and Asia. is someis too sticky and is rather disagree- REED. nearly an inch long. but it generally has to be boiled before using. It comes to the market golden brown But turns to pink between the teeth. south to Massachusetts. Used by Henry Holt and Company. When refined. esmounting of microscope slides. In many places throughout its range. From "Mountain Interval" by Robert Frost. it was regularly bought and sold at the stores. gathering the gum. standing erect from the upper side of the branches. but is often found on mountain tops where evaporation goes on slowly. Pennsylvania. and taking it to market. and northern Mexico." It has a resinous but not disagreeable flavor and was much used for chewing before the days of pleasantly flavored commercial chewing gums. the poet. and Iowa. 1 of the publishers." The leaves are dark green above. It generally grows in damp woods and swamps. it is used in the arts. Canada balsam is the resinous pitch that exudes from the trunks. southern Canada. Pine. special permission . Residents of the northern United States and Canada generally refer to it as "spruce gum. The cones are two to four inches long.Balsam Fir tops it is 226 often only a few feet high. flat. OR RED GUM. the plant It is rarely produces seed. OR BILSTED Liquidambar Styracillua THE in Sweet Gum. the sugar was shaken ing a sweet. containing numerous two-beaked capsules. is sometimes used as a substitute for storax. The fertile ones. with five to seven pointed lobes. turns brown. six inches to a foot long. This the Indians collect and compress into balls to be eaten at pleasure. or those containing the pistils. It is claimed that the Indians ate the roots of the reed. Dr. which. storax of commerce comes from two other species of Liquidambar growing in southeastern Asia. form- SWEET GUM. the resinous gum that our species produces is sometimes used as chewing gum. V. oil and dissolved in water. north in the Mississippi valley to Missouri and Illinois. The fertile and sterile blossoms are in separate heads. and is then eaten like Mohave Of course this suggests roasted marshmallows. size of the stalk. . forms a resin or gum. is a large forest damp woods on the coastal plain from Connecticut tree found to Florida and Texas. When The the tree is lows. Coville says the Indians of Desert collect the plants in marshes. or Lkjuidambar. From the large panicle and the sometimes called Wild liroomcorn. they turn various shades of red and purple. but they were fonder of the sugar it produced. grind them. a pleasantly scented balsamic sap folhardens. This contains so much sugar that when placed near a fire. when it injured. copal-balsam or copalm. The gray bark is rough with corky ridges on the branches. usually about an inch thick and five to twelve feet high. are stout. and placed them on blankets. The glossy green leaves are star-shaped. who cut the reeds after the sugar had hardened. They form a round. attcr they taffy. Dr. that is. and sift out the flour. dry the stalks. it swells. The panicle is crowded and plumy. The leaves are about an inch wide and generally less than a foot long. spinose ball nearly an inch and a half in diameter. F. According to Willard N. a pasty substance exudes which hardens into gum. but spreads by its long horizontal rootstocks.227 Reed Grass or stalks. had enough. Palmer records a former practice of the Indians. are on long stems. In autumn. Clute. Owing to accident or to the attack of insects which puncture the stem. This gum. nourishing drink. the lateral ones often wide-spreading. and ripen in the autumn. paler beneath. or samaras. unusually so when it is of the Many people consider the Sugar hardwood species in America. The leaves have long stalks. They are long-stalked and drooping. or often a few days earlier. The . Young trees THE have bark that is brownish gray and nearly smooth. south to Florida and Texas. scaly. forming wide flat ridges. OR ROCK MAPLE Acer saccharum Sugar Maple is a large forest tree with upright branches. The blades are dark green above. The bark of old trees is dark gray or brownish. Maple to be the most valuable very valuable for lumber. The yellow flowers appear just as the leaves are beginning to unfold. The winged seeds. OR SUGAR TREE. are about an inch and a half long. channeled. The Sugar Maple is found in rich woods.Sweet Gum 228 Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) SUGAR MAPLE. making the tree conspicuous in bloom. or petioles. often on hillsides. with five or occasionally three long-pointed irregular or coarse-toothed lobes. The wood is bird's-eye and curly varieties. from Newfoundland to Manitoba. about as wide as long. The cool clear sweet sap drips into pails or troughs and is then taken to the "sugarhouse" and boiled down into syrup or maple sugar. Clear days after frosty nights are best for sugar making. depending on the latitude and season. however. orange.229 autumn foliage is Sugar Maple probably the most beautiful of all our it trees. so that desirable for roadside planting. There was always enough weirdness . holes are bored in maple trees into which spiles are driven. average. The mere mention of maple sugar or maple syrup will call forth a chain of recollections to those who have lived in the country where this tree abounds. and boiling it down in the great pan in the sugarhouse in the woods. gathering the sap. Some of the most pleasant recollections of my boyhood are connected with the making of these sweets "tapping" the trees. Dr. especially From the latter part of February to early April. I knew a very large tree on my father's farm that dripped eighteen gallons of sap in twenty-four hours. about fifteen Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) quarts of the sap is required to make one pound of sugar. and thirty pounds from one tree has been recorded. Five or six pounds to a tree is about an amount Romeyn B. Hough made twenty-three pounds of sugar from one tree in a season without reboring. as the owner desires. turnis ing to bright yellow. On an average. or even scarlet. The varies greatly. the sap of some trees being much sweeter than that of others. The leaves are smooth and dark green above. Along the south shore of Lake Superior in March. three to five irregular toothed lobes which are sharp at the base. very . and occasionally drinking of the syrup which was becoming more and more sweet. It tells how the Indians gathered the sap in bark or skin vessels. The sap is sweet and yields much sugar. OR SWAMP MAPLE Acer rubrum THE Red tinge Maple is smooth or somewhat flaky in old trees. delicate taste of cane sugar. The Indians were so fond of the sugar that very little was preserved beyond the sugar making season. very similar to the Sugar Maple in much so that the average observer would take it for one and indeed many botanists consider it only a variety of the latter tree. Its bark is darker. and the leaves not so light beneath as those of Maple.Sugar Maple 230 about the whole process to excite our imaginations. The sap was kept in large oxhide vats. nearly The twigs have a reddish is often quite red where the growth rapid. 1823. Probably the earliest account was written about 1700. but the Black Sugar Maple does not extend so far south. and boiled it down in a crude way. Another pleasing pastime was making maple sugar taffy and "sugaring off" pouring the melted candy on snow and eating It is it with a fork a pastime often indulged in by older folks. Henry Schoolcraft visited with the Indians while they were making sugar from the Rock Maple trees. especially in the evening as we sat around the foaming pan eating apples. Almost all the Indians of the neighborhood went to the maple forests. RED MAPLE. we consider it the finest and almost always has a burnt flavor. believed that the white people learned to make sugar from the maple tree from the Indians. and the lobes are broader and shorter. a large forest tree with light gray bark. Now of all sweets. The report says that the sugar lacks the pleasing. It seems to be more common in the western the Sugar part of its range. but the boiling was done in kettles. BLACK SUGAR MAPLE Acer nigrum fact. telling stories. The two species have much the same range. The leaves have a heart-shaped base. so THIS is a large forest tree. The berries are red. OR SOFT OR WHITE MAPLE Acer saccharinum THE Silver Maple is a large forest tree with light gray. OR ASH-LEAVED MAPLE Acer Negundo THE Ash-Leaved Maple is a wide-spreading forest tree found along streams. They do not resemble those of a maple tree. Nova much Manitoba south to Florida and Texas. have that of the and elsewhere. has glossy evergreen along leaves and stiff panicles of flowers. west to South Dakota and Oklahoma. and in lowlands from Maine to Manitoba. duces sugar. The sap pro- it is not so very sweet. The foliage turns crimson in autumn. silvery white beneath. Dr. It produces which is less sweet than that of the Sugar Maple.231 pale beneath." . flaky bark and wide-spreading branches. The Silver Maple is generally found in low grounds and along streams from New Brunswick to Florida. especially the mountains in southern California. BOX ELDER. Jepson says. The leaves have three to five leaflets which are slightly lobed. green above. SILVER MAPLE. The flowers. The Red Maple usually grows in swamps and low ground from Scotia to sap. In Illinois soft. The "The sweetish waxen covering of the berries is used by the native tribes for sugar. toothed. but It is rather scarce in the mountains. The tree is easily grown. The sap produces sugar but is less sweet than Sugar Maple. Rhus ovata. usually pale yeltwo inches low. appear in early spring. lake shores. weak. Sugarbush. or entire. The leaves are deeply five-lobed. It is rare along the Atlantic coast but is frequently planted and often escapes. groves of this tree been planted for making sugar and syrup. The wood is and light. clusters Red Maple make red or yellowish odorous blossoms in lateral this tree a pleasing feature of the landscape in early The spring. south to Florida and Mexico. The winged fruits are large or more long and mature early. The winged fruits are small rarely more than an inch long and drop early. which grows on dry hills. Skeleton Weed SKELETON WEED Lygodesmia juncea 232 THIS is a stiff erect perennial. it was collected and used for chewing. OR PILOTWEED Silphium laciniatum Compass Plant. The alternate. forming large lumps. The plants are often infested with small round galls which contain much gum. The upper lower leaves are an inch or two long and very narrow. closely The much-branched stems grow eight leaves are similar but related to the Wild Lettuce. Gilmore. The large basal leaves are cut almost to the midrib. and Texas. According to M. R. He says: "The exude. . The The much smaller. forming numerous narrow lobes. south to Missouri and New Mexico. often called Rosinweed. stems were gathered and cut into pieces to cause the juice to When this hardened. Gilmore the Indian children THE gum gather chewing gum from the upper parts of the stem. The yellow flower heads are three or four inches across and resemble those of a Wild Sunflower. pink flower heads. where the exudes. is a rough. composed of five flowers. generally pointing north and south. R. south to Alabama. The Skeleton Weed is found from Wisconsin and Minnesota to Montana. Louisiana. coarse perennial. and according to M. often reduced to narrow scales. six to twelve feet high. The stalk is very resinous. to sixteen inches high. are at the ends of the branches." COMPASS PLANT. sessile stem leaves have their edges vertical. this plant was used by the Indians of the Missouri River valley for producing chewing gum. The Compass Plant is found on prairies from Ohio to South Dakota. The flavor. Within ten miles of New York City. for hundreds are known to be edible. Thi* is only a beginning. I have made use of mushrooms.MUSHROOMS EDIBLE mushrooms are so numerous. Mushrooms should be studied and learned like flowering plants. I have collected^ prepared. Often in camping in the woods. the writer has collected and eaten wild mushrooms every month in the year. This cannot be done every year. When a species is in doubt. the student of mushrooms can usually find edible species growing in abundance unless the season is too dry. I should not expect to find them from January to April. Several species are apt to be abundant in November and December. it should not be eaten. and eaten more than sixty species of edible fungi. for during very cold winters. however. however. and find that they give splendid relief from the monotony of canned goods. frying them with bacon or stewing them to use for soups. and so many popular books have recently appeared on the subject. From spring until late autumn. that 1 will pass them by with mere mention. following species I have found to be excellent in quality and Meadow Mushroom Field Mushroom Red Hypholoma Shaggy-Mane Ink Cap Glistening Coprinus Parasol Mushroom Agaricus campestris Agaric us arvensis Hypholoma perplexum Coprinus comatus Coprinus atramentarius Coprinus micaceus Lepiota procera Armillaria m el lea Collybia radicata Collybia velutipes Pleurotus ulmarius Pleurotus os treat us Honey Mushroom Root Mushroom Velvet Collybia Oyster Elm Mushroom Mushroom Delicious Milky Mushroom Lactarius deliciosus Green Russula Chanterelle Russula vires cens Fairy Ring 233 Cantharellus cibariut Marasmius oreades . that white within. All mushrooms should be eaten fresh.Mushrooms Pluteus Pine Cone Mushroom Beefsteak Mushroom 234 Pluteus cervinus Strobilomyces strobilaceus Fistulina hepatica Sulphus Mushroom Coral Fungus Bear's-Head Giant Puffball Beaker Puffball Edible Morel Polyporus sulphureus Hydnum Hydnum coralloides caput-ursi Lycoperdon giganteum Lycoperdon cyathiforme Morchella esculenta is All species of puffballs are good when fresh. when pure . EDIBLE PLANTS of Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada. west to Mississippi River . black. bark dark. fr. Eastern states w. black w. high. rough. large. rough. berry red. Throughout year 81 Minn. with bloom A 1 in. in. Ivs. white Ivs. berry scarlet. S . l red.. /$ in. high. to s. seeds on surface lets Stemless. in. in diam. Fla. Oaylussacia baccata (Black Huckleberry) Shrub. leaf3. and June to Morns alba (White Tree. Mulberry) and shining. Tree. to Gulf. Morns nigra (Black Mulberry) Easternstates June to 9 fleshy.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 236 CHARACTERISTICS Crataegus sp. and Autumn 89 long. fr. Nyssa sylvatica (Sour Gum) Tree. s. Haws) Diospyros virginiana (Persimmon) with thorns. orange 1-1^2 in. blue 2 ft. Ivs. to Dak. purple-black and Aug. bark. fr. red l /2\Yb in ' Tree. dosa berry) (Dangle- twigs brown. lobed. Tex. to plains 8 Aug. seeds Gaultheria procum- Evergreen 4 in. s. i-ifXz in. shrub. fr. (Red Shrubs or small trees fr. evergreen herb. smooth fr. in diam. 54 Me. Tex. Gaylussacia fron- Shrub. to plains Aug. i-seeded . West N. fr. Morus rubra (Red Mulberry) Tree. N . in fr. Ivs. to diam. Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry) Creeping. bens (Wintergreen) high. in pits 3 leaflets. berries red Y& in diam. black X$ 2 ft. Mich. Fragaria berry) vesca (Wood StrawFragaria virginiana (Wild Strawberry) Stemless herb. rough entire. to to Fla. in. July 6 long. twigs brown. fr.E. July black or dark red. flat. annual. tendril climbing. to Fla. yellow. long. sweet Prunus Cerasus (Sour Cherry) Tree. Mont. tree. fr..S. Small tree. flat. and Calif. and Sept. high. in diam. and N. to 1-2 in. Tex. 2 tum (May Ap- low. long Prunus alleghani- (Porter's f r. jointed. near coast Aug. fr.Y. in diam. in a husk N. Tex. Aug. in umbels.. Fla. s. Kans. and Minn. Oct. to 80 (calyx) Oct. to Kans..237 AMD COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN Index CHARACTERISTICS Cactus. and and Aug. spreading. round. Tex. and Pa. to 79 l /2 in.B. sour Small tree. slightly Conn. to plains July and Aug. yellow. to Fla. yelovoid. in.Va. to Pa. to thorny. 1-2 red near coast 111. long. Mich. Shrub or small tree. purple. Aug.. pie Physalis ixocarpa (Tomatillo) Branching fr. ft. pulpy. in annual. and w. Aug.S. s. fr. Shrub 4 fr. i in. RANGE SEASON PAGE 63 Opuntia Rafmesquii (Western Prickly Pear) spreading. red or yellow Tex.M. Mass. red or dark brown. in Oct. to Va. fr. Ala.. /2 l in. Summer and autumn 61 jointed. to 60 fls. to Plum) Prunus americana (Wild Plum) bloom diam. 44 . high. w. fr. Eastern U. and to Pear) fr. N. /2 in. bright red Miss. dark purple with Conn. July Prunus hortulana spread- W. Passiflora lutea (Yellow Passion Flower) Vine. prickly.Y. s.. s. in. Que. Physalis ry) pubescens Branching fr. (Ground Cher- husk. Summer and autumn prickly. f r. in Eastern U. to Tex. to to Aug. Oct. purple N. Prunus A vium (Sweet Cherry) Large umbels. 2 in. $4-i across. in. in diam. Podophyllum ple) pelta- Plant 15 Ivs. pur- Fla. round. to to July 43 (Wild Goose Plum) Prunus maritima (Beach Plum) ing. l Aug. fr. red Opuntia vulgaris (Eastern Prickly Cactus. and Pa. and Oct. s. Prunus pumila Shrub 1-4 f r. in racemes. in diam. round. black. /z l Prunus virginiana (Choke Cherry) Shrub or small fr. in tree. Prunus serotina Wild (Black Cherry) Large tree. or more Cultivated escaped. /j in. obi (Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple) long. in diam. in diam. (Sand Cherry) umbels. diam. ber- (Wild Gooseberry) prickly / l in. red or brown.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 238 CHARACTERISTICS Prunus nigra (Canada Plum) Small i tree. umbels. in. in tree. toothed. J4 in m diam.. apple. Ribes Gross u laria (European Gooseberry) Shrub. long. fr. able fr. small Small tree Pyrus coronaria ( somei American Crab what in. fr. Vi in. no prickles. nearly black. Apple) Pyrua Malus (Apple) diam. fr. orange- red Prunus nica ry) pennsylva(Pin Cher- Small slender fr. spines stout. escaped from cult. fr. Pyrus communis (Choke Pear) Tree slightly thorny. in : ft. Ivs. high. /3 in. Ribes rant) floridum (Wild Black Cur- Spreading shrub. berries black U in. in racemes. in prickly. in diam. in diam. - red. fr. Pyrus angustifolia Small in. vari- Ribes Cynosbati Shrub ries spiny. in diam. oval in. l tree. berry . in (Fetid Currant) diam. spines short or none. spreading. fr. black. stout. Rubus allegheniensis Shrubby. yellowish Berry) Rubus neglectus Pu rple Rasp( Shrub prickly. or less in (Eastern Wild Gooseberry) Ribes ican rant) triste (AmerCur- Red diam. in. fr. high. prickles fr. fr. prickles. (Black berry) Rasp- purple- black Rubus odoratus (Purple -Flowering Raspberry) Shrubby. glaufr. J/2 stout spines. drupelets trailing. red \\ in. few Rubus strigosus (Wild Red Raspberry) Shrubby. fr. bristly. pink. purplish Shrub. fr.. fr. Ribes rotund ifolium Shrub. Garden Currant) es- caped from Rosa rubiginosa (Sweetbrier) A in wild rose with fls. red J4 in. }4 in. red or yellow. Ribes vulgare (Red Shrub suberect. fr. berry smooth. diam. in diarn. red. large. depressed Rubus procumbens (Dewberry) Shrubby.239 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index CHARACTERISTICS Shrub. Blackberry) drupelets many 8 Rubus Chamaemorus (Baked-Apple Herblike. fr. fr. cult. prickly. (Mountain long. red in. spines few. purplish Ribes oxyacanthoi- des (Smooth Gooseberry) Ribes prostratum Shrub. spreading. weak upright or red . purplish-red berry) Rubus occidentalis Shrub cous. fr. fls. purple. low. unarmed. . and Oct. to B.S. s. . Taxus canadensis (American Yew) Shrub. blueblack with bloom green to Va. to Man. s. Aug. to Minn. clusters N. s. and 111. Sambucus canadensis Stems woody clusters. l green /$ in. curved... Mass. in red Xi to V a.E.S. July Rubus (Tall berry) v i 1 1 o s us Tall. Nfld. low. and juicy 6 ft. Aug. and Aug. June to 72 vanicum (Low Blueberry) and warty. high. Aug. Nfld. Nov.. to Sask. evergreen. Oct. fr. and to s. ter 2 ft. evergreen. Fla. Smilacina racemosa Plant red.Index SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES 240 IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON July PAGE 27 Rubus berry) triflorus (Dwarf Rasp- Usually trailing.J. 3-10 ft. Vaccinium corym( Shrub. Shrub i2 ft. erect fr. fr. pulpy. fr. large. to Fla. to N. or N.. to 76 creeping. Aug. fr. to 82 (Elderberry) high.. and Ark. Ohio. high. July to 71 Sept. fr. to 88 terminal clus- Mo.. fr. unarmed. fr. high. and Mo. to N. N. (False mon's-Seal) Solo- rootstock stout. spreadevet green. s. unarmed. creeping. high.C. 29 Black- black. s.C. to Alas. in diam. fr. Man.B. red K> >n. and dark pur- Tex. Shrub 1-3 ft. July 73 (Blue Huckleberry) stems greenish. top uncovered ing. berries in pie flat to Ma. and La. Vaccinium stamineum (Deerberry) Vaccinium vacillans fr.E. in diam. to and Aug. Mich.. redpurple Lab s. Ariz. Smilax herbacea Flow(Carrion er) Stems herbaceous. and globular Ok la. to Man. climbing. to Mich. red. to 88 to Fla. to s. to Ga. blue-black with bloom Stem slender. N. blue with bloom and Aug. s. winter Vaccinium pennsyl- Shrub steins ft. fr. i Mich.. N. Stem in. and Aug. Nebr. black. bosum Hi gh- Bush Blueberry) Vaccinium macro(Americarpon can Cranberry) Vaccinium Oxycoccos (Small Cranberry) high. diam. and Tenn. black Y* Vine. to 111. in Ivs. s. ish in. Sept. 56 to Fla. ing. Pa. Ivs. diam. to 56 Nov. N.C. /$ l diam. and Tex. to N.241 Index Vitis bicolor (Blue Similar. . Sept. Grape) Vitis beneath. to cordifolia (Chicken Grape) high-climbgreen beneath. in to Nebr. in.H. whitfr. w. Dec. fr. and thick shell Carya glabra (Pignut) Large bark. 104 and Oct. large. to Fla. to 99 leaflets nut. Fla. and brown seeds Ark.. nut smal thin shell thin to Mich. woolly beneath. and Nov. Can. blue-black Kans. Edible Nuts Carya alba (Mockernut) Large tree. to Fla. Tex. Me. Carya ovata (Shagbark) Large shaggy. nuts with thick husk Mass. thick tree..Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN 242 CHARACTERISTICS Vine. bark 5. s. to to s.. Sept. often trailing. rough S. Tex. tree. fr. gray bur. N.Fruited Hickory) Tree. Sept to 108 (American Chest- prickly to Ga. leaflets 11-15.. to Grape) Ga . Minn. 7-9 leaflets.. Ont. s. in diam. to nut smooth oblong. Sept.. nuts large. to to Aug. bark shaggy. and Okla. and Nov. brownish purple RANGE SEASON PAGE 53 Vitis labrusca (Northern Fox N. and Kans. fr. bark 1. to Sept. to 103 Minn. to Mich. and neath. s. rough bark.E. thick shell leaflets thick N. s.. s. Aug. shell to and Dec. to 56 erside Grape) Ivs. Sept. s. to Nebr. to 98 (Pecan) bark. to Nov.. and Pa. to N. s. Ivs. thin shell with thick husk Nov. Nov. Aug. w. leaflets rough 5-7. s. green bel to Md. Carya microcarpa (Small . and Kans. Sept.E. la. . Vitis vulpina (Riv- Vine. and Mo. and Nov..B.D. to Va.. Tex. Mass. /s in. Tenn. to la. and Minn. Tenn. husk thin. Carya laciniosa (Big Shellbark) Large tree.Y. Ont. Nov. Castanea nut) dentata Large bark. husk. Carya illinoensis Large tree. husk. s. to 101 7-9. and Tex.. close. s. husk thin Ala. N. Ind. tree. Me. small bur. i-seeded N. nut in tubular husk s G Aug. and Oak) Tex.. high. to a . and Ore. to Sask. to Del. to Quercus alba Large tree. acorn Quercus bergii Muhlen(Yellow Tree.. . sessile to Ala.B. s. Sept. to. Tenn. Sept. to Minn. w. Corylus rostrata (Beaked Hazelnut) Shrub 3-6 ft. nut rough. to Shrub or small Ivs.. to Ga. 2 in. to Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak) Large tree. nut in leaf- Me. to 107 Beech) prickles. gray bark. s. to Ala. Ark... to 94 rough husk bark. soft N.. to (White Oak) bark. and 105 husk Kans. to Minn. 2-celled N. to Dak.. acorn .. Tex. Minn. to 112 Oak) Quercus (Scrub prinoides Chestnut Tex.243 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN Index CHARACTERISTICS RANGE S. and to Mo. Nov. tree. smooth bur. dark 4- Mass. s. like Am. bark. Fag us folia grandi(American Large bark.. neath. Nebr. to Fla. Tex.. 112 Chestnut whitish bechestnutlike.. Me. Minn. to Shrub brown like 5 ft. flaky. Fla. cup /3 of Que. Minn.S. SEASON Pa. Oct. Kans. celled nut in round Dec. Kans. Sept. to Fla. Sept. and Minn. Juglans cinerea (Butternut) Forest tree. Corylus americana (Hazelnut) Nov. w. and Nov. to Ga. flaky Dec. to to Sept. acorn oblong. to Dec. Sept. mts. to PAGE Castanea pumila (Chinquapin) Small tree or shrub. Tex. to 106 . and Aug. tree. to to Aug. Vt. and Juglans nigra (Black Walnut) Large tree. and Sept. tail. gray Me.S. s. acorn on long l stem. 2-seeded Fla. long. s. and cup shallow Tex..J. N. and Ark. bark gray.. s. Oct. Nov. to B. s. Dec. to Ind.C.. Ivs. and Fla. to large. of July to 129 Oct. chestnutlike. spreading on ground. and Nov.S. i ft. pods /z l long.. and Dec. root red. pods drooping. Tenn. plant 2-5 high. s. Ivs.. Tenn. spread- Over most U. of June to 129 yellow.. Conn. black Me.. twisted peren. 1 Me. fls. to Fla. fls. Sept.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 244 IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON s.. ing. to Mich. seeds dark triacanGleditsia thos (Honey Locust) brown N. weed. black. 4 ft. 1-2 high.Y. U. July to 129 to Pacific Amaranth) Oct. and (Black Mus- July to 116 yellow. pod twisted Oct. Sometimes escaped from cult. long. and spikes. fls. long . s. to Neb. high. Ont. ft. Sept. to N. Can. Edible Seeds and Seed Pods Amaranthus des blitoi- (Prostrate Ann. Mass. Nov. to Fla. seeds small. pale yel- low. seeds small. and Tex. w.S. lets 3. long Medicago lupulina (Black Medic) Cloverlike. shining Over most U. PAGE Quercus (Rock prinus Chestnut Large Oak) tree. to s. weed. to Minn. July to 129 blue i to Fla. to Sept. and Dec. seeds acornlike Fla. flat. leaf- chyus (Wild Bean) purple.. pod with long beak Oct. Tex. vine. plant. fls.. Nelumbo (American tus) lutea Lo- Large water fls. to Large tree with thorns. to to Sept. branching pod brown. Brassica tard) nigra Ann.. Amaranthus Amaranth) hy- bridus (Red Ann. cup thin. acorn large Me.J. Minn. Lupinus perennis (Wild Lupine) Erect like peain in. July to 122 Oct. w. 121 Kans. July to 118 yellow. rare Phaseolus polysta- Peren. to Ala. in. fls. pods ^ Tex. 2 in. s. ft.S. Brassica alba (White Mustard) Plant erect.. offiSisymbrium cinale (Hedge Mustard) Ann.. "galls" irreg. Zizania aquatica (Wild Rice) Tall grass in swamps. arvensis Ann. high..B.S. 3-6 seeds black U. July asparagus es- Escaped from cult.. Arctium minus (Common Burdock) Similar.B. May to 166 (Scarlet Pimper- branches scarlet w. fragrant. black 4 ft. N.... and burs smaller Over much U. to PAGE 120 Pseudo(Locust Large bark. to 162 (Aspara- caped East gus) June Shrub. long fls. Ga. long small. spreading.. to Fla. to Minn. stout. rough flat. Ivs. May and June 154 and Tex . and May to 55 Kans. white 3 in. pods ]/ Nov. to Fla. long Tex. Salad Plants and Potherbs Amaranthus bridus hy(Slender Ann. long. Widely tributed July to 118 2 yellow. to Va.245 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON NAMES Robinia Acacia RANGE Pa. Peren. Dec. roots red. and Tex. fls. Nfld.. Sept. to Man. Aug. 10 in. to and Tree) pods Mo. fls.S. pink. roots red. in. w . June to Arctium Lappa Bien. to Mo. fls. to 113 to Fla. ft.. N. widely planted dis- Mar. to la. ally gener- May to high.. fls. w. Cult. Northeast U.S. and in. Asclepias syriaca Ivs. in Apr. attractive.. seeds Can. tropics to May to 129 Pigweed) Sept. fls. SEASON Sept. 166 (Great Burdock) purple burs forming Aug. Azalea nudiflora (Rhododendron Azalea) Me. oppo- (Common Milkweed) Asparagus nalis offici- pale purple s.. but fls. 2 / -i l Aug. s. site. Amaranthus retroflexus (Green Pigweed) Anagallis nel) Ann. grain dark. of June to 166 Aug. tree. large. to Sask. white or pink Peren. lobed. small. fls. Ivs. i ft. bum (Lamb's Bo- high. perennial. 2-12 in. high. fls.. i ft. fls. branched. Ivs. Bitter Cress) vanica Ann.. basal fls.. 10-16 yellow. Barbarea verna (Winter Cress) erect. Ivs. in wet grounds. Marsh Mari- hol- gold) yellow Capsella Bursa(Shepherd's-Purse) pastoris Ann. pods erect angled Barbarea vulgaris (Winter Cress) Tufted. fls. Ivs. erect. itrian- Good-King- gular Henry) Chondrus crispus (Irish Moss) Seaweed. Leaved Cress) Cetraria white (Iceland Moss) Lichen.Index SCIENTIFIC 246 AND CHARACTERISTICS COMMON NAMES Baptisia tinctoria (Wild Indigo) Herbaceous. in swamps. weak. 2-6 ft. (RoundIslandica high. mostly Card a mine pennsyl(Penna. i ft. fls. pinnate. on ground or rocks. white. leaflike. tall. stems low. greenish Quarter) Chenopodium ( Weed. grayish brown Chenopodium al- Weed. yellow Herbaceous. fls. high. white. deep-cut. Ivs. fls. erect. on wet grounds Cardamine pratensis (Cuckoo Flower) Peren. tall. yellow Caltha palustris ( Fleshy plant. roundish. Ivs. fls. long . 1-2 ft. smooth.. tall. Cardamine rotundifolia i ft. mustard flavor. 2 nus-Henricus ft. branching. ann. Ivs.. flat forked stems. Ivs. Malva sylvestris stem (High Mallow) 2-3 ft. ft. pale beneath. white Bien. herb. basal. fls.. cum grass) (Pepperrotundifolia peppery. stem hollow. pendicula turn Hydrophyllum virginianum (Waterleaf) high. leafy. 10-20 in. Herbaceous. Ivs. oval. fls. in. succulent. white Malva (Mallow) Bien. erect.. 2-5 tall. ft. orange. 15 fls. Cichorium (Chicory) Intybus tall. tle) woods Lepidium virgini- Erect high. 2-5 ft. fls. blue Cladonia rina rangife- On ground in (Reindeer woods. Lactuca scariola (Prickly Lettuce) Weed. herb. fls. fls..247 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index CHARACTERISTICS Peren. weak prickles stem and Ivs. round. 1-2 stinging in (Wood ft. purple apBien. spotted Lactuca canadensis (Wild Lettuce) tall. purple Peren. spreading. es- caped . i ft. Hydrophyllum (Waterleaf) weak.. 1-3 Ivs.. high. folium weed) (Fire- Ivs. weak. entire. fls. Ivs. yellow tall. on Laportea sis canadenNet- Herb with hairs. tall. 4-8 ft. finely divided Moss) Epilobium angusti- Peren. greenish gray. long. white or purple Impatiens biflora (Spotted TouchMe-Not) Ann. fls. Index 248 . tall. Over of N. Ida. greenish in Me. June Rumex Patientia Peren. er. white 12-20 and Calif. April to 139 dense whorls Salicornia June Atlantic and Pacific coasts ambigua (Glasswort) Stems woody base. (Curled Dock) tall.. Throughout U. Oct. (Meadow Beau- pur- w May to 165 pie to la. in. to peppery. Me. to 149 (Marsh Cress) cut. July Rumex crispua Peren. high. Ivs. salt East and West Winter and spring on 163 marshes w. 15 in. and La. deepyellow Ivs. large Pa. '39 (Bitter Dock) not wavy ft.. erect.. Eastern states (Horse-Rad- smooth. Spring 164 and early head Saxifraga thidifolia summer basal. tuce Saxifrage) July Scripus validus Upright. Mo. N. ft.. and w. jointed.Y. root any season Radicula nastur- Peren.A. to Ga. May to 148 tium-aquaticum (Water Cress) Radicula palustris and ditches. April to 139 wavy June broadEastern U. coast Sanguisorba minor (Salad Burnet) Peren. in mts. coast jointed.. 4-10 on sea- Most of 164 the year Salicornia europaea (Saltwort) Annual. white peppery.. Eastern U.S. 15 tall. . along mtn.249 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PAGE Radicula cia ish) Armora- Root..S. tall. Ivs. Nearly throughout N. to Kans.S. brooks ft. July Rhexia ty) virginica Peren. fls. May to 'S3 and long. fls. micran(Let- Lvs. large. in. to Fla. in w. in. May and June i6a (Great Bulrush) in ponds and swamps . fls.A. fls. April 149 to June. fls. w. Plants erect. 515 in. large. to Md. (Spinach Dock) long. in brooks Ivs. April to Rumex obtusifolius Similar. N. stem square. herb. 3-8 tall. much Apr. Salt marshes. 2-5 Ivs. fls. long. to Ga. 2-3 Ivs. tall.S.. Ivs. rough bark. leathery. florum (Wake Robin) white Ulmus fulva pery Elm) (Slip- Tree. mustard flavor. warty Umbilicaria Lichen. three. stem with stinging hairs . field crop. large in crown..Index SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES 250 CHARACTERISTICS Ann. inner rough. 3. Sonchus oleraceus leafy. spiny. 2-4 high. ft. large leathery. 12-15 flat tali. Ivs.. sepals 3. brown beneath Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle) Peren. Umbilicaria Dillenii (Rock Tripe) on rocks. tufted weak. herb. grayish brown. opposite. (Rock Tripe) dark ft. leaf like.. pitted. smooth. smooth. soft tall. bark slippery Lichen. leaflike. white Lvs. mottled Symplocarpus foetidus (Skunk Cabbage) Taraxacum offici- Stemless herb with basal tufted leaves nale (Dandelion) Thlaspi arvense (Penny Cress) Erect in. black beneath Umbilicaria lenbergii Muh(Rock Lichen. fls. greenish Tripe) Umbilicaria pustu- brown lata Tripe) (Rock vellea Lichen. fls. pod Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) Common Ivs. spathe purple. (Sow Thistle) Stellaria media (Chickweed) 2-5 yellow Ann. flower heads purple Trillium grandi- Leaves petals 3. 251 Index . on seacoast Call a palustris (Wild Calla) Bog herb. 4-8 in. roots with tubers . long Anemonella troides thalic- Slender.. leaflets 3. fls. purple root pungent Cakile edentula (Am. 2. high Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty) Root linear tuberous. i ft. high Claytonia carolini- Foot ovate tuberous. Camassia esculenta (Wild Hyacinth) Coated bulb. i herb. 2 ana Beauty) (Spring pink. linear fls. fls. beanlike. i vine.. large. fls. corm pungent As a rum canadense (Wild Ginger) Siemless Ivs. stalk purple. rootstock. 2 fl. Sea Rocket) Root fleshy. 2 pink. roots tuberous Apios tuberosa (Groundnut) Vine. pungent spathe white. 6 in.. blue on Ivs. fls. 6 in. 3 pods peain. high. (Rue Anemone) high. like. fls.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 252 CHARACTERISTICS Amphicarpa monoica (Hog Peanut) Slender leaflets. in spathe.. 1-2 ft. high Cyperus esculentus (Chufa) Sedge. roots tuberous. purpie Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-thePulpit) Lvs.. scape. round Ivs. Ivs. leaflets roundish. Ivs. Calif. . Index 254 . to Fla..S. purplish w. and Colo. aromatic. Va. 1-3 to Conn. tO to low Birch) bark yellowish. Gathered autumn 210 and winter Ilex glabra lachian (AppaTea) Shrub 2-3 Ivs. Me. Magnolia virginiana (Sweet Bay) Tree 15-50 Ivs. ft. herb. compound. and Great Lakes Ceanothus arnericanus (New Jersey Shrub.. peeling in layers s. and autumn Minn. Mich. in swamps Ark.. to B. Ivs. 216 (Labrador green. op. mainly near coast shining 1-2 long year Ilex verticillata (Winterberry) Shrub 10 Ivs. s. to Va. fr. and Tex.. Gymnocladus ca Coffee Tree) dioi- Tree. 12 op. Ledum cum Tea) groenlandi- Shrub.D. in w. N. to Man.. Fla. and 111. ft. in bogs Greenland and Lab. Summer 205 Betula papyrifera (Paper Birch) Tree. in. and red erect ft. to to Summer 221 glossy. Nfld. Pa. to Alta.. and Tea) rivale (Pur- white clusters Tex. fls. fls. to Pa.J. pod to S. s. Summer 221 Avens) leaflets. N. aromatic All seasons N. Ivs. s. high.. Man. autumn Geum ple Herb 3 2 ft. whorls toothed. high. Mass.. bark white. ft. to Tenn. in Me. Mo.. high. Greater part of 222 evergreen. Spring to 214 to Fla. 222 lemon-scented Mentha canadensis (American Wild Mint) Herb. w. Ivs. to Coast Summer dried for 218 winter . nod- ding.B. high.255 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PAGE 205 Betula lutea (Yel- Large forest tree.. Mo. to N. oval-toothed. everhigh. (Kentucky bark rough. 3-ribbed.Y.S. Melissa officinalis Peren... N. less Nfld. s. high. Ivs. N.. fls. s. ft. to Wis.. and summer. Nfld. found w. Summer dried for winter (Lemon Balm) ovate-toothed. Summer 222 to Fla.. Ivs... to to Ga. Spring. and seeds large and Okla.J.C. ovate. . and blue Kans..C. Alas. i northern U. Minn. Canada and 220 (Black Spruce) evergreen. acid and la. Tex. Summer 213 and smooth. high.S. twigs N. N. Summer dried for red stem. high. i-ij^ ft.Y. Ivs. summer All seasons and Colo. s. scarlet. toothed. Sask. 218 winter Mentha spicata (Spearmint) Herb. Ivs. la. aromatic w. Me. Picea mariana Tree. Nfld. Wash.. and Ark.S. fr. long... Rhus copallina (Dwarf Sumac) gl abr a (Smooth Sumac) Shrub or small fr. Ivs. fls. to to Spring 222 Ivs. and s. in bogs. Ga.. ft. Summer and autumn 213 panicled. and .S.S.Index SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES 2S6 IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE N. and Monarda didyma Herb. to Fla. red. Summer 213 3 leaflets. to to Summer dried for (Bee Balm) 222 Ga . clustered Vt. (Sweet Fern) fernlike. 1-2 ft. Myrica Gale Shrub. Summer 221 to grant N. 218 spiked Fla. cone /$ l long spreading. to Fla.. SEASON PAGE Mentha pipcrita (Peppermint) Herb. Nfld. and Minn. to Minn. winter Qu e. red. 80 ft. Ivs.E. fr. acid to Ga. and Tex.D. round. 2-3 ft. s.. Summer and autumn 211 horn Sumac) hairy. high.. s. Nepeta hederacea (Ground Ivy) Creeping herb. to Minn.. to S. and to s. in. aromatic. red. panicled. to to Summer 221 (Sweet Gale) high. fra- grant N. ft. Rhus Shrub. 3-5 ft. i ft. autumn Rhus hirta (Stag- Small tree. fra- N. to Fla. to Calif. s. and Ind. 4-sided. s. toothed. 5-10 red. high. aromatic fls. fls. fr. tree.S.. Summer dried for high. x-2 Ivs. Ind. s. winter Myrica asplenifolia Shrub. to N. acid Fla. aromatic.S. high. s. and N. panicled. to Minn. Tenn.. Ont... to Rhus canadensis (Fragrant Sumac) Shrub. to Minn. Ivs. Mich. and Tex. 257 Index . panicle lacinia- Silphium Rough 10 ft. high. 5-12 ft. fl. edges head large .Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 258 CHARACTERISTICS Phragmites communis Coarse grass. vertical. tum Plant) (Compass perennial. swampy plumelike ground. (Reed Grass) high. 6Ivs. EDIBLE PLANTS of Southern United States 259 . N... l /$ in.toMinn. red. rough bark. Ohio Sept. blue with bloom. in diam. Autumn 59 Vine tendril-climbfls. in fr. s. s. fr. fr. Me. N. i in. bark dark. and Tex. red winter Mitchell a repens (Partridgeberry) Creeping evergreen herb. Autumn 90 to Fla. l /2 in. Y$ in. oblong. and Tex. Autumn 60 yellow.. w.Y. and Kans. Autumn 61 jointed. l lobed. Tex. Fla. s. Shrub. (Ground Cherry) / l in husk. and Calif. Nyssa aquatica Large ovate. and Ala. large. fr. fr. and long. in diam. to Tex. flat. Entire 81 to Fla. to Mo. yellow. s. yellowred. in. 1-2 in. Southern states Autumn to early 80 num (Boxthorn) in. Ivs. N. winter s. in. red Passiflora ta incarna- (Maypops) Vine tendril-climbing. pricklong. near coast ly. long. Ivs. w. and Tex.Y. . to Fla.. in diam. N. to to July to 69 dosa (Dangle- w. twigs brown. Pa. Gaylussacia berry) N.E. tree. branching. May to 6 / to to Dak. Mo. Nyssa sylvatica (Sour Gum) Tree. in a husk (calyx) Summer and autumn 80 Physalis pubescens Annual. s. Autumn 89 entire. rough. high.H. spreading.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN 260 CHARACTERISTICS RANGE Conn. purple. Morus rubra (Red Mulberry) Tree. /2 i- l to Fla. 2-5 high. 2 in. to 111. and Autumn to Tex.. to Mich. i-i 2 in. purple Gulf to Aug. 2- 3# Passiflora lutea (Yellow Flower) Passion ing.. fr. to Fla. in diam.. and year diam. Lycium carolinia- Shrub spiny. Ivs. seeded Opuntia vulgaris (Eastern Prickly Pear) Cactus. SEASON PAGE 77 Diospyros virgini- ana mon) (Persimfron- Tree. to Fla. 2 ft. branching. fr.. fr. fr. oblong. long. to 79 Oct. to La. long Va. fr. West w.S. to Fla. Va. in diam. black. black fr. ixocarpa Physalis (Tomatillo) Annual. i/2 ft.. i (Tupelo) in.. Mass. fr. and Aug. Tex. s. s. Va. toothed. Tex. and Aug. to to and Aug. Tex. Aug. and Tenn. 2 in. to Fla. 49 brown. in. to Plains SEASON July PAGE 13 Podophylhim peltatum (May ApPie) and Aug. and Sept. June to to Ga.26l AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN Index CHARACTERISTICS Plant.. in N. to 52 (Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple) latifolia Reynosia (Darling Plum) long. Del. obI NJ. to Dak. few to Ont. Autumn 51 Rubus ry) occidentalis (Black Raspber- cous. RANGE Que. Miss. fr. and Tex. in diam. spreadbright red W. to Kans. 2 Ivs. to Fla. fr. pulpy. in diam. July 43 Prunus hortulana Small tree. to Kans. Can. (Wild Plum) Goose ing. N. round. 15 in. s. racemes. Wild racemes. /$ l to Fla. and Sept. to Ga. Shrub or small ana (Indian bark gray. and Aug. to Kans. La. depressed w.. tree.. to Va. thorny. trailing.. Oct... long Prunus americana (Wild Plum) Small tree. and Prunus serotina (Black Cherry) Large tree. small evergreen.. purple. fr. to Ont. fls. purpleblack Que. and La. black. high. s. a. black... to Fla. and Aug. July 4$ (Chickasaw Plum) red or yellow with bloom w. and Mo... Pyrus angustifolia /z in. unarmed. 30 drupelets and Okla. Dec.S. ovoid. in diam. Ivs. yellow. in. fr. Tex. Kans. Shrub.. red or yel- Mont.. w.. red..S. to July to Sept. w. to Fla. fr. and Aug. Tree. Prunus virginiana (Choke Cherry) Shrub or small fr. s. 8.. to Mich. slightly Conn. f r. fr. s. July Rubus procumbens (Dewberry) Shrubby.M. Keys and Summer and autumn 53 y Rhamnus Cherry) carolini- in. red or l Atlantic to Pacific Aug. tree. and Tex. in diam. Fla. in Small tree. i in. Me. to Gulf. low Prunus lia a n gust i fo- Shrub or small fr. fr. diam. . % Va. oval black. July Rubus odoratus (Purple -Flowering Raspberry) Shrubby. fr. long tree. in. black. large. and N. prickly glaufr. to Fla. to Ga. to B.. to Mich. high. un- climbing. aestivalis Woody }/3 vine. to Man.. Conn. Shrub. RANGE Va. erect or curved. Oct.. Aug. fr. 82 (Elderberry) high. 5-15 fr. to 86 Dec. purple . fr. diain. Vitis candicans (Mustang Grape) Vine. Sept. to 88 (False stout. 5-10 ft. ft. Aug. and Dec. and Ariz. N. to to Fla.S. black... 3-10 ft. s. to Minn.toMan. (Southern Dew- and Tex. and Okla. 2 rootstock ft. and Sept. and blue-black Ala.E.. rusty beneath Kans. in La. Ivs. mon's-Seal) red. Tex. high. July to to Va. to Fla. Conn... s. Aug.J.. branches trailing. Fla. clusters Vaccinium corym- bosum (HighBush Blueberry) Vaccinium stami- fr. flat to Fla. 86 blue-black with and Ivans. to Viburnum prunifoliurn (Black tree. Smilacina sa racemoSolo- high. Mass. to Viburnum cassinoi- Shrub. fr. to Ky. N. and Tex. s.. to to July to neum berry) (Deer- fr. fr. fr. s. 1-3 ft. 86 des (Withe-Rod) clustered. diam. Viburnum (Larger nudum Withe- Shrub. s. fr. Sept.. in diam. Minn.S. Yz in. N. Summer and autumn Sept.. Texas in Aug. black. high.H. to 55 (Summer Grape) dense clusters. s. to Sambucus canadensis Stem woody. high. w. terminal Smilax herbacea (Carrion Flower) Herbaceous. blue-black with Me. Mo. high-climb34 in.. Shrub. blue. and Ark. Oct. Haw) Vitis bloom to Ga. Sept. in. Fla. berries in clusters Plant. fr. and Tex. Mich.. i in. 6 ft. Sept.B.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 262 IN CHARACTERISTICS evergreen. s. Dec.C. erect. in N. and La. green. to Man. Dec. to SEASON PAGE 30 Rubus berry) trivialis Fla. to Ga.. armed. large and juicy N. ing. s. June and July long Rubus (Tall ry) villosus Blackber- Tall. Sept. and Tex. N. June to 29 to Fla. and bloom Shrub. to black with Rod) bloom Shrub or small fr. globular s.. 263 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index Vitis cordifolia (Chicken Grape) Vitis labrusca Fox (Northern Grape) Vitis Linsecomii Vitis ( Munsoniana u n s M o n ' s Grape) Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine) Vitis rupestris (Sand Grape) Yucca ca) filamentosa (Common Yuc- Carya alba (Mockernut) Carya glabra (Pignut) Carya illinoensis (Pecan) . leaflets 5. gray like flaky. i-seeded Corylus americana (Hazelnut) Shrub. bur with soft prickles. Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak) Quercus Michauxii Large tree. dark 4- (Black Walnut) rough bark. acorn on long l stem. like 5 ft. nut thick husk.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 264 CHARACTERISTICS Caryaovata (Shagbark) Large tree. flaky bark. Oak) American Chestnut . gray bur. oval. 2-seeded Juglans nigra Large tree. flaky i (Cow Oak) bark. to 6 ft. tree. den- acorn in. tall. long Quercus bergii Muhlen(Yellow Tree. cup /3 of acorn Large tate. smooth bark. celled nut in round green husk Quercus alba (White Oak) rough acorn oblong. bark Ivs. (American Chest- brown prickly seeds Castanea (Southern quapin) nana Chin- Low shrub. Ivs. cup shallow Large tree. brown nut husk 3 in leaf- Corylus rostrata (Beaked Hazelnut) Shrub. nut y\ in. forming patches. brown nut in tubular husk Fagus grandifolia (American Beech) Large tree. high. bur small. thin shell Castanea nut) dentata Large bark. gray bark. bark shaggy. small bur. tree. long Castanea pumila (Chinquapin) Small tree or shrub. leaflets ple. Fla. yellow. Me.. fls. and Summer and early autumn long twisted Lupinus perennis Erect peren nial. Gleditsia thos cust) triacan- (Honey Lo- with tree Large thorns.. i ft. to Chestnut whitish sessile be- Minn. 129 (Wild Lupine) blue in i to Fla. Edible Seeds and Seed Pods Amaranthus bridus (Red aranth) hy- Am- Annual weed. Nebr.. and Nov. tree. . to s. Can. s. and s. and pods 2 / } in.265 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index IN CHARACTERISTICS SEASON PAGE Quercus (Scrub prinoides Shrub or small Ivs. (rare) Phaseolus polystachyus Perennial. Brassica nigra Annual. branching pod brown. Ivs. brown N. to 113 Oak) acorn Ala. tree. to chestnutlike. flat.. 3. seeds acornlike Fla. fls. 4 ft. pea-like spikes. to Oak) neath. of Summer Autumn to 129 Nelumbo (American tus) lutea Lo- Water large. Minn. to Fla. Summer and autumn 129.. Tenn. Conn.A. Autumn 121 Kans. pods seeds y 2 long. root red. Autumn 122 (Wild Bean) pods 2 in. and to s. to Mich. plant. purlong to and Tex. U. and La. 163 black shining Arundinaria gantea gi- Shrubby to grass. river banks 2 to 5 on Fla. acorn Quercus (Rock prinus Chestnut Large thin. high. ft. s. in. to s. 10 Va. cup large Sept. pod twisted Over most U. seeds small. Mass.S. Me. w. long Medicago lupulina (Black Medic) Cloverlike.. s. Tex.. to Minn. Ont. Over most of N. Sept. Summer and autumn 129 (Large Cane) 25 ft. yellow.. chestnutlike.Y.S. Nov. to Mo. Tex. vine. to Ala. high. high. Me. and Tex. winter Tenn. fls. fls. Summer and autumn 116 (Black Mustard) fls. to to 115 pale yellow. s. to Man.B. to la. rough peaflat. Mass. N. Ivs. pod 3 Mo. and SEASON PAGE 120 Pseudo(Locust Large bark. Fla. Sisymbrium cinale offi- Annual. N. high . Mustard) autumn i Vigna (China sinensis Bean) Vine.. i erect.. and South Summer 130 long Zizania aquatica Tall grass. pods in. ]/% Widely tributed dis- Summer and 118 (Hedge yellow. pod 4 to 7 in. to Ga. in in. to long.Index SCIENTIFIC 266 AND CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON NAMES Robinia Acacia RANGE Pa. long Salad Plants Amaranthus bridus hy(Slender Pigweed) Amaranthus retroflexus (Green Amaranth) Anagallis nel) arvensis (Scarlet Pimper- Arctium minus (Common Burdock) Azalea nudiflora (Rhododendron nudiflorum) (Azalea) Baptisia tinctoria (Wild Indigo) Barbarea verna (Winter Cress) Tufted. 6 ft. to to Spring 150 yellow. smooth. fls. swamps. fleshy. to 2 ft. s.Y. long small. twining. w. to Mo. dark. Autumn 113 (Wild Rice) grain to i to Fla. and ^ Tex. s. like in.. Escaped from Ga.. long fls. tree. Autumn and winter white Tree) fls. Fla. i World-wide Spring Cardamine penn- ft. violet. fls. to Fla. fls. s. N.toMinn. Herb.M. i to 2 in woods ft. and Quarter) greenish Perennial. annual. fls. 4 to 10 high.. tall. s. to to sylvanica (Pennsylvania Cress) deep-cut.. summer i Cichorium (Chicory) to 3 ft. fls. mustard flavor. Spring 158 Ivs. Weed. Nfld. and N.. to to May and June 138 Fla. high Annual. i ft. and Tex.. white Fern. Mont. yellow to 5 ft.. Spring and 152 white. 136 (Sensitive Fern) few. Atlantic Pacific to July Lactuca scariola (Prickly Lettuce) tall. fls. Chenopodium al- Weed.C.. succulent. with stinging hairs. and Tenn. Kans. Me-Not) Lactuca canadensis orange. to Fla. fls. Fla. to B. weak. pale. and blue also Kans. lobes 15 in. fls.A. Minn. (Wild Lettuce) 4 to 8 ft. white. stem hollow. and Europe Spring 140 bum (Lamb's Intybus high.. leafy. basal. and to Malva rotundifolia (Low Mallow) Onoclea sensibilis Biennial. to Fla.. Ivs.. s. to to May and June 167 Touch- oval. spreadfls. s. Mass.S. May to 161 to Ga. west coast Commelina com- Annual weed. Minn. Ivs. in. blue fls. Kans. and Ore. on stem and Laportea canadensis (Wood Nettle) Herb. N. Atlantic Pacific May and June Spring 165 ing. Spring 165 and . Nfld. N. to and summer Annual.S. Ivs. 2 to Over N. tall. in wet to Gulf ground Oxalis violacea (Violet Wood Sorrel) Herb. wet ground summer and Kans. small. and Tex. s. s.S. Del.. La. spotted Kans.. tall. tall. N.B. 2 weak May and June 161 prickles Ivs. Spring 162 munis Flower) Impatiens (Spotted (Day biflora w.. round.267 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PAGE 164 Capsella Bursapastoris (Shepherd's-Purse) Annual. to Sask. Wash. leaflets 3 to Minn. high.. branched. s. 6 ft. in brooks N. to Fla.. Polygonum caria (Lady's Persi- Annual. fleshy.. Throughout U. 20 to 70 ft. entire in spike Ivs. tall. in cult. w . 2 Throughout U. Ivs. to Ida.S. to Fla. Polygonatum biflorum (True Solomon's-Seal) Perennial. tall. dra Weed) (Poke stout. 2 ft. blueberry to and Mich. nearly Ms. w Spring 165 to la. ra- and Thumb) Portulaca oleracea cerned panicle Annual weed. Me. tall.. high. tall.S. large. whitish beneath. fls. erect xo to 20 in.. to Ga. Nearly throughout N. Ivs. Over of N. to 8 ft.A. Nearly throughout U. and Nearly through year Spring 148 Plant. 3 to 8 ft. to Fla. soft. and La. to Ont. spiny. peppery Ivs. Spring 166 and yellow summer . 4 tall. stem in. (Curled Dock) Ivs. and Tenn. 20 in. fls. fr. (Meadow Beauty) square. Spring 162.. fls. virginica Perennial. Spring 162 high. Nearly throughout N.S.B. 15 fls.. purple Perennial. Spring to fall 144 (Purslane) grounds Pteris aquilina Coarse fern. Ivs. s. .C.S.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN 268 CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PAGE 142 Phytolacca decan- Weed. Me. (Sow Thistle) leafy. tium-aquaticum (Water Cress) Radicula palustris and ditches. fls. 10 high. 2 to Throughout U. 5 ft. wide- spreading Radicula nastur- Perennial. large and wavy N. to Spring Tex.A. Calif. Mo. lilylike. fr. to 3 ft. Spring 135 (Bracken) tall. to Fla. Sabal Palmetto (Cabbage Palm) Tree.S. racemes Plantago major (Common Plantain) Weed. purple in to Minn.A. 2 to 5 ft. deepyellow Ivs. N. tall. fan- Spring 136 and shaped Scirpus validus Upright. much 149 (Marsh Cress) Rhexia cut. (Great Bulrush) in ponds and 196 swamps Sonchus oleraceus Annual. prostrate. Atlantic Pacific to Spring 166 at base. Spring 163 pink. and summer Spring 139 Rumex crispus erect. s. 269 Ind ex . Index 270 . Ivs. i-seeded Smilax china Brier) pseudo- High spines - climbing. . fls. Ivs. s.. s . poiuN. to Kans. long.. palmlike. in water Smilax (Bristly Bona-nox Green- High steins - climbing. pods 4 long to Fla. thick Fla. few. All 196 (Florida Arrow- root stem seasons Beverage and Flavoring Plants Benzoin aestivale (Spicebush) Shrub. i-t03-seeded.271 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS Biennial. /2 to i in. 2 ft. roots fls Heshy. and Kans. Zamia root) Floridana Low. to Ga . and Tex.. 5-15 ft. loot Ivs. water. .h. 2-4 fls. plant 1-3 ft. yellow. Ivs. tall. Osmorhiza gistyiis high. root large Typha latifolia In shallow x (Cattail) l Ivs. moist woods. floating cum Club) (Golden lon(Sweet large. berry black. Va. high. oval. spike in. Summer and autumn 221 (Coffee Senna) in. in (Arrow Arum) shallow water. entire Me. (Arrowhead) arrow-shaped. yellow in Orontium aquati- Herbaceous. high. wide. to Mich. Root aiomatic. root bulbous Sagittaria latifolia Root tuberous. (China berry black. pinnate. penin. Cassia occidentalis Plant. 2-5 ft COMMON NAMES Oenothera biennis (Evening rose) Prim- hiy. stout. All seasons 207 Tenn. brier) angled with spines. in umbels Myrrh) Peltandra virginica herbs. in diam. ft. in diam. .Index 272 in. . f r. and acid Tex. 3 ft.. and Feb. Negundo Tree (maple). and Tex. to Ala. odor of vanilla Spring 223 and Triosteum perfoliatum (Horse Gentian) Herb. tree. 2-3 ft. sima (Carolina Vanilla) Perennial herb. to 231 winged tree. to Vt. s. to Minn.. 220 (Hemlock) in. s.. Mass. Can. to Fla.. Ivs. orange canadensis Nebr. 205 Solidago odora (Sweet rod) Trilisa odoratis- Plant. cone 24 n - long Sugars and Acer Gums Me. Ivs. Summer and autumn 213 panicled. Mex. tree. twigs green. 5-10 ft. to Fla. tall. ft. w. Tsuga Evergreen YT. 3 aromatic.toMinn. red. fr. aromatic to Mich. smooth. and Tex. w. Rhus glabra (Smooth Sumac) Shrub. April . N. Summer and autumn and Minn. s. s. acid Summer and autumn All seasons 213 to Fla. la. to La. red clustered Vt. to Fla.. panicled. long. fr. Sassafras variifolium (Sassafras) Tree. to Fla... Me. high. and Kans.S. and Mo. spreading. to summer anise Mo.. April Feb. 2 or Ivs. to Summer and autumn All 222 clasping.. Va. Ivs.S. to Fla. Late 219 Golden- narrow. to Acer rubrum (Red Maple) Forest 230 bark. s. Man. red. and Tex. composite family. odor of to Fla. bark spicy. to (Box Elder) opposite compound. s. and la. to Man. light be' seasons neath. high. RANGE to SEASON PAGE 213 Rhus canadensis (Fragrant mac) Su- Ont. 2-3 Ivs. gray N. and Tex. with sharp lobes to Fla. s. high. Rhus copallina (Dwarf Sumac) Shrub or small fr.. fr.273 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN Index CHARACTERISTICS Shrub. to Ala. Mass. s. Me.. leaflets. to Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) Forest tree. panicle Can. Ivs. and Tex. April Feb. and Tex. (Compass Plant) perennial. (Sweet Conn. SEASON Feb. coastal plain. s.B. Throughout U. to Fla. pointed lobes. rounded sinuses to Fla. Ohio s. ground.. to Ala. f Summer 232 edges and Tex. scaly. April Liquidambar raciflua Sty- Tree. Ivs. to S. Ivs. Summer 226 munis Grass) (Reed high. star-shaped. and Okla.. bark 228 dark gray. 5-12 ft.. La.. head large .toMan. to S. leaf vertical. swampy plumelike and s. RANGE N.S. fr. Summer 227 Gum) Phragmites bur-like com- Coarse grass.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 274 IN CHARACTERISTICS Forest tree. to Fla.D. with deep lobes w. fl.D. Nfld. Silphium laciniatum Rough 10 ft. 6high. to PAGE 231 Acer saccharinum gray (Silver Maple) bark. EDIBLE PLANTS 275 . s. red. tree. and and Aug.. slightly thorny... yelovoid. tendril-climbing. to Fla. diam. slightly fr.. s. purple-black Gulf and Aug. Que. to to Autumn 63 jointed. to Fla.B. to Ore. y* to $4 in. in.E. w. w. Prunus lia angustifo- Small thorny. in diam. year Morus alba (White Mulberry) Tree. (Wild Strawberry) berry scarlet.B. fr. seeds on surface Stemless. Ivs. leaflets 3... July lobed. s. fr. N. Tex. s. and Tex. and Tex. June to 45 (Chickasaw Plum) round. in pits 3 RANGE N. green herb. SEASON PAGE 2i Fragaria vesca Straw(Wood berry) June and July Fragaria virginiana leaflets. pulpy. fr.toMinn. to Aug. s. Miss. to Kans. i to 2 in. and Tex. red. red Passiflora lutea (Yellow Flower) Passion Vine. Fla. prickly. spreading. spreading. pie Podophyllum peltatum (May Apple) Plant. to Sask. Aug. Prunus hortulana Small tree. high. and June and July 20 Tex. fr. 1/2 Pa. 2 Ivs.. Minn.. s. June to Morus nigra (Black Mulberry) Eastern states w. fr. . Mont. Nearly all 81 to Fla. large and to i l W. smooth fr.. red or yellow Conn. flat. to to July 43 (Wild Plum) Goose Kans. similar to but fr. to plains last Ivs. small. w. to rough plains Ivs. fr. ever- Mitchella repens (Partridgeberry) Creeping. in diam. in diam... w. 2 in. N.S. w. Opuntia Rafinesquii (Western Prickly Pear) Cactus. V a . Tex. Eastern states June to and shining. bright red W . to N. pur- to Fla. in Kans. Autumn 60 fls. fr. to Morus rubra (Red Mulberry) Tree.M. N. to Dak. fr..J. s. long. and N. to to 40 Tex. red. /2 in. l /Z in. July to long Prunus americana (Wild Plum) Tree. yellow. i in. Mich. i Aug. to plains July and Aug. Del. seeds to Fla.. Sept. low. 15 in. black. long..Index SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON NAMES 276 IN CHARACTERISTICS Stemless herb. white Tree. to La. Ont. 48 Tex. in to plains diam. Ivs.C. Summer 19 and white. to Man. in diam. Dec.toMan.D. to Man.. and Summer 19 Gooseberry) N.. to B. July to 49 in racemes. umbels.D. bristly fls. toothed. spines few. spines long Minn. in diarn. fr. Dec. Tenn. Summer 16 and south % in. NJ.. 4-8 slightly ft. and July 4* and Aug. to Kans. s. no prickles. Prunus virginiana (Choke Cherry) Shrub or sm. l fls. berry smooth. . in diam. and Aug. spiny. ^j in. La. Ribes aureum (Golden Currant) Tall spineless shrub. to Gulf. to Pacific Summer and autumn 16 Ribes Cynosbati (Wild Gooseberry) Shrub. spiny. s. ber- Me.S. and Kans. s.B.. in to Fla.. purplish Nfld. >}$ Kans. Minn. s. Ivs. in. red or brown. red. SEASON July to PAGB 50 Small slender fr. in Tenn. in diam. to 34 in. and Oct. woolly beneath. /3 in. yellow or black spiny. Nebr. to Pa. yellow. w. Oct. to 3* Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple) oblong. round.. strong fr. in. fr. Watsonii Prunus (Sand Plum) Shrub. berries black.C. bristly. to Fla. and diam. /$ l N. to N. fr. and Sept. fr. in. w. s. spicy. fr. in Atlantic Pacific to Sept. to Pa. tree. Colo. diam. to Tex. N. purplish Ribes oxyacantho- ides (Smooth Shrub... Summer 20 Goose- berry) white. and Okla. i small. in racemes.. sour to Nebr. Ivs. and Sept. Ribes setosum (Bristly Shrub. Ribes gracile (Missouri Gooseberry) Shrub. Minn. Ribes rant) floridum (Wild Black Cur- Spreading shrub. in diam. ^ in. Summer 17 ries prickly. Pyrus ioensis (Western Apple) Crab Small tree.toS. and Wyo. s. fr. s. Prunus serotina Wild (Black Cherry) Large tree. i Wis... to diam. Can. black.. high. in l /4 in. tree. to Dak. red Pyrus ( angustifolia Tree. and fr.277 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON NAMES Prunus pennsylvanica (Pin Cherry) RANGE Lab. June to to Va. with cle rootstock. Nfld. red.. s. clustered to N. i ft.J. high. to Viburnum pauciflorum (Pimbina) Spreading shrub..C.C. toothed. high. 3 high. s. Vaccinium pennsyl- vanicum Blueberry) (Low Shrub.. Autumn 56 to Tex. to s.. Summer and 64 tea (Buffalo Ber- thorny. Autumn 85 n d Kans. s. to B. 111.. Smilax ( herbacea Flow- Carrion Herbaceous...C. s. N. Ivs. w. toSask. Mich. 84 to N. N. clustered. berries small black to Kans.C. s. stem green. and Ore.. Summer and autumn 82 (Eldei berry) high. fr. and Ore. 2 ft. sour Nfld. silvery. and and Kans.... to Man. to a Summer and autumn 88 . high. 6 ft. Dec. and a . autumn ovoid.. black. Shepherdia ry) argen- Shrub. stems woody. Sambucus canadensis Shrub. fr. acid and Ida. Smilacina racernosa (False Solomon'sScal) Plant. scarlet. to to w.J. la. Alaska Calif. unarmed. .. s. 8 ft.. s.. Nfld. fr.M. Man. bloom Viburnum Lcntago (Nannyberry) Shrub. N.B. and Sept. Ivs.. to 5 ft. berries to Fla. N. fr. Ariz. blue-black with Nfld. to Viburnum Opulua (Cranberry Tree) Shrub. and 111.. f r. Man. Summer 24 weak red or Lab. climbing. Sept. climbing. terminal pani- G Mo. and s . white. or small tree.. I to blue-black to . to B.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN 278 CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PACE Rubus parviflorus (Salmonbcrry) Shrub. fr. Ivs. Vitiscinerea (Sweet Winter Grape) Vine. N. fr. high fr. bright red. not lobed. upright. B. slightly Minn.. and to Summer 24 Minn. Nov. fls.S. unarmed. to B. Aug. Calif. la. 5 to 15 ft. . to Man. w. prickless bristly. warty. red and Rubus strigosus (Wild Red Raspberry) Shrubby.J. black Tex. 5-lobed.C. and in flat cluster. light red. . Autumn 88 to Fla. globulai clusters N.S. fr. and er) Okla. Que. Nov. Sept. w.. Carya illinoensis Large tree.. nut thick husk.. to and Tex. often trailing. shell Tenn.S. to Fla. black. and Dec. to Kans. nut smooth ob- n long. and Pa. and Rocky pod long Edible Nuts Carya alba (Mockernut) Large tree. Ark. and Sept. la. s. and Okla. nut rough.. s . ' N. Ivs. lilylikc. nut large. nut in tubular to Ga . s. high. stiff- Gt.. Sept. Me. to N. and Aug.. 106 husk Tenn. 5 ft.B. in leaf- to Sask. to Ala.. in diatn.. Corylus americana (Hazelnut) Shrub. . pointed. s. Ont. Sept. blue-black Yucca glauca (Adam's Needle) Yucca. j to Md.D. and in. rough S. thick to thick to Nov. beneath. . fr. SFAM1N cordifolia Autumn 56 (Chicken Grape) to Fla.. to Nebr. Nov. cliam. s. Ivs. tall. s. Aug.. w. shaggy 5 Sept. fr. leaflets 7. s. 105 husk Kans. to 98 (Pecan) to 15 leafbark. Ivs. to Ga. 3 to 6 ft. 2 in. to Dak. lets. Ind. gray (Butternut) bark.B. Vitis vulpina (Riv- Vine. Plains Summer and autumn 3 Us. long. 2 in. rough Mass.Y. N. /4 l IN COMMON NAMES Vitis RANGE Pa. husk. thick shell to Nebr. Fla. Autumn 56 erside Grape) green beneath.. high-climbing. to B. 7 to 9 leaflets.. and Sept. in Tex. to bark. and Kans. and in.279 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS Vine. to 102 bark. Kans. Corylus rostrata (Beaked Hazelnut) Shrub. and Tex. husk thin and Kans. gr. and Kans. N.C. s. Mts. Juglans cinerea Forest tree. brown like nut.. white.. to la. Carya laciniosa (Big Shellhark) Large tree. 2-celled N. and 111. to to Oct. bark pale. in diam. 2 l to 5 ft. deeply furrowed. long. root red.e. tall. Pacific to Summer 128 spike 6 to and 12 in. fr. s. to Pacific Summer and autumn 129 Amaranth) Amaranthus Amaranth) hy- Annual weed. long like. to .. and Summer and autumn 116 (Black Mustard) high. Summer and autumn 124 high. Autumn 96 N. 123 Plum) purple. black shining Astragalus caryocarpus (Ground Plant. 111.M. i to iJ4 in. plum-shaped. nut V* in diam. w. to Minn. Colo. 31. Nebr. Edible Seeds and Seed Pods Amaranthus des blitoi- Annual weed. Can. s. to N. similar to common oats (from Europe) Wis. peay\ in. 129 bridus (Red high. high. 4 ft. pod /2 in. Tex. fls. 2 to 3 ft. 4-celled nut in round husk Mass.Index SCIENTIFIC 280 AND CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON NAMES Juglans nigra (Black Walnut) RANGE SEASON PAGE 94 Large tree. W.. mexiAstragalus canus (Ground PJant. U. spreading ground. leaflets 19 to to La. yellow.J. tall. Elymus condensatus (Rye Grass) 3 to Minn. Juglans rupestris (Texas Walnut) Shrub or small tree. 8 to 15 in.. Tex. to Coast Summer 128 Brassica nigra Annual. 23. leaflets 18 to fls. Avena Oat) fatua (Wild Grass. w. s. 8 to 15 in. to Nebr. in.M. s. and Dec. fls. 6 ft. and and Tex.S. Fla. (Prostrate on sm. black seed Me. dark rough bark.. seed sm. w. and Plum) white. long N. fr. seeds brown Tufted grass. Tree) long Sisymbrium off i- cinale (Hedge Mustard) Annual. sm.281 SCIENTIFIC Index AND COMMON NAMES Elymus triticoides (Wild Wheat) triacanGleditsia thos (Honej Locust) Helianthus annaus (Sunflower) Linum Lewisii (Blue Flax) perennis Lupinus (Wild Lupine) Martynia louisiana (Unicorn Plant) Medicago lupulina (Black Medic) Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian Millet) Phaseolus polystachyus (Wild Bean) Robinia Acacia Pseudo(Locust in. long Widely tributed dis- Summer and autumn 118 . yellow pods 1A in. fls. Index 282 . spreading. of (Purslane) grounds. entire. pendiculatum Hydrophyllum virginicum (Waterleaf) high. white or purple to Impatiens (Spotted biflora Annual. Touch- oval. weak prickles Ivs. purple Perennial. Ivs. in Thumb) Portulaca oleracea racemes Annual weed cult. weak. i to 2 in woods ft. (Sensitive Fern) few. fls. Ms. Ivs. tall. 4 stern fls. tle) Malva rotundifolia (Low Mallow) Onoclea sensibilis Biennial. weak. folium weed) (Fire- purple Hydrophyllum (Waterleaf) ap- Biennial. round. tall. Lactuca scariola (Prickly Lettuce) Weed. lobes 15 in. pink. leafy. in wet ground Plantago major (Common Plantain) Weed.283 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC Index CHARACTERISTICS Commelina cornmunis (Dayflower) Annual weed. high. pros- trate. tall. tall. tall. in. orange. fls. in. entire. Ivs. fls. 10 to 20 high. pale be- Me-Not) Laciuca canadensis neath. 10 20 in. Ivs. fls. succulent. fls. fls. to 8 ft. 2 to 5 ft. in a spike Polygonum Persicaria (Lndy's Annual. spotted Herb. white Fern. fleshy . basal. 15 fls. branched. yellow 2 to 5 ft. on stem and Laportea sis (Wood canadenNet- Herb with stinging hairs. 'Wild Lettuce) hollow. blue Epilobium angusti- Perennial herb. weak. to 3 ft. (Bracken) wide- June N. peppery. Over of much N. 139 163 142 196 166 146 159 164 . in brooks Ga. spreading to 5 Throughout U. and Calif. fls. tall.S. cut. yellow Perennial. deep fls. Spring 139 (Curled Dock) tall.S. Ivs. large wavy Ivs. peppery. tall. 2 Throughout U.. w. white autumn Spring 149 (Marsh Cress) Plant erect. and Rumex crispus erect. Spring to tium-aquaticum (Water Cress) Radicula palustris and ditches.A.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 284 IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON April to PAGE 135 Pteris aquilina Coarse fern. 12 to 20 in. to Radicula nastur- Perennial. Ivs. to Ida.S. 2 ft. to Alas- Spring 166 (AmericanBrookHme) tall. and Ti-x. Nebr. to Minn. w.. rough Ivs. Nebr. root large. to N.D. Edible Roots and Tubers Allium lie) canadense (Jar- Onionlike.B.. 1-3 ft. inner bark slippery Que.S. Spring 172 within w. each. to Pa. Amphicarpa monoica (Hog Peanut) Slender vine.M. pink N .. to Fla. w.. 2 Ivs. 3 leaflets... to Man. i to 3 Que. Veronica americana Herbaceous. pods pea-like. i fl.. (Groundnut) N. to Minn.Y.. erect. (Meadow umbel bulb-bearing N.S. 3 fls.. Ivs. scape angular. fls.. to Ida.. ing. s. fls. Nearly throughout U. to Fla. N. Asarum canadense (Wild Ginger) Stemless herb. long N. ft. Spring to 187 purple and autumn Tex.. Spring 175 high. high. i ft.IX.B. i and Allium cernuum (Nodding Onion) Wild to 2 ft. i in.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PAGE 165 Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) Common Ivs.. Spring heads pur- pie Ulmus fulva pery Elm) (Slip- Tree. La. to N... 2..C.B. starchy . Spring 176 Colo. high. summer brooks and Calif. purple. w. to S. M and . w. ka. Ms. tuberous. s. Kans. to Man. to S. to Minn.. field crop.B.C. purple. Onionlike. and Kans. Tex. and gent Tex. and Nebr. leaflets N. Spring 189 and and autumn Apios tuberosa Vine. Calif. fl. N. to Fla. spathe. w. N. roots beanlike. Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-thePulpit) Lvs. root Spring 181 and pungent Callirhoe summer Spring 199 pedata (Pimple Mallow) Herb... fls. 3. to Fla. claspin blue. rough bark. Spring 163 to Fla. corm pun- Kans. s. w. no Ivs. Va. to Orobanche ludoviciana (Broomrape) Root parasite. to Kans. rotundus Sedge. Tex.. to and to Summer 193 glory. enormous wild Tex..J. high. Mich. Kans. pink on high ft. to Man. 6 in.. high. D . S. high and w. from (Prairie Apple) large starchy root. high. lv>. Calif.toMinn. Fla. root large.B.. N. scape i Spring ft.. and Tex. and autumn prickly Helianthus sus turebo- (Jerusalem Artichoke) Plant 6-8 tubers 2 to ft. in s. Summer 193 2-4 ft. and Calif.. high. 2 ft. Spring to 199 roots sweet. to Summer 200 Tex. fls. roots cult. Hudson Bay to B. root Ipomoea pandurata (Wild Potato) A eye morningfls. Wis. white with purple and Tex. to Ala. Autumn 171 (Nutgrass) with to Fla. high. erect. s. N. 2-3 high. and summer Psoralea esculenta Plant... Ont. and Ipomoea leptophylla (Bush Morning-Glory) Herbaceous. tubers. leaflets 5. roots with tuber*. 6-15 in. to to Spring 199 (Silverweed) trailing. w. to Sask. S .. Ark. fls. and s. and Tex. fls. stalk purplish. Cyperus (Chufa) Cyperus high. 6 in. Nebr. root aromatic. and Spring 199 and Myrrh) Potentilla Anserina umbels fleshy.C.D. Mont. Autumn 194 3 in. funnel-form. i ft. and Alaska Calif. high 2 lin- Minn.. plant ft... s. Kans. to fls. s.. Root yellow Greenland N. Osmorhiza gistylis lon(Sweet Plant.Index SCIENTIFIC 286 AND CHARACTERISTICS COMMON NAMES Cama^sia esculenta (Wild Hyacinth) Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty) esculentus RANGE Pa. to Ga.S. linear blue on fls. to Man. to Root tuberous. ear Ivs. Spring 198 stalk. and ground ft. Kans. to rice) pea-like.. to Fla.S... IN SEASON PAGE 178 Coated bulb. Conn. s. Sedge.. 1-2 Autumn 171 to and Tex. long w. fleshy base. fls.. 1-3 w. 111. to Ga. Summer 186 . upright. blue to Tex. to Sask. N. Fla. lepiGlycyrrhiza dota (Wild Lico- Herbaceous. s. fl. pods Mo. to Rocky Mts. and \\au-r.. s. to Kans. scape. bark smooth. a .S. high-climbing. and Pacific Coast purple Typha latifolia In Ivs.. Smilax pseudochina (China Brier) Vine. Ivs.. Summer spikes Apple) Sagittaria (Arrowhead) Root tuberous. w. Ivs. Va.J. ^hallow ' (Cattail) ^ i to i in. s. spicy to to Mich. Us. spike in. to Ohio. to Fla. to Tex. Ivs. Tenn.. Northern States (Salsify) grasslik^. 5 ft. plant 1-3 . whitish w. wood. la. and Spring 198 and Tex. Fntire 207 G year aromatic Betula lenta (Black Birch) Forest ovate. and s. thick Can.. high.. water. to Entire 205 low Birch) bark yellowish. Spring 196 and s. Ont. to N. spines Uw.J. 5-1 high. Valeriana (Valerian) edulis Perennial. Throughout U. large ft..C. beiry black. arrow -shaped. Hs. Great Lakes . to year in Tenn. Del.8. summer Can.. to B.28 7 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS Similar but smaller. Nearly throughout I Spring 169 in it. and year Betula papyrifera Tree. root. and forest tree. tt. foot large N. wide. to Pa. to w. Summer 194 plant 2-3 high. Me. (Spicebush) moist yellow.. to Mts. Nfld. Ont. fr. kins tree. white. and 111.. layers Summer 205 (Paper Birch) peeling in s. il. s . aromatic Man. Entire 204 matic bark. and arocat- Me. short derive latifolia stalk. less Betula lutea (Yel- Large N f 1 d . summer Spring 200 Tragopogon rifolius por- Flcsh\ taproot. 1-2 Ms.. Kans. to Coast Beverage and Flavoring Plants Benzoin aestivale Shrub. s.. IN COMMON Psoralea (Small N \MES RANGE SE\SON PAGE 187 hypogaea Prairie Neb r. Ivs. long. and Summer 214 Tea) rivale (Pur- white clus- Tex. 1-2 ft. aromatic. Summer 218 high. clustered Vt. Mentha spicata (Spearmint) Herb.Index SCIENTIFIC 288 AND CHARACTERISTICS Plant. (Kentucky Coffee Tree) rough bark. compound. red. fr. autumn Rhus copallina (Dwarf Sumac) hirta Shrub.J. n. and s. Summer 221 Gymnocladus oica di- Tree. fls.S. fls. Fla. Ivs.S.Y. and la. fr. high. round) blue Minn. Avens) leaflets. to Ga.-toothed. purplish Nfld.. 2-4 fls. f r. evergreen. i ft. to Coast Mentha canadensis (American Wild Mint) high. high..D. Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Shrub. Nepeta hederacea Creeping herb.. Ga. and Summer and autumn Tex. whorls Mentha piperita (Peppermint) Herb. Summer 218 red stem. 3-ribbed. Man. N. and Colo. i-i^ ft.. high. Me. Ivs. s. to Va. 4l sided. long Can. s. s.. ters Geum ple Herb. Wash. to Ont..B. to S. s. to to Fla. twigs woolly. spiked Tex. fls.. to Minn. SEASON PAGE 221 ft. high. to to Summer and 213 panicled. to Kans. Autumn and winter to Tenn. N. s. to Fla. and Tex. to Fla. and U. acid N. red.. spreading. w. fls. to S. Shrub.. or small tree. pods 4 long 2 ft. aromatic w. Ind. Ivs. and Okla.. autumn All Picea mariana (Black Spruce) Tree.. to N. Ivs. 3 aromatic. in to Kans. to Spring to (Ground Ivy) Ivs. and seeds large Herb. cone i /$ in. nodding. 3 2 ft.S. ovate. in Summer 218 op. Me. Summer and 211 autumn . yellow. Summer and 213 mac) and Minn. 80 ft. to Alta. (Coffee Senna) in. s. s. Nfld. acid and Tex. w. autumn Rhus (Stag- horn Sumac) tree. to Minn. Ivs. Small red. and Ark. pod N. toothed. to Fla. 1-2 Ivs. Minn. fls. 220 year Rhus canadensis Su(Fragrant leaflets.S. and Calif. to Fla.. and Colo. ft. N. IN COMMON NAMES Cassia occidentalis RANGE Va. aromatic. high..D. panicled... and s. N. Feb. Feb. to to 228 dark gray. Mass... and Mo. to 3 ft..S. N. Mass.. 111. Nfld. to Ala.. Man. smooth. red ft.. Pa. Ivs. s.M. Apr. SEASON to PAGE 213 Rhus trilobata (Squaw Bush) Tex. hds. stem stiff. fr. to Tree. long son Bay and Sask. to 231 Mex. and Minn.B.. s. 5-12 ft. to Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple) Large tree. evergreen. pointed Lygodesmia juncea (Skeleton Weed) Perennial. and Summer 226 Phragmites com- Coarse grass. Summer 232 branched. Fla. deeplobed. Hud- Entire 225 linear. to Mont. Kans. opposite compound. Summer and autumn Entire w. 205 Hum (Sassafras) bark spicy aromatic la. to S. Wis. Acer Negundo (Box Elder) Tree (maple). Mich. tall. summer and autumn Sugars and Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir) Gums Nfld. s. rushlike. Me.. bark scaly.. fr. Apr. twigs green. Apr.289 AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN Index CHARACTERISTICS Shrub. to Coast Sassafras variifo- Tree. Apr. fr. Feb. lobes of long- and Tex. to 8-16 in.. to Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple) Forest tree.. N. to Mass. fr. to Late 222 Triosteum perfoli- Herb. few-fld. in clustered spikes. and Tex. s.. fr. 2-5 high..S. to to Fla. gray bark. large 231 w. Man. and Okla. winged Forest bark.D. Fla. to Fla.. 2-4 in. 2 Ivs. and Feb. or- ange Nebr. Ivs. panicle and s. to Man. Mo. Ivs. sharpsmall to Fla. tree. year and la. s. ground . high. swampy Can. Throughout U. munis Grass) (Reed high. atum Gentian) (Horse clasping.. plumelike. to Acer rubrum (Red Maple) gray 230 lobed. year to and Tex. cones erect. s. Ivs. Ivs. Tex. Summer 232 to Ala. to S. SEASON PAGE Rough 6-10 edges ft. Ivs. Plant) vertical.... and head large .D.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC laciniaSilphium turn (Compass 290 IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE Ohio s. high. La. perennial. fl. EDIBLE PLANTS of the Rocky Mountains and Pacific States . to Ore. to 30 N. resinous Lonicera involu- Shrub. red. Ivs. in threes. similar to last. Autumn and winter 64 tha (Indian Fig) high. /s across Annual. Summer 21 on surface shallon Gaultheria Slender shrub. fr. purple. upright. Autumn 88 high. spines sent 5-10 in. cylindrical trunk. leaflets 3. seeds in shallow Fragaria (Wood berry) vesca Straw- Stemless herb. to Tex.S. spreading. jointed.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN 292 CHARACTERISTICS Plant with scape 36 3. yelberries black. yellow.C. and Calif.B. large (^ in. Calif. fr. fr. joints few or abSouthwestern U. 1015 ft. Opuntia A low spreading (Prickly Pear) cactus. RANGE Calif. to Calif. in. 8 ft. Opuntia polyacantha (Tuna) Prostrate. Summer and autumn 80 high. 2-6 high. sp. 2- crata berry) (Twin- low. 3 to 5 in. 15-40 ft. joints flattened. in. l bright red. Autumn and winter 64 pulp red Opuntia megacan- Often 12 ft. f r. purple. not always edible basilaris high.S. long Photinia arbutifolia Shrub or small Ivs. fr. B. fr. yellow spreadflat. N. seeds w. Summer and 90 (Western tergreen) Win- autumn Pacific Coast Juniperus occidentals (California Juniper) Tree. fls. Autumn and winter 89 (Christmas Berry) ixocarpa (Tomatillo) Physalis evergreen. flat. pits leaflets Strawberry) red. i cactus. Rocky Mts. erect branching 10 in. Opuntia ficus-indica (Indian Fig) Treelike cactus. tree. long. black ft. high. fls.) . treelike. in racemes. 4 to Southwestern U. bluish. Autumn 62 ing fr. fr.Y. to N. SEASON PAGE 22 Fragaria nica califor- Summer (California in. fr.J.. high. high. ^3 in diam. red Minn. Ribes vulgare (Red Garden Currant) Shrub. high. w. N. Pyrua diversifolia Small ft. Alaska Calif.. Summer 27 2- 3- to leaved. J/J red Atlantic to Pacific or brown. fr. */ to 2 30 Alaska Calif.. 9. in br. in diam. Autumn 49 in racemes. to Summer 24 (Salmonberry) Ivs. and red. to Autumn and winter 34 y 4 in. Summer 27 leaflets 3 to 7. Rhamnus crocea (Redberry) buckthorn. Calif.. Summer 24 weak red or w. dark brown. purplish Calif. yellow.M. Mich. */4 3 to 6 ft. prickles bristly. in diam. red.. and n. Nfld.C. evergreen. prickly. tree. Tex. black to w. branched. fr.C. Me..S. 10 to f r. fr. N. w. to to B. Autumn Mountain Cherry) Choke Cherry. petals red or Rubus parviflorus Shrub. N. bogs ArcticAmer. Pacific to to Summer 16 yellow. upright.C. to SEASON PAGE 51 Prunus melanocarpa (Rocky Small to tree. Shrub or sm. smooth. similar f r. spineless fls. U. and Utah Rubus strigosus (Wild Red Raspberry) Shrubby. Ivs. in.. 2 fr. long tree. and Summer and 44 high. white. unarmed. ' also Summer 14 Ore.H. to Gulf. 4 high. 4 ft. Mts. spicy. Wash. red ft. 2 to 3 high to a small tree. to and to Colo. to 12 to in. Ore. juicy Rubus Chamaemorus (Baked-Apple Berry) Low. autumn Can. in.293 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON NAMES RANGE Rocky Can. 5-lobed. s. Minn. Prunus subcordata (Sierra Plum) Prunus virginiana (Choke Cherry) Shrub. shrub.. A Summer and autumn 52 Ribes aureum (Golden Currant) Tall. . fr. and Alaska Pacific states Rubus leucodermis (Western Raspberry) Shrubby. to B. E. (Oregon Crab Apple) high. to i in.M. stiff. white. to N. fls. fr.. fr. black fr. fr. burs large . evergreen. Summer no and autumn phylla (Giant Chinquapin) bark. Summer and autumn no (Bush Chinquapin) high. long Edible Nuts Castanopsis chryso- Tree. nut l /t in. Ivs. thick rough N. fr. margins entire.Yucca) high. to 8 ft. Ivs. i W. Calif. yellowish. long Castanopsis pervirens sem- Shrub. mts. 4 in. evergreen. Colo. 7cone long around large 8-12 Quercus ( lobata Western White Oak) Large ing. cone i^4 in. Autumn 96 Pinus contorta Alaska Calif. long . Ivs. tree. Canons and Autumn 96 Wal- broader than high. Foothills central valley of Calif. Calif.C. long.S. in.. spread2 W. Pinus edulis (Rocky Mt. Cal. iJ4 iJ 2 in. 3 to 6 ft. spreading Ivs. and autumn long ft. and Ore. nut in tubular husk IN COMMON NAMES Corylus rostrata (Beaked Hazelnut) RANGE N. U. s. w. 12 long.. 30 to 60 ft. nut nearly smooth Tree. in diam. trunk unhigh.. s.. Calif. 15-30 spreading fours. Tenn. high. in twos. acorns checked. JVev. high. high. i. to Autumn 93 (Scrub Pine) near Coast long tree. Utah. long ft. Juglans californica (California nut) Tree. nut channeled Tree. seed 34 in.. to Mexico long. cone 3 in. high. 15-30 ft. Summer and 92 Ariz. and Autumn 91 high. foothills. bark rough.. high. \\\ in. needles in twos. Nut Pine) Small 30 ft. threes. Juglans kindsii (Walnut) Central Calif.S. spreading. Pinus sabiniana (Digger Pine) Tree. in. 50-80 Ivs. tO B. Autumn 93 in in. Kans. long Pinus monophylla (One-Leaved Nut Pine) Tree. spreading.295 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS Shrub. '] seed } in. spreading. to a . in S. SEASON PAGE 106 G August to . cone 2 in. Pinus quadrifolia (Parry Pine) Tree. Oct. up to 35 ft. Autumn in bark gray. branched... Autumn 93 Ivs. and Tex. heads 3-6 in. to Wash. ft. Elymus tus condensa- Tufted ft. fls.. fls. root red. fls. l U. Coast to Autumn 127 Tex. small. Me.M. common to Wis. spreading. culms smooth. 24 ft.S. Over most N. Pacific to Autumn 128 (Rye Grass) tall. w. high. to Pacific annuus (Sunflower) Annual. to Coast Summer 128 Brassica nigra Annual. tall. long and Calif. tall. fls. autumn to Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian Millet) tufted. w. yel- ill-scented. 5 ft. crowded. . to Pacific Summer and autumn Amaranth) Amaranthus hybrid u s (Red Amaranth) Annual weed. in. long Elymus triticoides (Wild Wheat) Helianthus Grass. Summer and autumn 116 (Black Mustard) yellow. to in. Colo. pistil i... and Calif. low Medicago lupulina (Black Medic) Cloverlike. Over most U. 1-2 la. Minn. of Summer and autumn 129 high. w. spreading. Pacific Coast Summer and autumn 130 Tarweed) 1-4 high. spike 6-12 and w. pod /* Can.. and 111. erect.A. seed small black shining Avena fatua (Wild Oat) Grass. 1-2 ft. slender. pod twisted Nymphaea polysepala (Indian Pond Lily) Plant. bust. Summer and autumn 128 panicle. rough. 2 fls. and s.J. (Prostrate to N. to and Summer and autumn 128 long w.. w. to Alaska Linum Lewisii Summer and autumn 130 (Blue Flax) linear. spike 4-8 in. black seeds. in. to Tex.Index 296 Edible Seeds and Seed Pods SCIENTIFIC AND CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON NAMES Amaranthus ides blito- RANGE SEASON PAGE 129 Annual weed. ft. 4 ft. Col. aquatic. s. of Summer and autumn 129 yellow. tall. long grass.S. to Summer and 116 compound. 2 to similar to oats 3 ft. 3-6 Minn. Colo. tall. broad Perennial. 3-6 ft. 3-6 w.. Alaska Calif. to Wis. yellow Grass. N. blue ro- Madia sativa (Chile Annual. Minn. fl. Ivs. wide tree. Ariz. in diam. seeds black Can.. pods /z long in. Prosopis glandulosa (Mesquite) Shrub or sm. y$ in. long Salad Plants and Potherbs Agave parryi (Cen- tury Plant) Roots bulbous. to Summer Bean) Phaseolus retusus Vine.S.. and Prunus (Islay) ilicifolia Shrub. high.. l root large. Tex. Ivs. long Nev. fr. Calif. whorls in. evergreen. and Summer 125 northern Mexico Sisymbrium canes- Annual. somewhat flattened IN COMMON NAMES Phaseolus acutifolius (Tepary SEASON PAGB 122 Twining W. panicle large Amaranthus bridus hy(Slender Annual. high. Ariz. Spring and 163 on margin. pods /2 Southwestern U. with spines Southwestern U. 6-15 (Chia) annual. dissected. pod twisted.. and Summer and autumn 129 purplish. pods beanlike.S. to Autumn and winter 118 N. ics to trop- Spring 163 and Pigweed) . Salvia columbariae Herb. Tex. States Summer and 118 cens (Western Hedge Mustard) Sisymbrium offici- pods *4- l /z in. Ariz. about 6 pairs. seed large Calif. to Calif. finely W..M. Ivs. fls. long. in Calif. 5-12 ft. slender. high. Autumn 119 leaflets spreading. pods 3 in. 4 ft. Tex. perennial. W. Summer and autumn 130 (Prairie Bean) in. to s. roots red.. armed with spines. fleshy. Widely tributed dis- Summer 118 nale (Hedge Mustard) Strombocarpa pubescens (Screw Bean) yellow. Shrub or small tree. Ivs. i 2 / l in. fls. compound. long autumn small l Annual. 4-8 in. Kans.297 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS vine. (Shepherd's-Purse) al- fls. branched. 2-5 ft. ally and Amaranth) summer gener- Amaranthus flex us retro- Annual. Fla. Ivs. fls. to Fla. Minn.. 5-lobed and Tex. and Europe Spring 140 bum (Lamb's Intybus Quarter) high. Spring 167 Touch- 3 ft. scarlet. j. erect. Spring 166 folium weed) (Fire- tall. chiefly basal. Wash. to Minn. orange.. 2-4 ft. w. oval.. 1-3 Calif. nodes much inflated high. 166 also Calif. and Ore. U. i high. forming Over much of U.. Spring 151 smooth.M. Ivs.. fls.. Kans. Colo. low spreading. weak prickles stem and Ivs. high. N. Ivs. high Capsella Bursapastoris Annual. Spring 166 (Scarlet Pimper- w. 2-6 ft. succulent.S. annual. Nfld. blue N. 2-5 ft. 3-6 red. tall. to Me-Not) Lactuca scariola pale beneath.S. to Spring 164 (Desert Trumpet) Impatiens (Spotted biflora branched. mostly World-wide Spring 164 basal. yellow. to (Prickly Lettuce) Weed. N. Calif. Over N. ft.S. small greenish and summer Cichorium (Chicory) Perennial. 1-2 ft. ft. high. and purple ft.A. Can. fls. Eriogonum flatum in- Herbaceous. fls. spikes dense Mo. large. Pac. s. Ivs. purple burs fls. to Va. Arctium minus (Common Burdock) Biennial. Ivs. Spring 143 (Green arvensis high.S. and to s. s. states Epilobium angusti- Perennial herb. 1-4 ft. opposite. less Spring common West Lab. fl. stout. tall. Spring and Tex. Ivs.. stout. Ivs.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 298 IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PAGE 163 Amaranthus meri Pal- (Palmer's Annual. Atlantic Pacific Spring 161 on . entire. Annual. spotted Kans. and also Kans. west to Kans. to Va. to Coast Barbarea vulgaris (Winter Cress) Tufted erect. to to Spring 158 Fla. peppery Chenopodium Weed.. white. fls.. roots and Amaranth) Anagallis nel) seeds black Herb. Pteris aquilina nastur- (Bracken) Coarse fern. peppery. to Spring 135 Radicula Ga. tall. pink in ra- Throughout U. ditches. spreading Ivs. entire.A. Nearly through year Spring 148 (Marsh Cress) erect. erect. Spring round. 10-20 deepfls. fls.. on gr. much 149 cut. Plantago major (Common Plantain) Weed. and Calif. Ivs.S. tall. to Ida.S. 2-5 ft. Spring 139 wavy Ivs. yel- low Rumex crispus 'Curled Dock) Perennial. tall. white low. in. . basal.S. in brooks and Ivs. tium-aquaticum (Water Cress) Radicula palustris w. Summer 163 Thumb) Portulaca oleracea ceme Annual cult. high. 10-20 in. peppery. Throughout U. 23 ft. N. fls. Over of N. fls.299 SCIENTIFIC Index AND CHARACTERISTICS IN COMMON NAMES Malva rotundifolia (Low Mallow) RANGE Atlantic Pacific to SEASON PAGE 165 Biennial. trate. wide-spreading Annual. large Throughout U. Ivs. white Plant. fls.. in a spike Atlantic Pacific to Spring 166 Polygonum Persicaria (Lady's Annual. prosfleshy throughout U. weed of N e a r 1 y Summer 144 (Purslane) grounds.S.S. ka. tall. tall.. and plant with stinging hairs N... in brooks and Nebr. Ivs. summer . w.S. to Pa. Ivs. Nearly throughout N. yellow. tall Sonchus oleraceus Annual.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 300 IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE SEASON PAGE 164 Rumex hymenosepalus (Canaigre) A dock. slender. Ivs. Gt. field crop. fls. roots. white Stemless herb with tufted toothed Ivs. opposite. to Veronica americana Herbaceous.. 2 to 7 ft. Spring 142 wood) Scirpus valid us (Great Bulrush) Upright in marshes. summer Salicornia europaea (Saltwort) Annual. Calif. Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) Common Ivs. 512 in. weak. bark white. stout. 2 to 5 ft. tufted.andMo. to Coast Que. throughout U. long Salicornia ambigua Stems succulent. panicle 6-12 in.S.A. high. and blue. Spring 162 3 to 8 ft.S.C. long. s. soft N e a r 1 y Spring 166 (Sow Thistle) spiny. Spring 165 head pur- pie Urtica gracilis Herbaceous. Plains to Pacific (Russian our Spring and 142 Thistle) worst "tumbleweed. branched. high. in salt Atlantic and (Glasswort) Pacific Coasts Spring 164 and marshes jointed. prickle-tipped. N." summer Rocky Mts. ft. cult.M. i to 3 Alas- Spring 166 (American Brooklime) clasping. to to Spring 138 (Slender Nettle) high. jointed. in. N f 1 d . Ivs. fleshy 3 105 ft. and summer ground Stellaria media (Chickweed) Annual.S. Spring 146 and Taraxacum offici- N e a r 1 y Spring 159 nale (Dandelion) throughout U. Throughout U. fl. Minn. s. to Spring ous. leafy. fls. tuber- Texas Calif. Nearly throughout U. 1-2 ft. East West and Spring 163 5-15 high and Salsola folia kali tenui- Herb. fleshy. fls. 3. Pacific to Sarcobatus culatus vermi(Grease- Shrub. stem fleshy. ft. fl. "century plant. i Nebr. lilylike fls. Wash. fl. and white in umbels Colo. large Ivs. Calif. bulb ob- and long. i to Wash. B. 8 to 20 in.M. fls. rays yellow Colo. root large. low. N. to Fla." evergreen. in diam.C. x Wash. 6 ft. on seashore to 3 Spring 198 also Nfld. Wash. Spring 176 high. deep-cut. fls. Spring 197 (Wild Hyacinth) Brodiaea gr and flora (Harvest Broi blue. taproots fleshy Agave utahensis A al. Wash: Calif. to Spring (chiefly) 177 high from corm.. to Ida. e. Ivs. grasslike. Ivs.. Spring (Seacoast Abro- prostrate. Calif. ft. . and summer Bulb onionlike. s. (Utah Aloe) Ivs. yel- to Calif.. Utah. grasslike. Spring 191 tuberous. scape. to Spring 197 and diaea) high. Balsamorhiza sagittata (Balsam Root) to 2 to to Summer 200 high.301 Index Edible Roots and Tubers AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC IN CHARACTERISTICS RANGE Coast. flattened. root large. head 2 in. and 2 l 2 in. and summer N.M. across Herbaceous. erect. pink summer hoo- (Hooker's Balsam Root) Herbaceous root. basfleshy. Ariz. fls. purple.. high. trunk unfl. high stem Allium validum (Swamp Onion) Balsamorhiza keri Stem 3 ft.. bel fls. Cakile edentula (American Sea Rocket) Annual. i in.. to Summer 200 Utah and Mont. long. / Carum gairdneri (Ipoor Yampa) Stalk roots i to 3 ft. Mont. blue in umCalif. SEASON PAGE 198 Abronia nia) latifolia Stems i to 2 ft. . from thick roots. and Calif. high. in diam. Spring 198 N e v and Calif. Callirhoe pedata (Pimple Mallow) Calochortus NuttalHi (Sego Lily) Herb. fls. Ore. to Calif.. w. to Calif. Brodiaea capitata Bulb onionlike. summer Coast. 6 to 12 in. derground. to Calif. Summer 199 high.. fl. to Wyo. starchy Stem 6 to 1 8 in. . i to 3 ft. fls. and c. and Calif. no Ivs. 19. fr. Wash.. 30 in. to Spring 200 and Tex. trailing. Orobanche ludoviciana (Broomrape) Root parasite. high. starchy root or roots E.J. i to 3 ft. Wash. Wash. to N. to Summer 199 (Licorice roots fleshy. stalk purplish. long. summer umbels Glycyrrhiza lepidota Herb. yellow Greenland to w. Ida. panicle large. s. fleshy. fls. to fleshy base.. s. 6 in. Ivs.C. and summer Oenanthe sarmentosa (Water Parsley) in slow Aquatic. Spring high.M. high Potentilla Anseri- Root na (Silverweed) plant fleshy. Alaska and Calif. in. Hudson Bay to B. fleshy yellow in and and N. root.. Lomatium geyeri (Biscuitroot) Plant similar to the last. SEASON PAGE 197 Chlorogalum pomeridianum (Amole) to 9 ft.. prickly. Cirsium foliosum (Elk Thistle) Plant to 2 high. 2 fleshy Spring and high in. Alaska Root) sweet. thick roots.Index AND COMMON NAMES SCIENTIFIC 302 IN CHARACTERISTICS Plants 3 RANGE Calif.S. leaflets n to purple Lewisia rediviva Low thick (Bitterroot) herb. fls. and Ida.D. streams. Spring 199 and summer . purple Spring and white i summer ft. to Coast Spring 182 and summer Spring 190 Lomatium farinosum (Biscuitroot) Plant parsniplike with fleshy. white Mont. and to n. Wyo. Cymopterus montanus (Gamote) Plant 12 to 15 high. from lepfy. thick root. Utah.. to Calif. and S. to prickly. Summer 199 (Wild Lico- from sweet fls. high. stem 2 to 4 ft. from bulb 3 to and 4 in. fl. to rice) edible Mo. root. and Calif. yellow to Hedysarum kenzii Mac- Stems 12 high. lilylike 3 to Cirsium edule (Indian Thistle) Plant to 6 ft. Spring 200 from fls. high B. Central Can. long. w. in Spring 190 umbels Wash.C. fls. Calif.. and summer N. Wyo. root and fleshy. fl. long. Southwestern U. Spring 200 and summer 111. w. 3<>3 Index fls. in whorls Index GENERAL INDEX Synonyms Abbott, Dr. Charles C., 79 Abies balsamea, 225 Abronia, Seacoast, 198 Abronia arenaria, 198 Abronia latifolia, 198 Acer Negundo, 231 in Italics Acer nigrum, 230 Acer rubrum, 230 Acer saccharinum, 231 Acer saccharum, 228 Acorus Calamus, 173 Adam's Needle, 3 Adder's-Tongue, Yellow, 197 Agastache Foeniculum, 223 Agave parryi, 163 Agave utahensis, 198 Ague Tree, 205 Alder, Black, 222 Allegheny Sloe, 46 Alligator Pear, 210 American American American American American American American American American American American American American American American American American American American Barberry, 13 Beech, 107 Brooklime, 166 Chestnut, 108 Coffee Bean, 210 Cowslip, 146 Crab Apple, Elder, 82 Lotus, 115 33 Cranberry, 74 Mountain Ash, 89 Nelumbo, 115 Papaw, 9 Red Currant, 15 Sea Rocket, 198 Water Cress, 152 Wayfaring Tree, ^4 Wild Mint, 218 Yew, i uinnoica, 189 Pitcheri, 190 thalictroides, 198 Amole, 197 Allium Allium Allium Allium Allium canadense, 176 cernuum, 175 Amphicarpa Amphicarpa Anemonclla tricoccum, 176 validuni, 176 vineale, 176 Allspice, Wild, 207 Aloe, Utah, 198 Anagallis arvensis, 166 Annona glabra, n Annona muricata, n Annona squamosa, iz Alpine Sorrel, 140 Alsine media, 146 Amaranth, Green, 143 Apios Apios, 187 Apios tuberosa, 187 Appalachian Tea, 86, 222 Apple, Apple, Apple, Apple, Apple, Apple, Apple, Apple, Amaranth, Palmer's, 163 Amaranth, Prostrate, 129 Amaranth, Red, 129 Amaranth, Spleen, 163 Amaranthus blitoides, 129 Amaranthus hybridus, 129, 163 Amaranthus Palmeri, 163 Amaranthus retroflexus, 143 Amelanchier alnifolia, 38 Amelanchier Bartramiana, 39 Amelanchier canadensis, 37 Amelanchier intermedia, 39 Common, May, Pond, Sugar, 35 Custard, 9 Earth, 194 13 n Prairie, 186 n Thorn, 39 Arctium Lappa, 166 Arctium minus, 166 Arctostaphylos Manzanita, 90 Arctostaphylos patula, 90 305 Index Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi, 90 Argentina Anserina, 199 Barton, B. S., 306 166 Arisaema triphyllum, 172 Arizona Mesquite, 118 Armoracia Armor acia, 149 Arrow Arum, Green, 196 Arrowhead, 169 Arrowleaf, 169 Arrowroot, Florida, 196 Artichoke, Jerusalem, 194 Arurn, Water, 196 Arundinaria gigantea, 129 Bartram, John, 198 Basket Oak, 112 Bay, Red, 209 Bay, Sweet, 209, 221 Bayonet, Spanish, 2 Beach PI urn, 44 Beaked Hazelnut, 106 Bean, Bean, Bean, Bean, Bean, Bean, Black-Eyed, 130 China, 130 Prairie, 130 Screw, 119 Arundinaria macros perma, 129 Asarabacca, 181 Tepary, 122 Wild, 122, 187 Vine, 122 Asarum canadense, 181 Bean Asdepias Cornuti, 155 Asclepias syriaca, 155 Aaclepias tuberosa, 157 Ash-Leaved Maple, 231 Beans, Water, 115 Bear Grass, 3 Bear Oak, 112 Bearberry, 90 Asimina triloba, 9 Asparagus, 162 Bee Balm, 222 Beech, American, 107 162 Belle Isle Cress, 150 Bellwort, Pcrfoliate, 162 Asparagus ofKcinalis, Astragalus caryocarpus, 123 Astragalus mexicanus, 124 Atriplex sp., 129 Benjamin Bush, 207 Benzoin aestivale, 207 Benzoin Benzoin, 207 Berberis Berberis Berberis Berberis aquifolium, 88 canadensis, 12 Avena Avena fatua, 128 sativa, 128 Avens, Purple or Water, 221 Avocado, 210 Azalea, 154 Azalea nudi flora, 154 Bacon, Lord, 148 Bailey, Dr. L. H., 80 haematocarpa, 89 vulgaris, n Bergamot, Wild, 222 Berry, Baked-Apple, 27 Berry, Berry, Berry, Berry, Betula Betula Betula Baked-Apple Berry, 27 Balm, Bee, 222 Balm, Garden or Lemon, 222 Balsam Fir, 225 Balsam Root, 200 Balsam Root, Hooker's, 200 Balsamorhiza hookeri, 200 Balsamorhiza sagittata, 200 Banana, False, 9 Baptisia tinctoria, 165 Barbarea Barbarea Barbarea Barbarea Barbarea, 151 praecox, 150 verna, 150 vulgaris, 151 Barberry, American, 12 Barberry, European, Barberry, Red-Fruited, 89 n Blackcap, 25 Buffalo, 64 Christmas, 89 Rabbit, 64 lenta, 204 lutea, 205 papyrifera, 205 Beverage and Flavoring Plants, 203 Big-Bud Hickory, 102 Big Shellbark Hickory, 101 Bilsted, 227 Birch, Black, Cherry, or Sweet, 204 Birch, Canoe or Paper, 205 Birch, Yellow, 205 Bird Cherry, 50 Bird's-Foot Cliff Brake, 220 Bird's-Foot Fern, 220 Biscuit, Indian, 190 Biscuit root, 190 30? Bitter Cress, Pennsylvania, 152 Bitter Dock, 139 Index Brake, 135 Brake, Bird's-Foot Cliff, 220 Brassica alba, 118 Brassica nigra, 116 Breadroot, Indian, 186 Bristly Gooseberry, 20 Bristly Greenbrier, 198 Bitter-Nut Hickory, 104 Bitterroot, 182 Black Alder, 222 Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Black Birch, 204 Currant, 16 Drink, Indian, 215 Gum, 89 Haw, 86 Broad-Leaved Cattail, 196 Broad-Leaved Dock, 139 Broad-Leaved Yucca, 3 Brodiaea capitata, 197 Brodiaea grandiflora, 197 Brooklime, American, 166 Huckleberry, 68 Locust, 120 Medic, 129 Mulberry, 9 Mustard, 116 Persimmon, 79 Raspberry, 25 Spruce, 220 Broom Hickory, 103 Broomcorn, Wild, 227 Broomrape, 200 Bryant, William Cullen, 79 Buckthorn, Alder, 52 Buckthorn, Carolina, 51 Buckthorn, Southern, 52 Buckthorn family, 51 Buffalo Berry, 64 Buffalo Currant, 16 Buffalo Pea, 123 Buffalo Pea, Larger, 124 Bullace Grape, 57 Bullnut, 102 Sugar Maple, 230 Walnut, 94 Wild Cherry, 48 Blackberry, Creeping, 30 Blackberry, High-Bush, 28 Blackberry, Mountain, 28 Blackberry, Running, 30 Blackberry, Tall, 29 Blackcap, 25 Black-Eyed Bean, 130 Blanchan, Neltje, 77 Blistered Rock Tripe, 133 Blue-Berried Elder, 83 Blue Dicks, 197 Blue Flax, no Blue Grape, 56 Blue Huckleberry, 73 Blue-Sailors, 158 Blue Tangle, 69 Bumelia Bulrush, Great American, 162, 196 lycioides, 52 Bunchberry, 89 Burdock, Common, 166 Burdock, Great, 166 Blue Violet, 165 Blueberry, Blueberry, Blueberry, Blueberry, Blueberry, Blueberry, Burnet, Garden, 164 Burnet, Salad, 164 Burroughs, John, 82, 185 Bush Chinquapin, no Bush Morning-Glory, 193 Butler, Dr. William, 20 Butterfly Dwarf or Sugar, 72 Early Sweet, 72 High-Bush, 71 Late Low, 73 Low-Bush, 72 Weed, 157 Butternut, 96 Cabbage Palm, 136 Cabbage Tree, 136 Cactus, 6 1 Cactus, Giant, 89 Swamp, 53 71 Bluewood, Bog Potato, 187 Boner, John Henry, 58 Box Elder, 231 Boxberry, 67 Boxthorn, 80 Cactus family, 61 Cakile edentula, 198 Calamus Root, 173 California Fan Palm, 88 Bracken, 135 California Holly, 89 California Juniper, 88 Index California Plum, 44 California Strawberry, 22 California Walnut, 96 California Wild Rose, 40 Calla, Wild, 196 Calla palustris, 196 Callirhoe pedata, 199 Calochortus Nuttallii, 177 Caltha palustris, 146 Camass, Eastern, 178 Camass, Western, 179 Camassia esculenta, 178 Celtis occidentalis, 3 Celtis reticulata, 5 3 o8 Century Plant, 163 Ceratonia siliqua, 122 Cereus giganteus, 89 Cetraria Islandica, 132 Chamacncrion angustifolium, 166 Chamaepericlymenum 89 canadenset Chapman, Chaparral Tea, 221 John (Johnny seed), 36 Apple- Camote, 200 Canada Lily, 197 Canada Plum, 42 Canadian Buffalo Berry, 66 Canaigre, 164 Cane, Large, 129 Canebrakes, 129 Capsella Bursa-Pastoris, 164 Cardamine penn^ylvanica, 152 Checkerberry, 67 Cheeses, 165 Chenopodium album, 140 Chenopodium Bonus-Henricus, 141 Chenopodium Frernontii, 129 Chenopodium leptophyllum, 129 Chenopodium urbicum, 141 Cherry, Bird, 50 Cherry, Black Wild, 48 Cherry, Choke, 49 Cherry, Dwarf, 51 Cherry, Ground, 79 Cherry, Indian, 51 Cherry, Mountain, 45 Cherry, Pin, 50 Cherry, Rocky Mountain, 51 Cherry, Rum, 48 Cherry, Sand, 51 Cherry, Sour, 48 Cherry, Sweet, 46 Cherry, Western Sand, 51 Chestnut, American or Sweet, 108 Chestnut Oak, 112 Chia, 125 Chickasaw Plum, 45 Chicken Grape, 56 Cardamine pratensis, 152 Cardamine rotundifolia, 152 Carduus edulis, 200 Carica Papaya, Carolina Buckthorn, 51 Carolina Lycium, 80 Carolina Vanilla, 223 n Carrageen Moss, 132 Carrion Flower, 88 Carum Carya Carya Carya Carya Carya Carya Carya gairdneri, 191 alba, 102 cordiformis, 104 glabra, 103 illinoensis, 98 laciniosa, 101 microcarpa, 104 ovata, 99 Cassena, 215 Cassia occidentalis, 221 Chickweed, Common, 146 Chicory, 158 Chicot, 210 Castanea dentata, 108 Castanea nana, no Castanea pumila, no Castanopsis chrysophylla, no Castanopsis sempervirens, no Catlin, George, 41, 58, 65, 187 Cattail, Chile Tarweed, 130 China Bean, 130 China Brier, 198 Cattail, Broad-Leaved, 196 Narrow-Leaved, 196 Ceanothus americanus, 214 Celtis crassifolia, 5 Celtis mississippiensis, 5 Chinquapin, no Chinquapin, Bush, no Chinquapin, Giant, no Chinquapin, Water, 115 Chinquapin Oak, 112 Chiogenes hispidula, 76 Chlorogalum pomeridianum, 197 3<>9 Choate, Isaac Bassett, 81 Chocolate Root, 221 Index Crab Apple, Siberian, 34 Crab Apple, Western, 34 Crab Apple, Wild, 32 Cranberry, Cranberry, Cranberry, Cranberry, Cranberry, Cranberry, Cranberry, Choke Cherry, 49 Choke Pear, 31 Chondrus crispus, 132 Christmas Berry, 89 Chufa, 171 Cichorium Intybus, 158 Cirsium edule, 200 Cirsium foliosum, 200 Cladonia rangiferina, 162 Claytonia caroliniana, 198 Claytonia perfoliata, 145 Claytonia virginica, 198 Cloudberry, 27 Clover, Red, 165 Cluster Lily, 197 Clute, Willard N., 227 Cochlearia Armoracia, 149 Coco Grass, 171 Coffee, Wild, 222 Coffee Bean, American, 210 Coffee Senna, 221 Coffee Tree, Kentucky, 210 Coffeevieed, 221 American, 74 European, 76 High-Bush, 84 Large, 74 Low-Bush, 70 Mountain or Rock, 70 Small, 76 Cranberry Tree, 84 Crataegus aestivalis, 40 Crataegus mollis, 40 Crataegus rivularis, 40 Creeping Blackberry, 30 Creeping Snowberry, 76 Cress, American Water, 152 Cress, Belle Isle, 150 Cress, Marsh, 149 152 Cress, Pennsylvania Bitter, 153 Cress, Cress, Penny, 164 Meadow, Cress, Cress, Round-Leaved Water, 152 True Water, 148 Cress, Winter, 150, 151 Commelina communis, 162 Crinkle-Root, 183 Common Chickweed, 146 Common Milkweed, 155 Common Sunflower, 127 Compass Plant, 232 Comptonia peregrina, 221 Condalia obovata, 53 Coontie, 196 Croton corymbulosus, 221 Cuckoo Flower, 152 Cucumber Root, Indian, 180 Curled Dock,, 139 Currant, American Red, 15 Currant, Currant, Currant, Currant, Currant, Currant, Currant, Currant, Buffalo, 16 Fetid, 15 Cooper, Walter, 108 Corn Salad, 157 Corn Salad, Beaked, 157 Corn Salad, Goosefoot, 157 Cornel, Dwarf, 89 Cornus canadensis, 89 Corylus americana, 105 Corylus rostrata, 106 Coville, Dr. Frederick V., 144, Garden, 14 Golden, 16 Missouri, 16 Skunk, 15 Swamp Red, 15 Wild Black, 16 Currant Tree, 39 Custard Apple, 9 62, 72, 143, 227 Cow Oak, 112 Cowas, 190 Cowberry, 70 Cowpea, 130 Cowslip, American, 146 Crab Apple, American, 33 Crab Apple, Narrow-Leaved, 32 Crab Apple, Oregon, 34 Cut-Leaved Toothwort, 183 Cymopterus montanus, 200 Cyperus esculentus, 171 Cyperus rotundus, 171 Dagger, Spanish, 2 Dahoon Holly, 216 Dandelion, 159 Dangleberry, 69 Dankers, Jasper, 54 Index Darling Plum, 53 Elder, Blue-Berried, 83 3 310 Elk Thistle, 200 Elm, Slippery or Red, 163 Darning Needle, Eve's, Dasylirion, 163 Date Plum, 77 Dayflower, 162 Dentaria diphylla, 184 Dentaria laciniata, 183 Deer Grass, 165 Deerberry, 71 Desert Tea, 221 Desert Trumpet, 164 Elymus condensatus, 128 Elymus triticoides, 128 Emerson, George B., 89, 163 Emerson, Ralph Waldo, 30, 158 Encinilla, 221 English Walnut, 96 Ephedra sp., 221 De Smet, Father, 190 Devil's Tongue, 63 Dewberry, Northern, 30 Dewberry, Southern, 30 Digger Pine, 93 Diospyros Kaki, 79 Diospyros texana, 79 Diospyros virginiana, 77 Dock, Bitter, 139 Dock, Broad-Leaved, 139 Dock, Curled or Yellow, 139 Dock, Patience, 139 Dock, Pie, 164 Dock, Sour, 164 Dock, Spinach, 139 Dogtooth Violet, 197 Epilobium angustifolium, 166 Eriocoma cuspidata, 128 Eriogonum inflatum, 164 Erythronium americanum, 197 European Cranberry, 76 European Gooseberry, 20 European Mountain Ash, 89 European Wood Strawberry, 21 Eve's Darning Needle, 3 Evening Primrose, 199 Fagus amcricana, 107 Fagus ferruginea, 107 Fagus grandifolia, 107 Falcata comosa, 189 Falcata Pit chert, 190 False Banana, 9 False Paraguay Tea, 86 False Solomon's-Seal, 88 False Spikenard, 88 Double-Claw, 125 Douglas Fir, 220 Douglas Spruce, 220 Downy Grape, 56 , Fawn Fern, Fern, Fern, Fern, Fern, Fern, Fetid Dwarf Dwarf Dwarf Dwarf Blueberry, 72 Cherry, 51 Cornel, 89 Raspberry, 27 Lily, 197 Bird's-Foot, 220 Eagle, 135 Ostrich, 167 Sensitive, 136 Sweet, 221 Eagle Fern, 135 Early Sweet Blueberry, 73 Earth Almond, 171 Earth Apple, 194 Eastern Camass, 178 Eastern Prickly Pear, 61 Eastern Wild Gooseberry, 20 Edible Edible Edible Edible Edible Nuts, 91 Tea, 220 Currant, 15 157 Feverwort, 222 Field Garlic, 176 Field Mint, 223 Fetticus, Roots and Tubers, 169 Seeds and Seed Pods, 113 Valerian, 194 Field Salad, 157 Field Sorrel, 165 Fig, Hottentot, 164 Fig, Indian, 61 Filbert, 105 Wild Fruits, i Elaeagnus argentea, 66 Elder, American or Sweet, 82 Elder, Red-Berried, 83 Balsam, 225 Douglas, 220 Fir Tree, 225 Fireweed, 166 Fir, Fir, 199 Golden Club. Dr. Oliver. Blue or Wild. 67 Gaultheria shallon. 19 Grossularia oxyacanthoides. Sweet. European. 20 Sumac. 53 Oregon. 222 Garden Currant. 123 Grape. 20 Gooseberry. 56 Fruits. 55 Riverside. i Gale. 90 Gaylussacia baccata. Grape.. Grape. 19 Gooseberry. 181 Glasswort. 138 Good-King-Henry. Bristly. 143 Greenbrier.. 17 Goosefoot. Robert. Prof. Nut. 64. 69 Gaylussacia resinosa. Sweet. Wild. 176 Gaultheria procumbens. Grape. 55 Sweet-Scented. 222 Gleditsia triacanthos. 176 Garlic. 163 Glecoma hederacea. 57 Florida Arrowroot. L. E. 173 Flax. Garden. 213 Franklin. Northern. 198 Greenbrier. 197 Golden Currant. Common. 68 Gentian. 187 Glycyrrhiza lepidota. Wild Edible. 20 Garlic. 20 Gooseberry. 57 Fragaria Fragaria Fragaria Fragaria Fragrant californica. Smooth-Fruited. 57 Summer. 142 Great Nettle. Field. 123 Fremont. 19 Grossularia reclinata. 56 Grape. 21 virginiana. 219 Ground Cherry. 53 Fox Grape. Grape. 141 Goose Tansy. 199 Geum rivale. 17 Gooseberry. 19 Gooseberry. Eastern Wild. 68 Gaylussacia frondosa. Southern. 56 Wild. 171 Grassnut. 196 Four-Leaved Pine. 222 Geoprumnon crassicarpum. 71. 232 Ginger. 80 Ground Hemlock. 14 Garden Gooseberry. 222 Gilmore. 20 Grossularia rotundifolia. 199 Gooseberry. 124 German Rampion. Bristly. Grape. George F. Grape. Grape. Muscadine. 74 Flag. 20 vesca. 56 Sand or Sugar. Horse. Wild. no Gibson. 118 Grossularia Cynosbati. Long-Stalked. Melvin Randolph. 200 Garden Balm. 58 Northern Fox. Prickly. 138 Green Amaranth. Slender. 121 Grass. 56 Southern Fox or Bullace. Dr. 16 Goldenrod. 89 Giant Chinquapin.Index Fishback. 56 Grape. 79 Ground Cherry. Mexican. 221 Giant Cactus. 134 Freeman. 130 Goldsmith. 93 Fox Grape. 20 Gooseberry. 19 Gooseberry.. 20 Glycine Apios. 226 Frost Grape. 88 Pigeon. 19 Gooseberry. 221 Gamote. 198 Greene. 14. 197 Gray. 188 Greasewood. 222 . 56 Grape. 2O Gooseberry. Grape. Margaret. 171 Grass. 19 Gooseberry. 130. Grape. 155 Gill-over-the-Ground. Blue or Winter. Asa. Smooth. 20 Grossularia setosa. 141 Grape. Chicken. 72. John C. Coco. Sir John. Upright or City. Northern.55 Winter or Downy.. Frost. 129 Goosefoot. 17 Grossularia missouriensis. 192 Frost. Mustang. Grape. Missouri. i Ground Ivy. 56 Geoprumnon mexicanum. 22 canadensis. Meadow. William Hamilton. 40 Haw. 104. 42 Horse-Radish. Black. 3 Hackberry. 222 Hemlock Spruce. 118 Hedysarum boreale. Black or Sour. 197 Horseweed. 102 Hickory. 39 Hawthorn. 213 Honeypod. 103 Hickory. 27. Larger. 84 Peanut. 103 Hicoria laciniosa. Common. 101 Hickory. Red or Sweet. 210 Gums. 102 Hickory. 121 Gum. 216 Ilex glabra. 98 Ilex vomitoria. 71 High-Bush Cranberry. 222 Hyssop. 124 Ground Plum. 189 Holly.. 166 Hydrophyllum virginianum. 128 Indian Pond Lily. 195 Helianthus tuberosus. 199 Hedysarum Mackenzii. 215 Ilex verticillata. 84 Hog Hobblebush. Bullnut. 102 Hicoria alba. Red. 229 Huckleberry. 10. California. 197. Harvey M. 199 Helianthus annuus. 222 Ilex paraguayensis. 190 Indian Black Drink. Fragrant Giant. 222 Horse Gentian. 18* Indian Fig. 5 Hall. 28. 166 Harvest Brodiaea. 166 Indian Thistle. 164 Hemlock. Pignut. 215 Ill-Scented Sumac. 153 Indian Rice. 53 Haw. 223 Hyssopus officinalis. 5 Hackberry. Smaller. Big-Bud. 104 Hickory. Ground. 194 Hemlock. Dahoon. 121 Honey Shucks. 123 Groundnut. 187 Gum. Romeyn Hedge Mustard. King-Nut. 222 Horse Plum. 223 Hare's Lettuce. 225 Gymnocladus Hackberry. 178. 105 Heartweed. Rough-Leaved. 132 Ilex Cassine. Squaw. 101 Hickory. May. 39 Hazelnut. 197 Horehound. 104 Hickory. White-Heart. 90 90. 227 dioica. 71 Huckleberry. 149 Horsemint. 220 B. 22. i Iceland Moss. 61 Indian Lettuce. 89 312 High-Bush Blueberry. 29 Impatiens biflora. 103 Hickory. 106 Hazelnut. Beaked. 118 Honeysuckle. Hookera coronaria. Shellbark or Shagbark. 166 Hyssop. Dr. 167 Indian Biscuit. 176. 39.Index Ground Plum. 71 Hyacinth. 164 Haw. 99 Hicoria Pecan. 163 Hough. 89 Holly. 5 Hackberry. Bitter-Nut. 116 Indian Rhubarb. Black. 161 Hottentot Fig... 221 Hickory. Small-Fruited. 51 Indian Cucumber Root. 5 Hackberry. Mocker-Nut. Purple. Big Shellbark. 213 High-Bush Blackberry. Western. 145 Indian Millet. 102 Hickory. 86 Haw. Wild. Broom. 216 Honey Locust. 186 Indian Cherry. 127 Helianthus laetiflorus. 113 Indian Salad. 101 Hicoria ovata. 215 Indian Breadroot. 197 Hydrophyllum appendiculatum. Blue. Southern. 200 . 102 Hicoria glabra. 68 Huckleberry. 222 Ice Plant. Thick-Leaved. 99 Hickory. 231 Jerusalem Artichoke. 167 Johnny-Jump-Up. 94 Juglans regia. Lily. 194 Jewel Weed. Canada. Dr. 190 Longfellow. 115 Low-Bush Blueberry. 190 Lomatium geyeri. 182 Lewis and Clark's Journals. 88 Japanese Persimmon. 164 Lettuce. Lamb's. 170 Keeler. 128 Large Tupelo. 96 161 Lettuce. 13 Lemonade Berry. American. Wild*. 199 Juniperus occidentalis. 20. 130 Styraciflua. 161 Lewis. 74 Lomatium farinosum. 170. 209 Ipomoea Jalapa. 161 Lady's Thumb. 216 Leek. 73 Laurel. Oblong-Fruited. 170. 211 Leontodon Taraxicum. 209 Islay. 64 Lepidium virginicum. Jackson. 38 Juneberry. Prickly. 214 Lemonade Tree. 191 Large Rye Grass. Cluster. 221 Laurus nobilis. 165 Inkberry. 157 Lamb's Quarter. 88 Lettuce Saxifrage. Wild. 193 Irish Moss. 142 Ipo. Red. 120 Locust. 199 Licorice Root. 166 Lettuce. 122 Indigo. 161 Lactuca scariola. 72 . 140 Laportea canadensis. 121 Lamb's Lettuce. 88 Katniss. Helen Hunt. 76 Ground. 161 Juglans nigra. 138 Large Cane.. Spanish. 194 Ipomoea leptophylla. 153 Lettuce. 145 Lettuce. 39 Juniper. 163 Kentucky Coffee Tree. 96 Juglans cinerea. Lily. 197 Lewisii. Black or Yellow. 197 Wild Yellow or Canada. 164. 90 Late Low Blueberry. 197 Lilium superbum. 17. 145 Lettuce. Wild or Tall. 222 Jack-in-the-Pulpit. 197 Lily. Willis Lynn. 216 Lactuca canadensis. 190. 17. 37 Juneberry. Indian. 90 Lotus. 193 Ipomoea pandurata. 197 Sego or Mariposa. 128. 197 Lily. 132 Ironwood. Horace. 101 Linum Labrador Tea. 153 Lettuce. 129 Large Cranberry. Miners'. 145 Lettuce. 195 Lewisia rediviva. 96 Juglans kindsii. 163. 163 Liquidambar Locust. 209 Laurel Magnolia. 129 Ivy. 198 Lonicera involucrata. 157 Lettuce. 210 Lilium canadense. Hare's. 79 Jepson. 166 King Nut. Northwestern. 115 Long-Stalked Greenbrier. 39. n. Captain Meriwether. Common. California. 53 Isabella Wood. Honey. 54 Jacob's Ladder.Index Indian Turnip. 176 Lemon. 209 Ledum groenlandicum. 159 Lepargyraea argentea. Mountain. 96 Juglans rupestris. Lily. Wild. Harriet L. 165 Juglans californica. 10 Keerless. 182 Licorice. Henry W. 177 Turk's-Cap. 64. 172 Laurel family. Ivory Plum. 197 Lily. Fawn.. 161 Lactuca virosa. Wild. 96 Juneberry. 227 Kephart. 199 Mallow. 125 Morus Morus Morus Morus alba. Laurel. 9 rubra. Black Sugar. Marsh. 16 Missouri Gooseberry. 193 Morning-Glory family. 149 Marsh Marigold. Low Sweet Blueberry. 132 Moss. 80 Lygodesmia juncea. 130 Mesembryanthemum 164 crystallinum. 188 Milton. 176 Marrubium vulgare. 35 Malva rotundifolia. 59 Mazzard. 232 Mentha Mentha Mentha Mentha Mentha arvensis. 231 Maple. 152 Garlic. 165 Cress. 215 Matteuccia Strnthiopteris. 70 Lettuce. 90 Maple. 67 60. 80 Mexican Persimmon. 153 Sorrel. Wild. 176 Mecha-meck (Indian). 129 Lupinus perennis. 218 Missouri Currant. 218 Mercury. 131 Miner's Lettuce. Common. 165 Mallow. 146 Mariposa Lily. 164 Mesquite. 193 Medeola virginiana. 45 Cranberry. 89 Mountain Blackberry. 230 Maple. 6 Mate. 223 canadensis. Pimple. 33 Mains ioensis. 193 Morning-Glory. 144 Madia sativa. 19 Mitchella repens. 93 Muir. Father. 222 Marjoram. 165 Malva sylvestris. 193 Marsh Cress. Carolina. 223 Mint. 222 Mains glance scens. 40 Maypops. 180 Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Mountain Cherry. 28 Meadow Meadow Meadow Beauty. 165 Malva verticillata. 46 Moss. 70 Medicago Melissa lupulina. 165 Mallow. 167 May Apple. 193 Milkweed. 8 microphylla. 132 Moss. 13 Manzanita. 162 Mountain Ash. Arizona. Swamp. 222 Marquette. Bush. 222 Montia perfoliata. 208 Micranthes micranthidifolia. 153 Micromeria chamissonis.Inde* Low-Bush Cranberry. Wild or Indian. 231 Marigold. 218 Mint family. Red. 222 Monarda fistulosa. Field. 79 Michaux. Silver. 165 Man-of-the-Earth. 118 Mexican Ground Cherry. 102 Monarda didyma. 140 Sumac. 81 Mockernut. John. 145 Morning-Glory. 146 Martynia louisiana. Common. Andre. 231 Maple. Rock. Round-Leaved. 228 Maple. High. 9 nigra. Reindeer. 223 piperita. 155 Millet. 230 Maple. Magnolia. 129 3H officinalis. Sugar. 218 Mandrake. 13 May Haw. 221 Magnolia virginiana. 165 Mesembryanthemum edule. 72 Lupine. 228 Maple. 145 Mint. Irish or Carrageen. 221 Mallow. Iceland. 218 spicata. Wild. 218 longifolia. So 222 Lycium carolinianum. White or Soft. . Ash-Leaved. 129 Lycium. Wild. 34 Mains Mains. Whorled or Curled. 177 ' Mint. 230 Maple. 213 Tea. John. 89 Nyssa sylvatica. 221 Myrica Gale. 200 Oyster Plant. 200 Origanum vulgare.. 7 Muscadine Grape. 233 Mustang Grape. 128 Oil. Stinging. 9 Mulberry. 113 longistylis. 92 Ostrich Fern. 171 Osmorhiza Pine. 139 Needle. Hedge. 162 W T Oats. Nodding Wild. Purple. 76 Oxyria digyna. 112 Oak.315 Mulberry. 32 Narrow-Leaved Dock. 92 Onion.. 140 Oyster Plant. 200 Pacific Plum. Oregon Crab Apple. Western White. 101 Oryza sativa. Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia Opuntia hasilaris. 57 Index Oak. 90 Oak. S. Nut. 175 Nonesuch. in Oak. Small. 167 Narrow-Leaved Cattail. 53 Northern Gooseberry. in Oat. 64 Opuntia. 9 Mulberry. 44 Palm. 199 Oryzopsis hymenoides. 88. 222 Oxalis Acetosella. Bear or Scrub. Nut. 3 Nelumbo lutea. 112 Oak. 90 Nyssa multiflora. 138 New Jersey Tea. Swamp White. 165 Oxalis violacea. Adam's. 61 Wood. 19 Northwestern Juneberry. Black. 136 Onoclea Struthiopteris. White. 61 polyacantha. California Fan. 98 Nut Grass. 62 Rafinesquii. 197 Hickory. 200 Orontium aquaticum. 116 Nyssa aquatica. 112 Oak. hite. 88 Odostemon haematocarpus. 165 Oxycoccus macrocarpus. Slender. Red. 136 Palm. Wild. 163 . 221 Myrrh. 6 Mulberry. 96 Pecan. Swamp. 99 King. 89 Oenanthe sarmentosa. 112 Oak. 96 Mustard family. T. 85 One-Leaved Nut Pine. Cow or Basket. Yellow. Cabbage. 115 Nepeta hederacea. Black. 138 Nettle. Dr. 196 Narrow-Leaved Crab Apple. 197 Orobanche ludoviciana. 129 Northern Fox Grape. 167 Oswego Tea. Water. 90 Nymphaea polysepala. 63 megacantha. 113 Mushrooms. 57 Muscadinia rotundifolla. Sweet. 63 vulgaris. 89 Nut Nut Pine. 64 humifusa. 38 Nut. 199 Nannyberry. Oblong-Fruited Juneberry. 62 ficus-indica. 175 Onion. Edible. 39 58 Mustard. 222 Nettle. Chinquapin. 214 Nodding Wild Onion. 138 Nettle. 199 Oil Nut. M. 118 Odostemon aquifoiturn. One-Leaved. 112 Palmer's Amaranth. 91 Nuts. Rock Chestnut. 176 Onoclea sensibilis. 128. 8 Muloch. Cultivated. 116 Myrica asplenifolia. 227 Nyssa uniflora. Nut. 200 Oenothera biennis. 88 Palmer. 74 Oxycoccus Oxycoccos. 34 Oregon Grape. D. 88 Oregon Sunflower. White. Chestnut or Yellow. Rocky Mountain. 128 Oats. 112 Oak. 118 Mustard. 116 Mustard. 222 Ornithogalum umbellatum. 163 Parry Pine.. 123 Pea. n Paper Birch. 46 Red or Yellow. 166 Persimmon. Plum. 81 Passiflora incarnata. Wild. 98 Pellaea ornithopus. Black or Mexican. 91 Pinus lambertiana. Digger. 77 Ground. 142 Pignut Hickory. Scrub. S. 93 Pine. Plum. 183 Persea Borbonia. 166 Pimple Mallow. 220 Pine. 53 . Parry. 93 Parsley. Common. 163 Persimmon. Buffalo. 44 Porter's. Choke. Beach. 200 Partridge Vine. Plum. 163 Pilotweed. 220 Peltandra virginica. 80 Physalis pubescens. 232 Pimbina. Plum. Common. 189 Pear. 164 Pigeon Grape. 139 Pea. Plum. Plum. 226 Phragmites Phragmites. 129 Peanut. 93 Pine. 91 Pinus contorta. 93 Pinus sabiniana. 103 Pigweed. 130 Photinia arbutifolia. Water. Slender. 42 Ivory. 226 Physalis ixocarpa. 226 Pinole. White. 93 Pennsylvania Bitter Cress. 59 Patience Dock. 220 Picea rubra. 67. 31 Pear. Plum. 89 Peppermint. 79 Phytolacca am eric ana. 166 Plantain. Plum. Rocky Mountain Nut. Dr. 64 Parkman. Papaya.. Plum. 93 Partridgeberry. Hog. Plum. 225 Pinus monophylla. 44 California. 44 Wild. 50 Pine. B. 215 Parish. 79 Pinus edulis. 164 Peppergrass. Japanese. Prickly. 153 Pine. Plum. 93 Pine. 93 Pinus Strobus. 91 Pine. 55 Pigeonberry. 142 Phytolacca decandra. 77 Persimmon. 53 Date.Index Palmetto. 163 Pickles. 164 Pepperidge. Plum. 40 Wild Goose. 40 Sand. 209 Persea gratissima. 43 Plum Grape. One-Leaved Nut. 225 Pine. Francis. 218 Pepper Root. Plum. 123 Horse. 79 Peucedanum sp. Scarlet. Spruce. 199 Pin Cherry. 205 Paraguay Tea. 60 Passion Flower. 92 Pinus quadrifolia. 61 Pecan Nut. 143 Pigweed. 136 Papaw. Plum. 189 Peanut. Four-Leaved. Sugar. 81 9 Pickle Plant. 220 Plum. 226 Pinxter Flower. 84 Pimpernel. 154 Plantago major. 59 Passion Vine. 126 Pinon. 190 Phaseolus acutifolius. 59 Passiflora lutea. 122 Phaseolus polystachyus. 89 Phragmites communis. 164 Pie Dock. Plum. 76 Pacific. 42 Chickat>aw. 196 Peltiphyllum peltatum. 44 Canada. Wild. 122 Phaseolus retusus. 92 Pine. 210 Persicaria Persicaria. 142 Picea mariana. 45 Darling. 46 Sierra. 153 Penny Cress. 44 virginiana. in 112 bicolor. Francis Peyre. 23 Western. 51 serotina. Indian. 164 Potherbs. 131 Powell. 144 Pus ley. 179 Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus Quercus acuminata t 112 alba. Evening. 46 Pseudotsuga taxifolia. 165 Porter's Plum. 163 Prunus Watsoni. 48 hortulana. 112 Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus Prunus americana. 186 Purple Avens. 23 Purple Raspberry. 26 Purple-Flowering. 63 Prickly Pear Cactus. 112 nan a. 112 platanoides. 24 Wild Red. 119 Prosopis velutina. Western. 112 prinus. 32 baccata. 61 Primrose. Raspberry. 43 ilicifolia. 149 Raspberry. 64 Radicula Armoracia. Raspberry. Wild. 161 Prickly Pear. Winter.. E. Prairie. P. 142 Polygonatum biflorum.317 Podophyllum peltatum. Raspberry. 42 Dwarf. 186 Prairie Bean. 112 Muhlenbergii. 166 Porcher. Raspberry. 17 Prickly Lettuce. 112 prinoides. 144 Potato Vine. 148 Radicula palustris. 221 Purple Haw. 44 Rabbit Berry. 53 Purple-Flowering Raspberry. 193 Potentilla Anserina. 33 diversifolia. 135 Pteris aquilina. 129 maritima. 116 Poor Man's Weatherglass. 43 nigra. Raspberry. 50 pumila. 199 Poteriurn. 45 Avium. 187 Pteridium aquilinum. Eastern. 46 Portulaca oleracea. 31 coronaria. 51 Cerasus. 129 Quamasia hyacinihina. 162 Polygonum Persicaria. 48 subcordata. 187 Potato. 130 Prickly Gooseberry. 112 ilicifolia. 51 Munsoniana. . 66. in Michauxii. 34 Malus. 129 Prunus alleghaniensis. 34 Prickly Pear. 27 23 pennsylvanica. 35 rivularis. 40 angustifolia. 61 Pyrus Pyrus Pyrus Pyrus Pyrus Pyrus Pyrus Pyrus angustifolia. 144 Purslane. 26 Purslane. 178 Quamasia quamash. 186 Potato. 146 Purslane family. n Pond Lily. 49 White-Flowering. 186 Psoralea hypogaea. 144 Potato. 27 Purple. 125 Prosopis glandulosa. 200 Blanche. 25 melanocarpa. 24 129 Red Amaranth. 46 lobata. Bog. 46 Besseyi. 234 Index Pom me Pond Apple. Raspberry. 220 Psoralea esculenta. 34 communis. 13 Pokeweed. 34 ioensis. 170 Potato. Proboscidea louisiana. 118 Prosopis pubescens. Black. 118 Prostrate Amaranth. Wild. Raspberry. 199 Prince's Feather. 85 Prairie Apple. Virginia. Tule. 149 Radicula nasturtium-aquaticum. 135 Puffballs. 16 Cynosbati. American Sea. 164 Rumex obtusifolius. Christina. 24 trifiorus. 139 Rumex hymenosepalus. Common. 88 Red-Fruited Barberry. 213 typhina. 20 nigrum. 213 copallina. 28 occidentalis. 207 Roots and Tubers. 53 Maple. 16 oxyacanthoides. 25 odoratus. 53 Rocky Mountain Cherry. 213 canadensis. 30 Rusby. 40 Rosa rubiginosa. 13.. 23 parviflorus. 56 Robinia Pseudo-Acacia. 89 Red Gum. 169 Rosa californica. Henry H. 5 Round-Leaved Water Cress. 128 vulgare. 51 Rhamnus cathartica. Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Rubus Tree. 30 Rhus Rhus Rhus Rhus Rhus Rhus Rhus Rhus Rhus Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes Ribes aromatica. 27 neglectus. 209 Red-Berried Elder. 139 Running Blackberry. 227 Red Red Red Red Red Red Red Haw. 89 A. 10. 109 allcgheniensis. Wild. Julia E. trivialis. 6 Plum. Yellow. Indian. 19 27 30 villosus.. 14 . 230 Mulberry. 213 hirta. 165 56. 198 Rum Cherry. 48 Grossularia. 153 Rhubarb. 20 triste. 139 Rumex Patientia. Red Clover. 228 Oak. 15 rotundifolium. 39 Riverside Grape. 70 Maple. 113 Riley. ovata. L. 24 procumbens. 83 Rice. James Whitcomb. 112 Ironwood. 89 Rossetti. 162 Reynosia latifolia. 213 glabra.. 3 Russian Thistle. 29 canadensis. 27 leucoderrnis. 42. 52 Rhamnus crocea. 19. 52 Redroot. 29 Rue-anernone. in. 52 Rhamnus Frangula. 142 Rye Grass. 16 glandulosum. 112 Tripe. 165 Rumex crispus. 35 Rhamnus caroliniana. Chamaernorus. Indian or Wild. 133 Rocket. 16 odoratum. 28 Rhododendron nudiflorum. 20 setosum. 226 Reindeer Moss. 231 trilobata. 27 argutus. 151 Redberry. 26 214 niyrobaccus. 91 Rogers. Edible. 143. 15 Rumex Acetosella. 152 Rowan Rowe. 19 prostratum. Large. 198 Rocket. 220 Rock Rock Rock Rock Cranberry. 15 gracile. 17 floridum. 24 Spruce. 52 Rhexia virginica. 165 Rough-Leaved Hackberry. 211 integrifolia. 211 americanurn. 154 Rhubarb. 164 amcricanus. 226 Reed Grass. 97. 120 Rock Chestnut Oak. 93.Index Red Bay. 40 Raspberry. 214 Reed. 51 Rocky Mountain Nut Pine. 30 strigosus. 16 aureum. 213 Schoolcraft. 125 Sage. 66 Shepherd's-Purse. 112 Scrub Pine. Lettuce. 200 Salsify. 162. Sir Walter. Northwestern. 137 Skunk Currant. White. 1^9 Sinapis nigra. 64 Shepherdia canadensis. 221 Sensitive Fern. 39 Seton. 198 Smilax herbacea. 205 Sassafras variifolium. 15^ Sambucus glauca. 232 Skunk Cabbage. 116 Sisymbrium canescens. 56 Sand Grass. 129 Scurvy Grass. 99 Shepherdia argentea. 24 Salsify. 118 Sisymbrium nasturtium-aquaticum. Serviceberry. Dr. 50 Sassafras. 163 Salmonberry. Corn.. 128 Sand Plum. 222 Saunders. 44 Silkweed. 163 Salvia apiana. Allegheny. 197. American. 82 Shagbark Hickory. 46 Small Cranberry. 166 Scarlet Strawbeiry. 198 . 157 Salad Burnet. 88 Smilax pseudo-china. 164 Salad Plants. 153 Saxifrage. 15 Slender Gooseberry. 104 Schmaltzia crenata. 169 St. 83 Sambucus racemosa. 88 Smilax Bona-nox. 99 Shellbark Hickory. 46 Sanguisorba minor. 206 Scott. 164 Sea Rocket. 153 Saxifraga peltata. 38 Serviceberry. 3. 122 Index Scrub Chestnut Oak. 19 Slender Nettle. 169 Sagittarla variabilis. 119 Small Mulberry. 51 Sand Grape. 73. 180. 142 Saltbush. Oblong-Fruited. 76 Small-Fruited Hickory. 20 Weed. 136 Common. 83 Sand Cherry. 37 Saltwort. 131 Salicornia ambigua. 230 American. 198 Seeds. 121 Siberian Crab Apple. 164 Sarcobatus vermiculatus. 118 Saunders. 205 Satureja hortensis. 34 Sierra Plum. 112 Scrub Oak. Charles Sprague. 127 Sagittaria latifolia. 177 Senna. 164 Shucks. John's Bread. 93 Salad. 166 Scirpus validus. 138 Screw Bean. 138 Slender Pigweed. Honey. 125 Sambucus canadensis. Dr.. 231 Silverberry. 150 Sea Fig. 127 Salvia columbariae. Coffee. 64 Sassafras Sassajras. Purple. Yellow. 200 Salsola kali tenuifolia. Charles F. 232 Silver Maple. 113 Sego Lily. 198 Seacoast Abronia. 37 Serviceberry. 114. 164 Salicornia europaea. 163 Sloe. 66 Silverleaf. William. 153 Scarlet Pimpernel. 142 Scollard. 148 Sisymbrium Skeleton officinale. 142 Sargent. Ernest Thompson. 163 Slippery Elm. 9 Smilacina racemosa.319 Sabal Palmetto. 136 Sage. 220 Silverweed. Scientific Henry R. 196 Scoke. Chia. Edible. 135 Shadbush. Clinton. 213 Schmaltzia trilobata. 205 Silphium laciniatum. 195 Saxifraga micranthidifolia. California.Index Smith. 89 Sorrel. 213 Sumac. 197 Soft Maple. 221 Squaw Huckleberry. Red. 162 Sonchus oleraceus. 231 Sow Thistle. 2 Spanish Lettuce. 213 Sumac. 138 Strawberry. 20 Smooth or Scarlet Sumac. 164 Sour Gum. 166 . 158 Soursop. 77 Sweet Bay. 108 Cicely. 48 Sour Dock. Dr. 213 Snowberry. 26 Spruce. Squaw Grass. 207 Spinach. 209. 20 Strawberry. 19 Smooth Gooseberry. True. 167 Spring Beauty. 140 Sorrel. 72 Sugar Grape. 166 Star-of-Bethlehem. 71 Swamp Maple. Douglas. 141 Spleen Amaranth. Oregon. Smooth or Scarlet. Showy. 213 Sumac. Wood. Edward L. Dr. 220 Sugar and Gums. 222 Sunflower. 79 Strombocarpa pubescens. Ill-Scented. Staghorn. 76 Soap Plant. 194 Sorbus americana. 199 . 137 Spatlum (Indian). Fragrant. 88 Solomon's-Seal. 89 Succory. 218 Spicebush. George B. 57 Smooth-Fruited Gooseberry. 198 Sprowl.. 225 Sumac. Black. Frank H. 178 71 Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Birch. 30 Southern Fox Grape. 146 Stinging Nettle. False. 119 Sturtevant. Dwarf or Mountain. 196 Smith. 176 Swamp Red Currant.. 59. Monroe. 213 Squawroot. 230 Sugar Pear. 230 Swamp Onion. 2 Spanish Dagger. 5 Sugarberry. ii Sudworth. 228 Sugar Maple. 86 Staghorn Sumac. 200 Solidago odora. 39 Sugar Pine. Creeping. 21 Strawberry Tomato. 57 Southern Hackberry. 75 320 Stagbush. 46 Chestnut.. 127 Sunflower. 112 Sweet. 220 Spruce. 197 Star Tulip. 145 Spathyema foetida. Spanish Bayonet. 200 Solanum Jamesii. 89 Summer Swamp Blueberry. 104 Sugar Apple. 140 Sour Cherry. Virginia.. Sugar Blueberry. 219 Solomon's-Seal. 228 n Southern Dewberry. 21 z Stanton. 55 Savory. 19. 20 Strawberry. 165 Sorrel. 177 Stellaria media. 15 Swamp Sugar Pear. Mountain. Smooth. 191 Squills. 220 Spruce. Dock. Alpine. Wild. 204 Cherry. 200 Solanum tuberosum borealc. 182 Spearmint. 225 Sugar Tree. 89 Sorbus scopulina. Common. 39 Swamp White Oak. 22 Strawberry. 163 Spotted Touch-Me-Not. 213 Sumac. 128 Squawbush. 139 Spinach. Black. 140. 56 Sugar Maple. 231 Solanum fendleri. 200 Sunflower. Wild. 211 Summer Grape. Frank L. 89 Sorbus Aucuparia. Captain John. 20 Strawberry. 220 Spruce Pine. Scarlet. 3 Sugarbush. Colonel James. 195 Suwarro. 166 Thlaspi arvense. 162 Vaccinium angustifolium. 24. Oswego. 222 Tea. Thorn Apple. 130 Taw-kee (Indian). 79 Tooth wort. Henry D. New Jersey. 76 Vaccinium pennsylvanicum. 133 Umbilicaria Muhlenbergii. 197 Turnip.321 Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Elder. 89 Sweetsop. 198 Uva-Ursi Uva-Ursi. 200 Trifolium pratense. 222 Tea. Strawberry. 216 Tea. Tuna. Indian. 40 Thyme. Virginia. 86. 221 Teaberry. Prairie. 196 latifolia. 159 Tarwced. Touch-Me-Not. 223 Thymus Serpyllum. 162 Tsuga canadensis. 170 Tulip. Mountain. Labrador. 183 Tornillo. 74 Vaccinium Oxycoccos. 177 Tall Blackberry. Thimbleberry. i Tea. 222 77. 29 Tall Lettuce. 85 Sweet Winter Grape. 56 Sweetbrier. 161 Tangleberry. 81. False Paraguay. 29 Thistle. 122 Texas Walnut. 56 Sweet-Scented Sumac. 159 Taraxacum oificinale. Appalachian. 220 Tea. 89 Turk's-Cap Lily. 134 Umbilicaria pustulata. Desert. 69 Taraxacum Dens-leonis. 134 Unicorn Plant. 200 Thistle. 219 Gum. 221 Tepary Bean. 90 Two-Leaved Toothwort. 220 Tuckahoe. 73 Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea. 72 Vaccinium corymbosum. 163 Triosteum perfoliatum. 138 5 Utah Aloe. 70. 200 n Symplocarpus foetidus. Teamsters'. 86 Tea. 221 Flag. 172 Turnip. 200 Thistle. 199 Sweet-Scented Grape. Sow. 221 Index Tipsin (Indian). 138 Urticastrum divaricatum. 165 Tragopogon Tragopogon porrifolius. 90 Uvular ia perfoliata. 213 Sweet Viburnum. Wild. Paraguay. 80 Tomato. 133 Umbilicaria vellea. 25. Star. 205 . 71 Vaccinium macrocarpon. 221 Tea. 186 Twinberry. 197 Taxus canadensis. 88 142 Thistle. 196 Tule Potato. 72 Vaccinium stamineum. 71 Vaccinium vacillans. 223 Tinker's Weed. 227 Myrrh. 221 Tea. 173 Gale. 35. 186 Tomatillo. 137 Trilisa odoratissima. Elk. 223 Trillium or Wake Robin. 164 Thoreau. 67 Tea. Chile. 215 Tea. 138 Urtica gracilis. Chaparral. 96 Thick-Leaved Hackberry. 198 True Solomon's-Seal. Spotted. 167 Toyon. 184 Typha Typha Ulmus angustifolia. 125 Urtica dioica. 119 Goldenrod. 67 Teamsters' Tea. 196 fulva. Fern. 70 Vaguer a racemosa. Russian. 163 Trillium grandiflorum. 163 Umbilicaria l3illenii. 214 Tea. 222 Syndcsmon thalictroides. 62 Tupelo. 89 pratensis. 82 Fern. Indian..