Edible plants

[rockhound]

During WWII, the U.S. was rationing food supplies for civilians. You needed a coupon to buy certain items. Coffee was one of those itmes. Almost everyone drank coffee and or milk, so to stretch their coffee, they would use chickory, grind up the roots and mix with their coffee. Chickory grows mostly along roadsides and has tiny small blue flowers on it. Some drank the chickory by itself, not having any coffe to mix it with. The shortage of coffe,tea and some spices were due to not being able to ship acroos the ocean because of submarines sinking most cargo as well as military vessels. Good Luck. rockhound

 

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[truckinbutch]

Chickory is even more prolific now than it was then and is still a great coffee expander . Will stain your teeth if you don't brush often .

 

[rockhound]

Growing in the small branches, and expecially springs, of the southeast and northeastern regions of the U.S., grow greens country folk call "branch lettuce". They are actually "water cress", and closely resemble their cousins "field cress", They have a peppery taste and add zip to a salad, eaten raw or cooked with fatback or bacon. Too bad you can't find cornbread to go with them for a satisfying meal. Good Luck. rockhound

 

[stefen]

Euel Gibbons died from poor eyesight...ate the wrong plant...

 

[truckinbutch]

Ulcer , actually . Don't know what he ate/drank that brought that on .

 

[generic username]

thought id share this link, lots of information and photos too.

found this site and bookmarked it about 3 years ago or so trying to figure edible plants... very informative

edible wild plants index

if you scroll to the top of the page it shows options for desert, wetlands, woods & also seasonal options too

 

[flyadive]

Any you guys know of a tree that has scorpion claw looking fruits? Native to the NE USA?

 

[generic username]

maybe something related to devils claw, but without a picture i really dunno

 

[rockhound]

Growing in the higher elevations of the Eastern U.S., is a small plant that I have always called Mountain Tea. We often chew on this plants leaves as we hike or camp, and hunt. It is what was once used to make teaberry gum, maybe still is, same flavor. Anyway it is a satisfying way to keep your breath fresh and clean. It has dark green leaves and grows only a few inches tall. Good Luck. rockhound

 

[truckinbutch]

We called it teaberry and it did taste like the gum flavor .

 

[rockhound]

Although hunted to near extinction, the American ginseng is a good root to chew on. It will give you energy and stamina. Also another root that is good to chew on as well as make a tea from is red sassafrass. The yellow will also work, not has a bitter taste to it. The sassafrass is a small tree that grows alongside many cuts and roads through the forest. Good Luck. rockhound

 

[Produce Guy]

There's a book called Usefull wild plants of the Southwest,written by Scooter Cheatman and (someone else),It's about$100,but it's a very good book,might be able to find it on line cheaper.

 

[fistfulladirt]

Also another root that is good to chew on as well as make a tea from is red sassafrass. The yellow will also work, not has a bitter taste to it. The sassafrass is a small tree that grows alongside many cuts and roads through the forest. Good Luck. rockhound

As a young boy I harvested and rossed sassafrass root bark to sell. You can make tea, but beware that it is toxic in higher doses. Safrole, the oil in sassafrass, is an agent which has caused liver cancer in lab animals. Safrole is not present in commercial flavorings. Beware that Safrole can possibly cause liver cancer in humans. Bummer.