North American Field Guide: Edible Wild Plants

The cattail is an edible wild plant staple.

Because of the potential for serious mistakes that can result in illness and even death, anyone interested in collecting and consuming wild plants must rely on authoritative sources. Among the best of these is the book titled "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America" by Lee Allen Peterson.

Flowering Plants

The section in Peterson's book on flowering plants covers mostly herbaceous plants; these are flowering plants with non-woody stems. This group includes many familiar wildflowers and even weeds. Although a given plant may be familiar, its edible aspects may not. It may come as a surprise that with careful drying and preparation even a plant like the skunk cabbage is a palatable and edible wild plant.

Woody Plants

Woody plants are essentially trees, shrubs and vines. Some common examples of edible produce from wild plants in this category include nuts like hickory nuts and walnuts, fruits like wild grapes and berries like blueberries from the wild highbush blueberry plant.

Miscellaneous Plants

This grouping includes plants that may not strike the average reader as something to consider eating. Nevertheless, plants like the cattail and ostrich fern are much sought after among edible wild plant enthusiasts. The ostrich fern with its newly forming fronds, called fiddleheads, and the cattail with its many edible parts---including the starchy roots---are a couple of favorites.

Finding Edible Plants

Knowing where and when to look and what to look for are some of the challenges and the fun in pursuing edible wild plants. Different settings and habitats---such as hilltops, bottom lands, stream banks, shorelines, fields and woods---support different plant species and offer differing opportunities for collecting edible wild plants.

Food Uses

Wild edible plants, as you might expect, often require a different approach to preparation from those in the produce section of the average grocery store. Two examples are the use of cattail pollen and white oak acorns in the making of flour. Other examples include plants like the common milkweed that can be prepared like asparagus.

Safety

The importance of certain identification cannot be overemphasized when it comes to collecting and consuming wild plants. In addition to good and desirable wild edibles, there are many poisonous plants. A mistaken identification or an oversight in preparation can lead to consequences ranging from a mildly unpleasant experience to severe illness and---in rare cases---even death.

References

• "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America"; Lee Allen Peterson; 1977