Page 106 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Red Root/New Jersey Tea, Ceanothus

americanus (RHAMNACEAE)

RED ROOT or NEW JERSEY TEA is a woody perennial
that grows up to 4 ft. (1.2m) tall. It has a stout taproot
and tends to grow very wide. It benefits from fire and
can be found in black soil, gravel, sand prairies and in
hilly and rocky upland forests.

FLOWER: Flowers form on the tips of upper stems in
clusters, 2-8 inches (5-20cm) long and 2-3 inches (5-
7.5cm) wide. Each flower is ¼ inch (0.6cm) across with
5 white sepals and 5 petals. They bloom in mid-summer
for 3-4 weeks, having a lovely floral aroma. H. Zell, CC-BY-SA-3.0 H. Zell, CC-BY-SA-3.0
LEAF: Leaves are alternate or opposite, 3 inches (7.5cm) HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: It’s best to harvest
long and 2 inches (5cm) wide. They are oval with smooth when the plant is in full bloom, in early to midsum-
or finely serrated edges. The upper leaf surface is me- mer. The leaves can be picked individually and dried
dium to dark green and somewhat rough with tiny stiff in single layers in the shade. Keep in an airtight con-
hairs. The leaf’s underside is pale green and hairier than tainer in a dry, dark place. Red Root is a good substi-
the upper surface. tute for black tea, although non-caffeinated. It has a

EDIBLE PARTS: leaves refreshing wintergreen flavor.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The root and root bark have NEW JERSEY TEA: For each cup of boiling water, add
many medicinal uses, including stimulating the lym- 2 tbsp. fresh leaves or 1 tsp. dry leaves. Steep for 10
phatic system. min. and strain. Enjoy.

Rose Root/Golden Root,
Rhodiola rosea (CRASSULACEAE)

ROSE ROOT/GOLDEN ROOT or Arctic Root is a suc-
culent usually found growing in mountain rock crevic-
es, on sea cliffs, along stream banks, in snow-bed sites
and in rock shelves; it prefers sandy soil. Plants are
polymorphic with foliage being variant in shape, size
and color. It usually grows 4-15 inches (10-40cm) tall
(though can grow taller), with an abundance of yellow
blossoms bunched at the top of several single shoots
growing from the same scaly, branching rootstock.
FLOWER: Yellow to greenish-yellow flowers measuring Alpsdake, CC-BY-SA-4.0
0.2-0.4 inches (0.5-1cm) across, bloom in the summer
anti-inflammatory. It is used for anxiety, depression,
and have 4 greenish-yellow petals and sepals that are
fatigue, and concentration.
sometimes bright red at their pointy tips. Small, pistil-
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest young, tender
late flowers are 0.14 inches (3.5mm) long and staminate
leaves and shoots in the spring. Eat raw in salads, or
flowers are 0.1 inches (2.5mm) long, and they cluster in
cook like spinach. Leaves can be made into sauerkraut
dense, hemispherical cymes.
and used to flavor vodka. Stems can be cooked like
LEAF: Leaf color and shape varies. They have light green
asparagus. Roots are edible raw, cooked, or pickled.
to silvery-green, fleshy succulent leaves that are waxy,
ROSE ROOT STRESS TEA: Add 1 cup boiling water to
stalkless, ovate, serrated, and alternating in opposite
1 tbsp. chopped root. Cover and steep 12 min. Lon-
pairs along the unbranching stem. Leaves often have a
ger steep times produce more bitter teas.
blue tint. Lower leaves are scale-like.
NOTE: Rhodiola root is a mental stimulant and may
EDIBLE PARTS: young succulent leaves, stems, roots
make it difficult to get to sleep.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Rose root is an adaptogen and
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