Page 114 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Sowthistle (Common), Sonchus

oleraceus (ASTERACEAE)

SOWTHISTLE grows 12-40 inches (30-100 m) high and
is related to dandelions. It can be found growing in most
soil conditions in sunny, often disturbed sites. It grows
Harry Rose, CC-BY-2.0 re
from a short taproot and a milky latex flows from bro-
ken stems. This and other plants of the Sonchus family
are nutritious and edible.
FLOWER: Bright yellow ray florets, less one inch (2.5cm)
in size, rise above the plant on branched stems. Seeds
form little parachutes to travel on the wind.
LEAF: Young leaves form a rosette of round, slightly Santhaladevi, CC-BY-SA-4.0
toothed bright green leaves, maturing to thin, soft, dark Plunge in cold salted water before serving for best
green leaves that are 8 inches (20cm) long, 2 ½ inches flavor. They are a delicious spring green and can be
(6cm) wide, and irregularly toothed margins with small, added to salads,and used like spinach. Roots can be
soft spines. cooked or roasted and used as a coffee substitute.
EDIBLE PARTS: leaves, stems, and roots SAUTÉED SPRING GREENS: Gather young 2- 4 inch-
KEY MEDICINAL USES: It may help liver issues, skin is- es (5-10cm) leaves and gently rinse any debris. In a
sues, and may have anticancer properties. sauté pan, melt butter and toss greens in. Place lid
and wait 5 min. Stir and season to taste.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Young leaves are best
harvested in early spring in the first part of the day.

Spiny Wood Fern, Dryopteris
expansa (DRYOPTERIDACEAE)

SPINY WOOD FERN, Northern Buckler Fern, Alpine
Buckler Fern, or Spreading Wood Fern is a deciduous
fern species that can be found growing in moist soils
of cool, light-shade in mixed evergreen forests along
stream banks, on rotting logs, and on tree stumps.
Green, lacy fronds typically grow 2-3 ft. (0.6-1m) tall on
stout, woody stems. Ferns spread 1-2 ft. (0.3-0.6m) in
asymmetrical clumps, by erect or branching rhizome.
SPORES: Brownish, circular sori are located on leaflet
undersides, arranged in rows on either side of the center Andrea Moro, CC-BY-SA-3.0
vein. Sori are partly covered by a translucent indusium
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Roots are best when
attached to the inner curve.
harvested in early autumn. Rhizomes are surrounded
FRONDS: Wide, lanceolate fronds grow on woody, by finger-like projections and should not be eaten if
creeping or erect stems with brown scales at their base. the scaly projections are flat and dark inside. Roots
Fronds are deltate with bipinnate leaflets at the base are good to eat if the projections are fleshy and light-
and pinnate leaflets at their pointy tips. Lobed leaflets ly colored. They are bitter raw, but develop a sweet
may be divided to the mid-vein. Leaflets are toothed flavor, similar to sweet potatoes when cooked. Peel
with bristle-like tips and they have forked veins. baked root before eating. Shoots should always be
EDIBLE PARTS: roots and young, unfurled shoots cooked.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The root has been used to par- ROASTED SPINY WOOD FERN ROOT: Clean roots,
alyze tapeworms and other parasites, and to treat cuts roast until tender, peel, add butter, and enjoy.
and dandruff.

113