Page 118 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Sweet Alyssum, Lobularia

maritima (BRASSICACEAE)

SWEET ALYSSUM, also known as Sweet Alison, Snow
Princess and Snow Crystals, can be an annual or a pe-
rennial, depending on winter conditions. It can be found
growing on sandy beaches and dunes of the coastal Pa-
cific states, and in gardens. Plants can reach 6-12 inches
(15-30cm) in height and have a 10-12 inches (25-30cm)
spread.
FLOWER: Sweet Alyssum flowers can be white, pink,
purple, red, or yellow, and bloom spring through sum-
mer clustered in small, dense racemes. Flowers can be
so profuse that they block out the foliage completely.
and diuretic.
Individual flowers are 0.2 inches (5mm) in diameter,
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Young flowers and
with 4 round, tiny petals arranged like a cross. Dry, oval
leaves can be used to add flavor to salads.
seedpods ripen July to October. Each pod splits when
ripe and contains a single brown to yellowish, oval seed. CANDIED SWEET ALYSSUM FLOWERS: Beat one
egg white just before it becomes frothy, add 1 tsp.
LEAF: Gray-green, narrow leaves grow up to 0.12-0.20
powdered sugar and continue beating until frothy.
inches (3-5mm) long and 0.04-0.16 inches (1-4mm)
Gently paint flowers with egg whites and dust with
wide. They are alternate, linear, and smooth-margined.
finely ground sugar crystals. Dry flowers in an oven
EDIBLE PARTS: petals, leaves, and stems (Do not eat
set to 150°F (65°C) for a couple of hours, until all the
seeds.)
water is driven off. Top a desert, or store in an air-
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Sweet Alyssum is astringent tight jar for up to a year.

Sweet Flag, Acorus
calamus (ACORACEAE)

SWEET FLAG, also known as Calamus, is an aquatic her-
baceous perennial found in wetlands. It is single veined,
grows up to 6 ft. (2m) tall, and looks like a member of
the Iris family. It has spreading, stout, rhizomes.

FLOWER: Blooming in late spring or early summer, a
2–4-inch (5-10 m) spadix emerges from one side of the
upright stalks, resembling a small corncob that is packed
with small, 6-parted, yellowish-green flowers that make
a diamond pattern.

LEAF: Erect, sword-shaped, 1 inch (2.5cm) wide; resem-
ble iris but is greener, flattened on one side and smooth flowering. Roots are more flavorful unpeeled, can be
along the margins. Margins can be slightly red. eaten raw or cooked, and make a great ginger or cin-
EDIBLE PARTS: young, partially grown flowers, young namon substitute. Young leaves are good cooked.
stalks, roots SWEET FLAG CHEW: With a sharp knife, cut a small
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The rhizome may help nausea, piece of new growth of stalk, trim off exterior tough
heartburn, colds, and anxiety. leaves, and chew a small piece to freshen your breath.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: New shoots and flower WARNING: There are reports of people having nau-
stems can be cut in early spring. Flower stems and in- sea and vomiting after consuming sweet flag, so best
ner stalks are sweet and can be eaten raw. Roots are in to keep to small amounts of this strong, spicy plant.
the mud and can be dug early in the spring, before flow- POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Wild Iris, Iris versicolor,
er stems appear, or in late fall, when plant has finished and Yellow Water Iris, Iris psuedacorus

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