Page 122 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
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Twisted Stalk/Watermelon Berry,
Streptopus amplexifolius (LILIACEAE)
TWISTED STALK/WATERMELON BERRY grows up KEY MEDICINAL USES: Traditionally the whole plant,
to 3 ft. (1m) tall and about 1 ft. (0.3m) wide. It can be including roots and berries, was brewed into a tea or
found in moist habitats, except for coastal areas, and decoction to ease stomach pain, increase appetite and
it prefers part-shade. for kidney problems.
FLOWER: A single flower hangs vertically from a HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Berries are ready to
long, slender stem from underneath the point where harvest when they turn red and taste like a mixture of
the leaf joins the stalk. This flower stem is 1-2 inch- watermelon and cucumber. Eat in moderation raw or
es (2.5-5cm) in length and can often have a twist in cooked. Fresh, young shoots can be harvested in early
it like a pig’s tail. Each flower is ½ inch (13mm) long spring and eaten raw in salads or cooked. Roots can
and has 6 narrow petals that are fused at the base and be eaten raw.
curl back at the tips, giving the flower a bell-shaped TWISTED STALK BERRY MUESLI AND YOGURT
appearance. The color of the flower gradually changes RECIPE: Ingredients: 2 tbsp. each of twisted stalk ber-
from light green at the fused base, to cream or white ries, diced apple, and diced pear; ½ cup of muesli; 3
at the curled tips. A single berry up to ½ inch (15mm) tbsp. oatmeal; 2 tbsp. crushed unsalted nuts; ¼ cup
long eventually replaces each flower. Berries turn red natural Greek yogurt. Combine everything in a bowl
and are plump when mature. and enjoy.
LEAF: Leaves are alternately arranged up the stalk, WARNING: Eating more than a handful of berries and
which is slightly bent or kinked where the leaf joins young leaves can cause a laxative effect.
the stalk. The common name comes from the fact that POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: False Hellebore, Vera-
each leaf wraps or ‘twists’ slightly around the stalk.
trum spp. - In the early stages, twisted stalk has leaves
Leaves can grow over ½ inch (1.3cm) in length and
that look identical to Veratrum’s leaves. Once the flow-
have a wavy or curled appearance.
ers start to develop, they are easy to distinguish since
EDIBLE PARTS: young leaves, stems, roots, and ber- Veratrum species have erect flower spikes that hold
ries in moderation numerous flowers.
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