Page 135 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Wood Lily, Lilium

philadelphicum (LILIACEAE)

WOOD LILY, also known as Philadelphia lily, Prairie
Lily, and Western Red Lily, was once common across
prairies, grasslands and open woodlands, but has re-
cently declined due to grazing pressure, habitat loss,
and over-harvesting. It can grow to 3 ft. (1m) tall.

FLOWER: Wood lily blooms from June to early August.
1-4 flowers are held on the single, upright stem 1-2 ft.
(30-60cm) tall. Large, funnel-shaped flowers are orange
or red and have brown or purple spots on the 6 large,
showy petals, which can grow up to 3 inches (8cm) long. Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0 Jason Hollinger, CC-BY-2.0
The flower develops into a club-shaped pod.
down in the cold months. Flowers can be eaten raw,
LEAF: Leaves are arranged in a whorl around a single, or brewed into a tea along with the bulb.
thick stem. They have lance-shaped leaves up to 3 inches
WOOD LILY SOUP: Ingredients: 2 cups of chopped
(8cm) long that die off in winter.
wood lily bulbs; 1 cup each of chopped celery, chick-
EDIBLE PARTS: bulbs, flowers, leaves, and young shoots peas, chopped chives, and chopped mushrooms; 1
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Tea made from the bulb and tbsp. of rosemary, 2 cups chicken broth, 6 cups water.
flowers can ease stomach pain, fever and coughs. Flow- Place all ingredients in a large pot and simmer for 2-3
ers can be ground into a poultice for insect bites. hrs. Add salt, pepper; serve with bread.

HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Bulbs taste starchy like WARNING: Wood lily is highly poisonous to cats.
a potato; are easiest to dig up once the plant has died

Wood Sorrel, Oxalis spp.

(OXALIDACEAE)

WOOD SORREL is in a genus with over 800 species of
low-growing, herbaceous perennials found in moist,
rich, forest soils all over Earth, except for polar biomes.
Height, leaf size and color, and flower size and color all
vary, but they are all colonial, rhizomatous plants that
can carpet an area with their clover-like leaves. Their
flowers all have 5 petals. It’s my kids’ favorite snack
while wondering through the woods.
FLOWER: Oxalis flowers bloom from May-July and origi-
nate on a single peduncle. Redwood Sorrel/Oregon Ox-
alis, O. oregana, flowers measure 1 inch (2.5cm) across.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest leaves and
Petals can be white or pink, with prominent pink veins.
flowers at the base of petioles. Add fresh leaflets
Almond-shaped seeds are housed in hairy, egg-shaped,
to salads. Steep leaves for a refreshing drink. Some
5-chambered seed capsules.
South American species have edible tubers.
LEAF: Leaves are clover-like with 3 heart-shaped leaf-
TROUT STUFFED WITH WOOD SORREL: Stuff
lets that fold along a central crease. 0.5-2 inch (1-4.5cm)
fresh-caught trout with Wood Sorrel leaves, then
long leaflets grow at the tips of petioles. O. oregana pet-
wrap it completely in Skunk Cabbage leaves. Place
ioles can grow 2-8 inches (5-20cm) tall and are covered
near coals until cooked. Unwrap and the Skunk Cab-
in brown hairs. Leaves are green on top and often red-
bage will have retained the trout’s moisture. Salt as
dish-purple on the bottom.
needed. Delicious!
EDIBLE PARTS: leaves (raw or cooked)
WARNING: Oxalis contains oxalic acid. Excessive con-
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Oxalis is used for digestive dis- sumption can inhibit calcium uptake.
orders, wounds, swollen gums, and a source of vitamin C.
134