Page 138 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Yellow Rocket, Barbarea

vulgaris (BRASSICACEAE)

GARDEN YELLOW ROCKET, Winter Cress, Scurvy
Grass, Scurvy Cress, or Bitter Cress thrives in disturbed
soils around construction sites, roadsides, and fields
that are wet or boggy. It is also found along streams
and in wetlands. Plants grow up to 3 ft. (1m) tall.

FLOWER: Flowers bloom in rounded clusters 1-1.5 inch-
es (2.5-4cm) across from April through August at the
apex of single, branching flower stalks. Each flower has
4 yellow petals that form a cross pattern, measuring 0.3
inches (0.8cm) across. Slender, green fruits split when Enrico Blasutt o, C C-B Y - S A
Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0-3.0
ripe, releasing numerous tiny, brown, spherical seeds.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest basal leaves
LEAF: A rosette of basal leaves starts to grow on warm in the late winter, when leaves are mild and add to
late winter days. Dark green, basal leaves are deeply salads or cook like spinach. Leaves are too bitter once
lobed with 1 to 4 small lobe pairs along the stalk and flowers appear. Densely packed flower buds can be
1 larger round lobe at the tip, grow to 6 inches (15cm) boiled and served like broccoli.
long and 2.5 inches (6cm) wide. Leaves on hairless, an-
SAUTÉED YELLOW ROCKET: Boil leaves for 5 min.
gled, flowering stems vary in shape and are much small-
with a water change to decrease bitterness. Sauté
er than basal leaves with little to no stalk.
with chopped garlic and olive oil. Season to taste.
EDIBLE PARTS: leaves and flower buds (cooked)
WARNING: Ingesting too much raw yellow rocket
KEY MEDICINAL USES: It has diuretic and digestive can cause kidney malfunction.
properties.

Yellowcress, Rorippa
palustris (BRASSICACEAE)

YELLOWCRESS, Bog Yellowcress or Yellow Marsh Cress
is native to damp, wet, aquatic habitats. It can be found
in the muddy surroundings of lakes, bogs, marshes,
floodplains, and ditches. The plant varies in appearance,
with erect, deeply ribbed, green to red branching stems
that can grow up to 3 ft. (1m) tall, topped with a raceme
of yellow mustard-like flowers. Yellowcress plants can
be annual, perennial, or biennial.
FLOWER: Flowers cluster at the apex of branches in ra-
cemes 2-8 inches (5-20cm) long, blooming from June to
September. Each individual flower grows on 0.16 inches
EDIBLE PARTS: young leaves, stems, and seedlings
(4mm) long pedicles, and measures 0.04 inches (1mm)
(raw or cooked)
across. 4 tiny, yellow, spoon-shaped petals grow in the
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Leaves are high in vitamin C.
typical Mustard Family cross-pattern. Dry, cylindrical
fruits split when ripe, dispersing 20-90 minute seeds. HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest young basal
LEAF: Basal leaves grow in a rosette up to 7 inches leaves in spring. Prepare and eat like watercress.
(18cm) long, 0.8-2 inches (2-5cm) wide, and can be STEAMED, SAUTÉED YELLOWCRESS: Steam leaves
toothed or deeply lobed. Along the stem, leaves are for 5 min. Quickly sauté with olive oil and garlic. Sea-
alternate, thinner, and less lobed than basal leaves. son to taste, and enjoy.

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