Page 151 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Fendler’s Ceanothus, Ceanothus

fendleri (RHAMNACEAE)

FENDLER’S CEANOTHUS, Fendler’s Buckbrush or Deer-
briar is a deciduous thorny shrub that grows to 6.5 ft
(2m) tall. Branches are greenish-brown to grey and
covered in thorns, which can grow up to 2 inches (5cm)
long. Not all Ceanothus fruits are edible, so make sure
you have the correct species.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: White, light green, or pale pink
flowers blossom in June-August. Flowers are shaped
like slender tubes and grow in elongated clusters. In Au-
gust-October, red, pink, or brown fruit ripen. They are Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0 Ed Ogle, CC-BY-ND-2.0
0.2 inches (0.5cm) across, and almost triangular, with 3
as they ripen, in August-October. While edible raw,
glossy lobes.
their astringent flavor is not very inviting. However,
LEAF: Foliage is silvery-green, alternate, and velvety.
once dried and sweetened, the berries make a good
Leaf blades are ovate and 1.2 inches (3cm) long, with 3
snack. Leaves can be dried and used as a tea and are
prominent veins on the upper surface and whitish un- best harvested in early summer when flowers are in
dersides. While the leaf edges are smooth, the tips of full bloom. Take care to avoid the sharp thorns when
leaves can sometimes be toothed.
harvesting.
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit, leaves (tea)
FENDLER’S HOT CHOCOLATE ENERGY BALLS:
KEY MEDICINAL USES: A natural sedative, infusions of Mash together finely chopped berries, crushed al-
the leaves have been used to quell anxiety. Leaves can be monds and cashews, cocoa powder, chili powder, cin-
chewed for sore mouths. namon, cayenne pepper, and vanilla extract. Once all
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Berries can be harvested is well blended, roll into balls. Refrigerate.

Giant Reed, Arundo donax (POACEAE)

GIANT REED, Elephant grass or Wild cane can grow up
to 25 ft. (8m), with a diameter of 0.4-1.6 inches (1-4cm),
and is topped with a feathery panicle. Its canes are hol-
low and partitioned into sections at the nodes, giving
the reed a bamboo-like appearance.
FLOWER: In March-September, a crest-like panicle will
emerge from the reed’s tip, growing up 1-2 ft. (0.3-0.6m)
long. The panicle is formed from several spikelets, each
bearing numerous 0.5 inches (1.2cm) long florets. These
may have a light green or tawny hue.
LEAF: 2-3 ft. (0.7m) long grey-green leaves are two-
ranked, alternating in parallel files on opposite sides of
a knife. The white rhizome flesh can be boiled, baked,
the stem. Foliage turns brown in the autumn.
or dried and ground into flour. Young shoots and
EDIBLE PARTS: roots, leaves, young shoots leaves, harvested in the spring, are great cooked veg-
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Due to their diuretic and dia- etables.
phoretic (sweat-producing) properties, rhizomes are ARUNDO SOUP: Scrape 1 lb. (500g) Arundo rhizomes
used for edema (oedema). with a paring knife. Wash and chop into pieces along
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Underground rhizomes with onions and garlic. In a pot, sauté onions and gar-
are edible raw or cooked and can be harvested at any lic. Add root chunks and sauté until tender. Add 4-8
time of year, but taste better when young and tender cups water, cover, and cook over for 30 min. Mash in-
in spring and early summer. Use a shovel to dig up the gredients together until smooth. Add finely chopped
rhizomes beneath the base of the stem. Peel bark with Arundo greens and shoots. Cook until tender. Season.
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