Page 164 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Pale Desert-thorn, Lycium

pallidum (SOLANACEAE)

PALE DESERT-THORN or Pale Wolfberry is a spiny, in-
tricately-branched shrub that grows 3-9 ft. (0.9-2.8m),
occurring on flats, rocky slopes, and washes. Young
Stan Shebs, CC-BY-SA-3.0
plants have pale yellow bark, which turns a smooth
dark-reddish brown in older plants.

FLOWER AND FRUIT: Funnel-shaped flowers are yel-
lowish, white, or pale-green with purple veins. Each
flower is formed by a slender tube, 0.5-1 inches (1.3-
2.5cm) long, that flares out into 5 lobes. The plant
blooms from February to June. Its juicy red berries are Stan Shebs, C C-B Y - S A Chris English, CC-BY-SA-3.0
Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0-3.0
ovoid-shaped and 0.4 inches (1cm) long.
made into jams, or cooked into stews. They are simi-
LEAF: Leathery grey-green foliage is simple and alter- lar to goji berries, with a slightly bitter taste.
nate with smooth edges. Measuring 0.4-3 inches (1-
SUPER-WOLF ENERGY BALLS: Finely crush ¾ cup
7.6cm) long, leaf blades are oval to elliptical with point-
almonds and ½ cup walnuts. Grind in ½ cup dried
ed or rounded tips.
desert-thorn berries and ¼ cup chopped dates, 1
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit tsp. vanilla extract, 1 tsp. cinnamon. Add 1 cup dried
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The ground root has been used cherries and 2 tbsp. cacao nibs. Grind until ingredi-
to relieve toothaches. ents are fully mixed. Roll dough into balls.

HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: The plant produces WARNING: While safe to eat, the pale desert-thorn
fruit twice a year: between March and April, and later in belongs to the often-poisonous nightshade family.
August and September. Berries can be eaten raw, dried, Harvest only ripe berries.

Pokeweed (American), Phytolacca
americana (PHYTOLACCACEAE)

AMERICAN POKEWEED is an unpleasant-smelling her-
baceous perennial that grows up to 12 ft. (3.6 m). It grows
in open areas such as meadows and woodland edges.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: White, green, or pink blossoms
hang in elongated cones. Each flower is composed of 5
waxy sepals surrounding a green berry. In autumn, these
mature into cylindrical clusters of glossy purple fruits,
0.2-0.4 inches (0.5-1cm) wide.
LEAF: Simple, lance-shaped leaves are alternate and
emerald green, with a purple tinge in the fall. Growing
between 8-14 inches (20-35cm) long, they have an un-
APPALACHIAN POKE FRY: Boil 2 pots of water. Chop
pleasant acrid odor.
up pokeweed shoots. Add shoots to the small pot.
EDIBLE PARTS: young leaves and shoots (see WARN- Cook for 7 min. Drain water into sink. Empty greens
ING) back into the small pot. Pour boiling water from large
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Pokeweed is being investigat- pot over greens and cook for another 6-7 min. Repeat
ed for its antiviral and antifungal qualities. process 3 more times, boiling, and straining greens
thoroughly. Once greens are cooked, fry in bacon
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Pokeweed must never be
grease. Season with salt, pepper, breadcrumbs.
eaten raw. Because the plant becomes more toxic with
maturity, only harvest young shoots and leaves under WARNING: It is acutely poisonous to humans. Most
1.5 inches (4cm). If shoots bear a purple tint or mark- toxins are in its roots, followed by stems, leaves, and
ings, do not harvest. Leaves must be boiled at least twice, berries. Ingesting these can be fatal. Contact with
for a total of 20-30 min., changing the water in between. broken skin can cause swelling, blisters.
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