Page 179 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Black Locust, Robinia

pseudoacacia (FABACEAE)

BLACK LOCUST or False Acacia is a suckering decidu-
ous tree that can grow 70-90 ft. (21-27m) high with a di-
ameter of 1-2.5 ft. (0.3-0.8m). Branches of mature trees
are armed with 1 inch (2.5cm) long paired spines. The
bark becomes dark grey and deeply furrowed with age.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: In April-June, white flowers blos-
som on dangling racemes of about 6 inches (15cm) long.
Flowers are under 0.8 inches (2cm) across and butter-
fly-like. They mature into flattened reddish pods, 6-12
inches (15-30cm) long, containing 4-8 hard seeds. Matt Lavin, CC-BY-SA-2.0
LEAF: Dark green leaves are alternate and pinnate- them while you can. Seeds are edible cooked (boiling
ly compound with 7-21 oval leaflets on a central stalk works well), as are very young seedpods.
measuring 6-12 inches (15-30cm) long. Each leaflet is
BLACK LOCUST FLOWER PANCAKES: Ingredients:
1.5-2 inches (4-5cm).
3.5 oz. (100g) flour, 2.8 oz. (80g) sugar, 15 clusters of
EDIBLE PARTS: flowers, seeds, very young seedpods black locust flowers, ¼ cup sparkling water, 1 knob
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Bark is emetic and purgative. of butter, 3 eggs. Pick out the flowers from the clus-
Flowers have antispasmodic properties and are used ters. In a bowl, combine flour, eggs, water, sugar, and
for coughs and rheumatism. flowers. Melt butter on a skillet and ladle on batter.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Flowers can be used to Cook on both sides until golden.
make fritters, jams, pancakes, salads, soups, and syrup. WARNING: Leaves, seeds, roots, and bark of this
Their flavor is a cross between vanilla and sweet pea. plant are poisonous. The strong smell of the flowers
The blossoms persist for only about 2 weeks, so harvest may cause headaches and nausea in some people.

Box Elder, Acer
negundo (SAPINDACEAE)

BOX ELDER or Ash-leaf Maple typically reaches 40-70
ft. (12-20m) with an irregular spreading crown. While it
may develop a single grey-brown trunk, 2-3 ft. (0.6-1m)
wide, in forested areas, box elder is sometimes multi-
stemmed and shrub-like in open environments.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: Male and female flowers are pale
yellow and occur on separate trees. Male flowers, about
1-1.5 inches (2.5-4cm) across, are borne in dense hairy
cymes. Female flowers are smaller and dangle from
slender racemes.
LEAF: Bright green leaves are deciduous, opposite, and a hole into the sun-facing side of the trunk 2 inch-
pinnately compound with 3-5 ovate leaflets. The central es deep and about 3 ft. (1m) from the ground. Using
stalk is 6-14 inches (15-35cm) long, while the leaflets a mallet, insert a spout or “spile”. Place a clean con-
are 2-4 inches (5-10cm) in length with pale undersides tainer underneath to collect the sap.
and either coarsely toothed or entire edges.
BOX ELDER SYRUP: 40 pints sap produce 1-pint syr-
EDIBLE PARTS: sap up. Pour sap into a heavy-duty pot and boil to reduce
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The inner bark is an emetic. to a thick syrup. Keep the temperature at 219-222°F
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Sap can be consumed (104-106°C).
fresh or boiled into syrup. Tree-tapping time is general- POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Box elder seedlings re-
ly early January until the arrival of the first leaves. Drill semble Poison Ivy, Toxicodendron radicans.

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