Page 199 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Sassafras, Sassafras

albidum (LAURACEAE)

SASSAFRAS grows 10-50 ft. (3-15m) tall and has a trunk
diameter of 1 ft. (0.3m) and reddish-brown bark that
releases a spicy fragrance when crushed. It occurs in
James Steakley, CC-BY-SA-3.0
woodland edges, disturbed sites, and bottomlands.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: Clusters of small yellow flowers
emerge in April-May, before the leaves. Fruits are small
inky-blue drupes on reddish stalks. Measuring 0.4-0.6
inches (1-1.5cm) long, they are fleshy, egg-shaped, and
1-seeded. The base of each drupe is borne in a red cup.
LEAF: Aromatic leaves range from 3-9 inches (7-23cm) Judy Gallagher, CC-BY-2.0 Randy Everette, CC-BY-SA-3.0
long and are highly variable. A single tree may have up ROOT BEER (NON-FERMENTED): Ingredients: 10
to 3 different leaf shapes: ovate, 2-lobed (resembling a
cups water, ¼ cup sassafras root bark, 3 tbsp. sarsa-
mitten), and 3-lobed.
parilla root, 1 tbsp. ginger, 1 tbsp. licorice root, 2 tsp.
EDIBLE PARTS: young roots, leaves dandelion root, 2 tsp. birch bark, ¾ cup sugar. Add
KEY MEDICINAL USES: This plant is antiseptic, diuret- water, ginger, licorice, dandelion, and birch to a pot.
ic, diaphoretic, and a vasodilator. Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-low for 30
min. Add sassafras and simmer for 15 min. Remove
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Roots can be harvest-
from heat and dissolve in sugar.
ed year-round and boiled for tea. Dried root bark can
be ground into a rub for meats. Dried young leaves can WARNING: This plant contains safrole, a carcino-
be pulverized to make a thickening powder for gumbo, gen, and potential liver-toxin. The essential oil has
soups, and gravies. been banned as a food flavoring by the FDA.

Saw Palmetto, Serenoa
repens (ARECACEAE)

SAW PALMETTO is a shrubby, low-growing palm that
forms dense thickets. It is in leaf all year-round, often
with several creeping, horizontal stems, and an overall
David Stang, CC-BY-SA-4.0
height of 3-7 ft. (1-2 m). Occasionally, it grows upright to
25 ft. (8m) tall.
FLOWER AND FRUIT: In late spring, numerous creamy-
white flowers grow on stalked, plume-like spadices to 2
ft. (60cm) long. Each flower is 0.2 inches (0.5cm) across.
Fruit is, olive-shaped, single-seeded, and 1 inch (2.5cm)
long. Green when immature, it ripens from amber to Jacopo Werther, CC-BY-SA-2.0 Jim Duggan, CC-BY-2.0
bluish-black between August and October.
cylinder of tender new growth. Hearts are delicious
LEAF: Rigid, dagger-like leaflets radiate from a central in salads and can be cooked as a vegetable. The pun-
point to form a distinct fan shape 1-3 ft. (30-90cm) wide. gent fruits are edible raw or cooked.
Leaf-stalks can grow to 5 ft. (1.5m) long.
PAN-SEARED PALM HEARTS: Ingredients: 14 oz.
EDIBLE PARTS: palm heart, fruit (400g) palm hearts (cut into ½ inch rounds), 1 tbsp.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Fruit is expectorant, diuretic, oil, ½ tsp. cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp. pepper, ¼ tsp. salt.
and antiseptic. They are often used for prostate issues Heat oil in pan. Rub palm hearts with seasoning.
and to increase libido. Cook for 2 min. on both sides until golden brown.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: The palm-heart is locat- WARNING: Do not consume if pregnant, lactating, or
ed at the tip of the palmetto’s trunk. To harvest them, taking hormonal medication. This plant can poten-
you’ll need protective gloves and a sharp tool. Remove tially increase blood-pressure. Stop using 2 weeks
leaves, then hack into the stem to retrieve the dense prior to any surgery.
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