Page 41 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Black Medick, Medicago lupulina

(FABACEAE)

BLACK MEDICK, Hop Clover or Yellow Trefoil, grows
along the ground to 2 ½ ft. (0.7 m) in size. Often found
in disturbed areas, it is a nitrogen fixing plant.
FLOWER: Tight ½ inch (1.2 cm) bunches of 10-50
small pea-like yellow flowers arise from leaf axils and
become clusters of single-seeded pods that turn hard
and black when ripe, encasing one amber-colored seed.

LEAF: Three compound leaflets form 1¼ inch (3 cm)
leaves. Teardrop-shaped, leaflets are toothed and often
hairy. Each leaflet has a small point or spur at the tip.
EDIBLE PARTS: leaves, seeds, sprouts mince 1 onion and 1 clove garlic, and seasoning.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Black Medick is an antibacterial Sauté onion and garlic. Lightly toast quinoa for 5-10
and a gentle laxative. min. Add 2 cups of water, bring to a boil, reduce heat,
simmer covered for 25 min. At the last cooking stage,
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Leaves can be harvest-
when quinoa is still steaming, add the lentils and the
ed year-round and are best cooked, as bitter when raw.
black medick leaves. Replace lid and let it steam for
Seeds are best harvested when black and dry by win-
10 min. more. Fold steamed lentils and leaves into
nowing them off the plant into a bag or bowl; best eaten
quinoa. Season to taste. Serve warm.
toasted or ground into flour. Sprouts can be made like
alfalfa sprouts. WARNING: Plants can absorb nutrients and toxins
from the soil and can accumulate heavy metals. Har-
LENTIL, QUINOA, AND GREENS: Gather 1 can lentils,
vest from uncontaminated sites only.
1 cup each of quinoa and young black medick leaves,
Bladder Campion, Silene

vulgaris (CARYOPHYLLACEAE)

BLADDER CAMPION is a common wildflower across
North America found in meadows, fields, and open
woods. This herbaceous perennial grows up to 2 ft. (0.6
m) tall. Its swollen calyx is its most recognizable fea-
ture, hence the name “bladder” campion.
FLOWER: Upper stems terminate in large panicles of
numerous, 1 inch (2.5 cm) white flowers with five, deep-
ly clefted petals, ¾ inch (1.5 cm) across. These emerge
from a swollen, oval bladder-like calyx, green to dull pink
in color, that enclose the seedpod of grey, kidney-shaped
seeds, 0.06 inch (1.5 mm) in size.
2 cups each of young shoots and leaves of bladder
LEAF: Leaves are 2½ inches (6 cm) long, lanceolate, pale campion and young raw spring vegetables (baby
green to grey, and often clasp the stem.
carrots, radishes, sprouts), ½ cup seeds (sunflower
EDIBLE PARTS: young shoots, leaves, mature leaves or pumpkin seeds). For the dressing combine ¼ cup
KEY MEDICINAL USES: A root decoction may help in apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp. honey, ¼ tsp. powdered
case of poisoning and against constipation. mustard, ½ cup olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix dress-
ing ingredients. Mix salad vegetables together and
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Young shoots and leaves
toss in the dressing. You can add some dried fruit, or
can be eaten raw or cooked. Mature leaves should be
cubed cheese.
harvested before the plant is in flower and cooked like
spinach; are a great addition to rice or pasta dishes. WARNING: It contains saponins (some people are
sensitive to it) but cooking breaks these down.
BLADDER CAMPION SPRING SALAD: Clean and rinse
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