Page 49 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Cat’s Ear, Hypochaeris
radicata (ASTERACEAE)

CAT’S EAR is an introduced species of perennial, her-
baceous plant, also known as False Dandelion and
Flatweed. It can be found in western and eastern USA
and Canada, in lawns and weedy sites.
FLOWER: Bright yellow dandelion-like flowerheads
are born on solid, sometimes forked stems, which have
a milky sap. Flowers are 1-1.5 inches (2.5-3.5 cm) in
size and become wind-born seed with little parachutes.
LEAF: Like dandelion, its leaves form a basal rosette and
a long taproot. Leaves can be up to 8 inches (20 cm) long,
hairy, narrower at the base, becoming wider and deeply ter as dandelion leaves. Roots are best harvested af-
lobed. They are green when young and turn yellow with ter flowering and can be used as a coffee substitute.
age or drought.

CAT’S EAR COFFEE: Gather roots and wash well.
EDIBLE PARTS: all plant parts (leaves and roots are
Chop into small pieces and let dry in the sun for an
used most) afternoon or overnight. Roast in a dry cast iron pan
KEY MEDICINAL USES: May help digestion, blood sugar over fire for 1-4 hrs. Pulverize, ground, or finely chop
levels, and may be detoxifying. roasted root pieces. Steep 1 tbsp. of roasted roots in 1
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: A bit bland, leaves make to 2 cups of boiling water, sieve into drinking cup, and
a nice addition to salads and steamed spring greens. Us- sweeten as desired. Enjoy as a caffeine-free morning
ing sharp scissors, harvest undamaged healthy plants beverage.
that grow in moist condition in full sun. Plunge in cold WARNING: Cat’s ear may be toxic to horses if con-
saltwater bath to improve flavor. Leaves are not as bit- sumed in large quantities.

Catnip, Nepeta cataria (LAMIACEAE)

CATNIP is an introduced herbaceous short-lived peren-
nial, dying back to the ground in winter. It is covered in
blooms, bees, and butterflies from late spring through
to autumn and grows up to 40 inches (1 m) tall and
wide. Naturalized throughout the US, it can be found in
forests, meadows, and fields.
FLOWER: Blooms throughout the summer with tiny, ¼
inch (0.5 cm) tubular, white to pale purple, spotted flow-
ers in densely crowded whorls on 2 to 4-inch (5-10 cm)
spikes at the branch tips.
Franz Xaver, CC-BY-SA-3.0
LEAF: Leaves are simple, up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long,
opposite, coarse-toothed, triangular to oval, gray green picked just as flowers begin to open. Plunge in cold
with downy undersides and pointed tips. salted water to wash. These can be cooked into dish-
EDIBLE PARTS: leaves, flowers es or used for tea.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Catnip helps reduce stress and CATNIP TEA: Steep 1 tsp. of fresh leaves in 1 cup of
anxiety. boiling water for 10 min. Enjoy.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Young leaves are harvest- WARNING: Large quantities may cause vomiting and
ed before clusters form and can be added to salads to headache in humans.
add a subtle mint flavor. Older leaves and flowers are

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