Page 63 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Desert Horse-Purslane, Trianthema

portulacastrum (AIZOACEAE)

DESERT HORSE-PURSLANE is found in moist areas,
either irrigated or after a heavy rainfall, waste places,
and roadsides. As a desert plant, it is succulent, mean-
ing its fleshy growing parts store water. It is an annual
herb that grows close to the ground with stems up to 3
ft. (1 m) in length. It is an important medicinal plant in
Ayurvedic medicine.
FLOWER: Small, ¼ inch (0.5 cm), single, pink to purple
flowers are produced in summer at the leaf axils, which
develop into seeds that are cylindrical, curved capsules. Rison Thumboor, CC-BY-SA-2.0 Mike, CC-BY-SA-3.0
LEAF: Leaves are small, ½-1 inch (1-2 cm) long, round to to stir fries.
oval, growing paired and opposite along the stems. They
STIR FRY WITH DESERT-HORSE PURSLANE: Gath-
are shiny green to red, unequal in size, and born on short
er young leaves and rinse. You’ll need garlic, ginger,
stems.
soy sauce, honey, cabbage, carrots, and your favorite
EDIBLE PARTS: young leaves stir fry vegetables. Dice garlic and ginger, fry in a bit
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Extract of the plant has antioxi- of oil, and add soy sauce and honey. Add long cooking
dant, diuretic, analgesic, anticarcinogenic, and liver pro- vegetables first, followed by fast cooking vegetables.
tecting components. At the final cooking stage, throw in the Desert-Horse
Purslane.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Significantly nutri-
tious, young leaves, picked from the tips of plants be- WARNING: Mature leaves may cause diarrhea.
fore flowering, can be lightly cooked to add a tart flavor

Dwarf Ginseng, Panax

trifolius (ARALIACEAE)

DWARF GINSENG is found in Eastern North America,
from southern Canada and throughout eastern US
states. It is an herbaceous perennial found in spring,
that grows on underground rhizomes, in moist, rich, de-
ciduous forests. Its leaves are above ground for only two
months of the year. It is 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) in height.
FLOWER: Flowers are white and can be seen from April
to June. They are tiny, ⅛ inch (3 mm) in size, 5 petalled,
and grow in small, ¾ inch (2 cm), spherical clusters, 1 to
3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) above the leaves. Jomegat, CC-BY-SA-3.0 Doug McGrady, CC-BY-SA-2.0

LEAF: Leaves have 3-5 leaflets, each ¾-1½ inch (2-4 Dig roots after plant has flowered to enable seed
cm) long, growing in whorls of 3 up the slender stems distribution. Bury or replant some roots in nearby
on light green, hairless ¾-2 inch (2-5 cm) leaf stalks. areas, to increase the number of plants in the area.
EDIBLE PARTS: roots
DWARF GINSENG SNACKS: Gather 1 to 2 cups of
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Root may be analgesic and can roots. Wash thoroughly, and boil in salted water for
be chewed to relieve headache and shortness of breath. 10 min. Drain and cool. Season to taste. Add to your
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Roots can be boiled and favorite trail mix or eat on its own.
eaten. They are said to taste like nuts when cooled.

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