Page 65 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods
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Duckweed, Wolffia globosa (ARACEAE)
DUCKWEED is a wetland species that can be found as a thickener, or thrown into a stir-fry. It is also be-
worldwide, but is mostly limited in its North Ameri- ing investigated as a sustainable protein substitute.
can distribution to California, Florida, and Kentucky. DUCKWEED GRANOLA BAR RECIPE: 2 tbsp. each of
It is the smallest flowering plant in the world, and dried duckweed, honey or maple syrup, and peanut
floats on the surface of still or very slow-moving wa- butter; ½ cup each of oats and chopped almonds. Toast
ter bodies. Its vigorous reproduction means it can the oats in the oven for 10 min. on high, then mix in the
form delicate mats that look like meal floating on the remaining ingredients. Line a tray with plastic food
surface of the water, hence its other common name, wrap, and spread the mixture out evenly, making sure
Asian Watermeal. to press it down firmly so that the granola bars don’t
LEAF AND FLOWER: The entire plant is contained crumble. Place it in the fridge for 20 min., flip it onto
within a tiny, green, oval-shaped sack, about the size a chopping board, and slice into pieces for serving.
of a pinhead. It has no roots, but sometimes can have WARNING: Duckweed has been shown to accumulate
minute hairs on the margin of the sacks. Inside the heavy metals and chemicals, so be sure to only harvest
sack is a single stamen and pistil (reproductive or-
from clean water sources.
gans), which reproduce clones asexually. In temper-
POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Toxic cyanobacteria can
ate areas, the clones sink to the bottom of the wa-
be mistaken for duckweed, since it too grows in still
ter body and then float again the following spring.
or very slow-moving water. It is commonly known as
EDIBLE PARTS: whole plant blue-green algae and can form a blue-green colored
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: The high amount of scum on the surface of the water, particularly in sum-
calcium oxalate crystals means that duckweed should mer. It is impossible to see individual cyanobacteria
always either be cooked or dried before eating. Once with the naked eye, unlike duckweed, and blue-green
dried, it can be used to make bread, added to soups algae produces a slimy green film.
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