Page 74 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Greater Stitchwort, Rabelera
holostea (CARYOPHYLLACEAE)

GREATER STITCHWORT, Starwort, or Addersmeat is
found in woods, gardens, field edges, and waste ground.
It is a perennial herb that grows 8 to 12 inches (20-30
cm) tall on brittle, smooth, glossy stems. It is often hard
to differentiate from grass, until it is in bloom.

FLOWER: Flowers appear in late March to the end of
June and are typically 1-1.5 inch (2-3cm) in diameter.
They have 5 white, deeply notched petals, that can be
mistaken for 10 petals.
LEAF: The grey-green leaves are opposite, stalkless, and
8 to 12 inches (20-30 cm) long, spreading in 3 to 8 pairs, picked before or just as they open and added to salads.
narrow and pointed. MARINATED SPRING SALAD: Collect baby greens

EDIBLE PARTS: flowers, flower buds, and green shoots of lettuce, spinach, chards, and kales for the base of
this spring salad. For the marinade, mix 1 tsp. each
KEY MEDICINAL USES: May have cooling, anti-inflam-
of fresh herbs of mint, thyme, and oregano with ol-
matory properties.
ive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Use ½ cup each of
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Choose healthy new frozen (thawed) corn, peas, and asparagus tips. Dress
shoots and cut at ground level, early in the spring. Tasting with marinade. Let stand at least 1 h. Arrange baby
like a grassy lettuce, the shoots can be chopped into sal- greens on plates. Place marinated vegetables on top.
ads, steamed, or quickly boiled. Flowers and buds can be Decorate with stitchwort flowers.

Greenthread, Thelesperma
megapotamicum (ASTERACEAE)

GREENTHREAD, also called Wild Tea, Hopi Tea, Nava-
jo Tea, and Cota, grows 12-36 inches (0.3-1 m) tall and
is recognizable by its thin but sturdy, upward growing
stems, that are topped with a single flowerhead. It is a
perennial herb that produces slender branches.
FLOWER: Flowerheads are about ½ inch (1.3cm) in di-
ameter, yellow, and consist of up to 100 disc florets. Be-
neath the florets is a grayish-green bract, which is fused
and cup-like.
LEAF: The opposite leaves are widely-spaced up to 4 JerryFriedman, CC-BY-SA-3.0
inches (10cm) along the stem. They are compound and
continue their lifecycle. Rinse and dry outside for 1-2
pinnate, and divided into a small number of narrow
days. Once dried, they can be chopped and stored for
threadlike lobes that measure 1-1½ inch (2.5-3.5cm).
later use. The aerial parts can be boiled and used as
EDIBLE PARTS: flowers, leaves, stems tea.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: : May treat a wide variety of is- TRADITIONAL TEA: Tea can be prepared the tradi-
sues, from digestive problems to cancer. tional way by placing the flowers, leaves, and stems
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: It is traditionally har- in glass containers, which are then filled with water.
vested in fall, once it has gone to seed, by pulling the Let the tea steep in the sun until the water is a nice
entire plant by its stem, while keeping the roots intact. rusty red color. Enjoy this flavorful traditional tea hot
Then, shake the plant upside down so that the seeds will or cold.

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