Page 76 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Hedgenettle (Common), Betonica/

Stachys officinalis (LAMIACEAE)

BETONY, Common Hedgenettle, Bishopwort, or Wood
Betony, previously known as Stachys officinalis, is found
in dry grasslands, meadows, and open woods. It grows
to 1-2 ft. (0.3-0.6 m) tall. It is square stemmed and mat
forming, and the roots are light in color, thick, woody,
and easy to dig. The plant is covered in fine hairs.
FLOWER: Blooming July to September, seeds ripen from
July to October. The white, pink, or purple, ½ inch (1.5
cm) flowers are two-lipped and arranged in dense rings
that form short 2- to 4-inch (5-10 cm) spikes. Fertile
flowers are followed by four brown, smooth three-cor-
blood pressure, pain, and digestion.
nered nutlets.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Tea can be made from
LEAF: From a rosette at the base of the plant, leaves are
the upper plant, collected when in flower or just be-
2-10 inches (5-25 cm) long and grow in opposite pairs
fore blooming and dried for later use. Tea is aromatic
sparsely up the stem. They are heart-shaped at the base,
with a slight vanilla scent.
narrowly oval, with a wrinkly texture and toothed mar-
WOOD BETONY TEA: Use 1-2 tsp. of washed, dried
gins.
leaves and steep for 10-15 min. in one cup of boiling

EDIBLE PARTS: flowering tops, shoots, and leaves (for tea) water. Enjoy this relaxing tea before bed, or to settle
KEY MEDICINAL USES: May help arthritis, anxiety, high nerves.

Hops, Humulus lupulus
(CANNABACEAE)

HOPS is a perennial vine that grows up to 30 ft. (9 m)
long. The stems are prickly and bristly, and light green
or tan. It grows in disturbed areas, climbing structures
and other vegetation. Hops are grown primarily for fla-
voring and preserving beer. There are both male and
female plants, each with different blooms.
FLOWER: Male plants produce drooping panicles of
flowers in summer that are 12 inches (30 cm) long and
6 inches (15 cm) wide. These contain numerous small
yellow or whitish green flowers that are star-like and ¼ Rasbak, CC-BY-SA-3.0
inch (0.6 cm) across. Female plants produce cone-like
modic, antibacterial, and calming properties.
spikes of flowers in summer that are 3 inches (7.5 cm)
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Young leaves can be
long and 2 inches (5 cm) wide. They are oval and are
eaten raw in salads, or cooked as vegetables along-
made of overlapping green, oval bracts. This becomes
side young shoots. Pick leaves and shoots before the
a dry fruit in autumn that eventually turns brown and
end of May. The flower cones can be used for tea or
contains the seed. The flowers smell like pine.
for flavoring dishes, baked goods, or for brewing beer.
LEAF: Lobed palmate leaves are opposite with a rough
HOP TEA: Gather flower cones when still green and
texture and coarse serrated edges. They are medium
use 3-4 cones for each cup of water. Boil for 10 min.
green to yellowish on top and whitish green and hairy
Drink tea as is or add other herbal teas such as cham-
underneath. They grow 6 inches (15 cm) long and 4
omile or peppermint.
inches (10 cm) wide with 3 to 5 lobes.

WARNING: May cause dermatitis when handling.
EDIBLE PARTS: fruit, flowers, leaves, and young shoots
Avoid during pregnancy and when suffering breast,
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Hops has antiseptic, antispas- uterine, and cervical cancers. Toxic to dogs.
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