Page 80 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Jewelweed, Impatiens

capensis (BALSAMINACEAE)

JEWELWEED is found in moist woodlands, floodplains,
bogs, roadsides and tolerates disturbed areas. It grows
as a summer annual, 2-5 ft. (60-150 cm) tall, on succu-
lent, semi-translucent, pale green, smooth, round stems.
Stems are weak and fragile and can break easily.

FLOWER: The flowers are orange to reddish in small
clusters of 1 to 3, and form a three-lobed tubular corol-
la with a hooked conical spur at the back of the flower.
They begin blooming in midsummer and continue until
the plant is killed by frost. They are unscented and 1 inch The Cosmonaut, CC-BY-SA-2.5CA
(2.5 cm) long and become 1 inch (2.5 cm) long seed pods
purgative. Harvest stems, young shoots, and leaves
that rapidly eject the seeds.
when young and tender. They must be cooked, boiled
LEAF: Leaves are bluish green, alternate, ovate, and thin in at least one change of water.
textured. They are hairless with low broad teeth. Leaf
JEWELWEED GREEN BEANS: Gather 2 cups young
stalks are up to 2 inches (5 cm), shorter than the leaves
shoots and stems. Trim to 2 inch (5 cm) long pieces
which can be up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) long.
and wash gently. Place in a pot of boiling water for 2
EDIBLE PARTS: flowers, leaves, and young shoots min. Remove and pat dry. In fresh salted boiling water,
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Used externally, it has anti-in- submerge shoots and stems for another 2 min. Drain.
flammatory, antihistamine, and anti-fungal properties. Dress with melted butter and a splash of vinegar.
Often used for poison ivy rashes. WARNING: Best used in moderation and well cooked
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Large quantities can be due to high quantities of calcium oxalate.

Kudzu, Pueraria spp. (FABACEAE)

KUDZU is a fast growing, climbing perennial vine that
can reach 100 ft. (30 m) in length. Stems can be ½-4
inches (1.2-10cm) in diameter and old stumps can be up
to 12 inches (30cm) across. Varieties found in US are P.
montana, P. edulis, P. phaseoloides, and P. tuberosa.
FLOWER: Purple flowers are highly fragrant, smelling
of artificial grape flavoring. They are ½ inch (0.6 cm)
long, and are found in long 4-inch (10 cm) clusters. They
flower in late summer becoming brown, hairy, flattened,
inedible seed pods.
Forest & Kim Starr, CC-BY-3.0
LEAF: Leaves are green, broad, compound with 3 leaf-
lets, and up to 4 inches (10 cm) across. They can be picked fresh for jelly or made into pickles. Roots are
deeply lobed and are hairy underneath. best harvested in fall or early spring and have an edi-

ble starch that needs to be pounded out of the fibrous
EDIBLE PARTS: flowers, leaves, young shoots, and roots
wood. The wood, seeds, and seedpods are not edible.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Kudzu is antioxidant, improves
SURVIVAL KUDZU ROOT CHEW: You can obtain nu-
blood circulation, and may help treat alcoholism.
trients from the starchy roots in a survival situation.
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Best to harvest shoots Dig any root that is ½ to 3.4 (0.6-7.5 cm) thick, wash,
in spring and use like asparagus, raw or cooked. Young and cut into 4 to 6-inch (10-15 cm) lengths. Scrape
leaves can be harvested anytime to use as a green, off the exterior bark. Chew and suck on the root to
dried for tea, or juiced. Older leaves become fibrous get the edible starch, being careful to not eat or swal-
but can be used as food wrappers. Blossoms can be low the nondigestible wood fibers.

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