Page 84 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Licorice Fern, Polypodium

glycyrrhiza (POLYPODIACEAE)

LICORICE FERN, Many-footed Fern or Sweet Root can
survive as an epiphyte in mature deciduous trees, a
lithophyte on mossy rocks, and in dead or dying wood.
It is often found growing in moss on Bigleaf Maple
trunks. Single 3-12 inches (7-30 cm) triangular fronds
grow along the rhizome.
SPORES: Ferns reproduce using spores. Adult fronds are
sporophytes and produce spores in sacs called sporan-
gia clustered into sori on the underside of their fronds.
Spores germinate into gametophytes, where sexual re- brewbooks, CC-BY-SA-2.0 brewbooks, CC-BY-SA-2.0
production must occur in standing water.
or roasted root to swallow the juices, or infuse its lic-
LEAF: Single, 3-12 inches (7-30cm) triangular licorice orice flavor teas, liqueurs, and sauces. The rhizomes
fern fronds grow along reddish-brown rhizomes. The contain polypodoside A, a compound said to be
stipe is naked and each leaflet has pointed tips with fine- 600 times sweeter than sucrose. It is a good mouth
ly scalloped margins. Sori appear as brown circular dots cleanser in the bush (simply chew a small amount of
on either side of each leaflet’s main vein. the raw rhizome).

EDIBLE PARTS: rhizome LICORICE FERN TEA: Add 2-3 inches (5-8 cm)
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Rhizomes are used for sore chopped rhizome to 4 cups water. Bring to a boil.
throats, coughs, and as a laxative. It has shown anti-viral Turn heat off and steep for 20 min.
activity against herpesvirus type 1. WARNING: Use caution, as many ferns contain car-
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Follow the frond down to cinogens. Many ferns also contain thiaminase, which
harvest pieces of the reddish-brown rhizome. The rhi- robs the body of B-complex vitamins. Cooking the
zome is thin and fibrous. It is best to either chew on raw plant destroys the thiaminase.

London Rocket, Sisymbrium
irio (BRASSICACEAE)

LONDON ROCKET grows as an herbaceous, stiffly erect
smooth-stemmed plant from a taproot. It can be found
in open deserts, pastures, and neglected areas, tolerat-
ing dry conditions. London Rocket can grow abundantly
to over 3 ft. (1 m) tall.

FLOWER: Flowers bloom in January-May, are 0.1-0.16
inch (0.25-0.4 cm) long, have 4 pale yellow petals, and
grow in small clusters at the stem tips. They become tu-
bular, green seedpods. Seeds are oblong and less than
0.04 inch (1mm) long.
LEAF: Leaves are hairless and form a basal rosette of hotter weather. Flowers can be used raw. Seeds can
deeply lobed or fully separated leaflets which can be 6
be used raw or cooked, toasted, or dried and ground
inches (15 cm) long. Upper leaves are smaller, up to 4
into a meal. Seeds can be mixed with water for a
inches (10 cm) long.
thirst-quenching drink. Harvest seeds by gently beat-
EDIBLE PARTS: seeds, flowers, and leaves ing plant tops with seedpods that are dry and beige.
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Helps with asthma and throat REFRESHING LONDON ROCKET SEED DRINK:
and chest infections. Make a mint water by submerging ½ cup of clean mint
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: A spicy plant, young leaves leaves in ½ gallon (2L) water overnight. Stir in ¼ cup
can be used as a green or seasoning, raw or cooked. Pick sugar. Use 1 tbsp. for London rocket seeds per cup.
in the coolest part of the day. Will get spici er with age and Stir and sip and enjoy this thirst-quenching drink.
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