Page 98 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Pearly Everlasting, Anaphalis

margaritacea (ASTERACEAE)

PEARLY EVERLASTING, also known as Pearly Life Ev-
erlasting, is a flowering perennial plant that is drought
tolerant and prefers full sun, and dry, rocky, poor soil
conditions. It is found in North America and Asia, and
has naturalized to Europe. The plants grow erect on
dry, brittle stems 2-4 ft. (1.2m) high.
FLOWER: Flowers are small, whitish to yellowish, and
clustered at the top of erect stems. Numerous white, pa-
pery bracts surround each disc of florets, measuring 0.5
inches (1.2cm) across.
LEAF: Green, narrow, linear-lanceolate leaves grow 3-5 HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Harvest the whole
inches (7-13cm) long. There is one alternate leaf per plant and eat leaves cooked, or make a medicinal tea
node along the stem. Leaves and stems are covered in from the flowers, or the entire dried or fresh plant.
tiny white hairs that give the plant its pearly appearance
BRONCHIAL TEA: Combine 1-2 slices fresh ginger
from a distance. Leaves feel and look wooly from tiny
root, 1 tsp. pearly everlasting flowers &/or leaves, 1
white hairs.
tsp. pine needles, in 1 cup boiling water. Cover and
EDIBLE PARTS: leaves, stems, and whole plant cooked steep in boiling water 30 min. and strain. Drink ½
KEY MEDICINAL USES: The whole plant is anodyne, an- cup three times daily.
tiseptic, astringent, expectorant, and sedative.

Peppergrass, Lepidium

virginicum (BRASSICACEAE)

BOTTLEBRUSH PEPPERGRASS, also known as Least
Pepperwort and Virginia Pepperweed, is an herbaceous
plant growing from a single taproot. It grows through-
out Canada, the U.S, Mexico, Central America, South
America, Europe, parts of Asia, and Australia in a wide
range of habitats and elevations. Plants consist of basal
leaves with branching flowering stems that can reach
20 inches (50cm) tall.
FLOWER: Flowers are produced along the top 2-3 inches
(5-7cm) of the stem and have a bottle-brush appearance.
They consist of 4 tiny, white petals arranged in a cross
seed pods
measuring 0.015-0.06 inches (1-4mm) across and have
KEY MEDICINAL USES: Leaves are generally detoxi-
2 to 4 stamens. Fruits are flat and round with a winged
fying, have been used for vitamin C deficiency, diabe-
structure around the exterior.
tes, and to expel intestinal worms.
LEAF: Obovate leaves grow 1-4 inches (2.5-10cm) long
HOW TO HARVEST AND EAT: Pinch leaves and seed
in a basal rosette and can be either linear-lanceolate or
pods at base. The leaves can be tossed into a salad or
lance-shaped. Linear-lanceolate leaves have a large ter-
sautéed. Ripe seeds are a pepper substitute.
minal lobe and several small lateral lobes. Lance-shaped
leaves grow along the flower bearing central stem and PEPPER SUBSTITUTE: Collect, wash and crush ripe
are toothed and alternate. seeds. Use like pepper.
EDIBLE PARTS: young leaves, flowers, and unripe

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