Wildology

EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: Flower: Yellow, solitary. Five petals with green bracts underneath. Leaves: 3 leaflets on long stalks. Fruit: Bright red, tasteless. 

EDIBLE PARTS: Berries.

HABITAT: Lawns and disturbed sites. Throughout Eastern U.S.

HARVEST: Pick berries in late spring. Resemble wild strawberries, but have a displeasing taste.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE: High in vitamin C.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: None.

MEDICINAL

DESCRIPTION: Small, woody shrub. Up to 4’ tall. Leaves: Arranged opposite one another, oblong to lance shaped. 2.5” long. Flower: Stringy ball of yellow stamens. Fruits: Cone-shaped capsules.

HABITAT: Woodlands in east-central U.S.

HARVEST: Use entire plant for tea. Extract oils.

MEDICINAL USE: Tea from this plant is know to help with menstrual cramping and diarrhea. Oil extract can be used to treat cuts, burns and bruises. Folk remedies for this plant are numerous.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: None.

EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL

DESCRIPTION: Leaves: Green shamrocks. 3 heart-shaped leaflets, less than 1” wide. Flowers: Yellow with 5 petals, .25 to across. Stem: Erect, up to 15” tall.

EDIBLE PARTS: All.

HABITAT: Lawns, open woodlands, and disturbed sites. Throughout temperate North American

HARVEST: Flowers, leaves, roots, and green seed pods can be picked in spring and eaten raw or cooked. Eat with moderation. Too much can be toxic.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:  High in vitamin C.

MEDICINAL USE: Chewing the leaves can alleviate thirst as well as treat mouth sores and soar throat. Can be used as a diuretic and fever reducer. Also soothe upset stomachs and relieves indigestion. Consume in moderation. People with kidney disease or rheumatoid arthritis should avoid this plant.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES:  None.

EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL

DESCRIPTION: Leaves: Alternate on stem, eliptict and 1-4". Flowers: Orange to orange-yelllow, hanging from a thread-like stalk. Trumpet-shaped with sac in rear and three petals in front of the "mouth". Top petal is hood-like. Stem: Up to 5' tall.

EDIBLE PARTS: Shoots and seeds.

HABITAT: Roadsides, streambanks, and swamps. Eastern U.S. and Canada.

HARVEST: Use young shoots as potherb.

MEDICINAL USE: Leaves can be used as poultice to reduce irritation from poison ivy or nettle stings. Juice from stem before flowering can be used the same way.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: None.

EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: Flower: Yellow disc-shaped about 1-2" in diameter. Smooth, hollow stalk. Leaves at base are oblong, 2-10"

EDIBLE PARTS: All

HABITAT: Lawns and disturbed sites. Throughout temperate North America.

HARVEST: Flowers in spring. Roots in fall and winter. Roots can be roasted and ground for substitute coffee.

NUTRITIONAL VALUSE: High in Vitamins A and C.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: None

EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: Flowers: 4 yellow petals shaped in a cross, in clusters between March and June. Leaves: Upper leaves clasp to stem. Lower leaves up to 12" long and 4" wide.

EDIBLE PARTS: All.

HABITAT: Fields and roadsides in Southeast U.S.

HARVEST: Young leaves and shoots, and flower tops in spring.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE: Good source of Vitamins A,B, and C.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: NONE

MEDICINAL

DESCRIPTION: Leaves: Pale green, oval, thick, and woolly. 12” long. Grow in basal (base) rosette 1st year. Smaller leaves grow alternately on 2nd year stem. Flowers: Yellow with orange center, less than 1” wide, tubular and grow in a terminal spike. Stem: In 2nd year, stout, unbranched, woolly stem grows to 3-6’ tall.

HABITAT: Along roadsides and in disturbed sites throughout temperate North America.

HARVEST: All parts can be used and gathered when blossoming. Add dried or bruised leaves to boiling water to make tea, strain with filter to remove tiny hairs.

MEDICINAL USES: Known to have sedation, expectorant, and astringent properties. Folk remedy has it that leaves can be smoked to treat asthma and coughs. Soft leaves are often used as emergency toilet paper.

MEDICINAL

DESCRIPTION: Leaves: Compound leaf with 5, toothed leaflets 1-3” long. Flower: Yellow, 5 petals. Situated above leaves. Stem: Up to 12” tall.

HABITAT: Dry woods and fields throughout eastern U.S.

HARVEST: Gather ins spring.

MEDICINAL USES: Known to be a mild astringent and antiseptic.

EDIBLE

DESCRIPTION: Leaves. Small, green, scale-like. Flowers: Large, bright yellow with red center. Stems: Cactus-like, flat, fleshy pads with spines. Fruits: Club-shaped, purple.

EDIBLE PARTS: Pads and fruits.

HABITAT: Roadsides, rock outcroppings, gravelly soil. Throughout eastern U.S.

HARVEST: Collect in spring and summer. Young pads can be peeled and boiled. Fruits should be picked when ripening in late summer or fall.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE: Good source of Vitamin C and dietary fiber.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: None

EDIBLE AND MEDICINAL

DESCRIPTION: Leaves: Green shamrocks. 3 heart-shaped leaflets, up to 2” wide, no colored margin (like O. grands). Flowers: Yellow with 5 petals, .5 to .75”across. Stem: Erect, 12-36” tall.

EDIBLE PARTS: All.

HABITAT: Woodlands southern Illinois, Indiana, western Kentucky, and middle Tennessee.

HARVEST: Flowers, leaves, roots, and green seed pods can be picked in spring and eaten raw or cooked. Eat with moderation. Too much can be toxic.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE: High in vitamin C.

MEDICINAL VALUE: Chewing the leaves can alleviate thirst as well as treat mouth sores and soar throat. Can be used as a diuretic and fever reducer. Also soothe upset stomachs and relieves indigestion. Consume in moderation. People with kidney disease or rheumatoid arthritis should avoid this plant.

POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: None.