The Hunting And Gathering Survival Manual
Page 13
WILD RICE
Zizania spp.
SEASON Fall
HABITAT Marshes and wetlands
DISTRIBUTION North America and China
DETAILS Wild rice is usually found in shallow water less than 3 feet (1 m) deep. There are four species of these herbaceous annual water grasses, all of which produce an edible grain.
IDENTIFIERS Wild rice can grow to 9 feet (3 m) tall, with thick, spongy stems. The grasses’ leaf blades can reach up to 4 feet (1.2 m) high.
USES Wild rice is not directly related to Asian rice (Oryza sativa) and is a little tougher than white rice, with its chewy outer sheath. Wild rice is a good source of B vitamins, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese, and 3.5 ounces (105 g) of uncooked wild rice contains 101 calories. This grain is typically harvested in canoes, by paddling under the seed heads and tapping them with a stick so that the rice falls into the open canoe.
WILD OAT
Avena fatua
SEASON Fall
HABITAT Fields and meadows
DISTRIBUTION Northern Hemisphere
DETAILS Wild oat is an annual herbaceous plant native to Eurasia and present in most of North America. It goes by many names, such as flaxgrass, oat grass, and wheat oats. Considered a weed in most places, as it competes with crops, wild oat is a green grass with a hollow stem that can reach 4 feet (1.2 m) in height. The long grass leaves are generally hairy.
IDENTIFIERS The seeds are inside hairy spikelets at the top of the plant, allowing them to stick to feathers, fur, and clothing.
USES Strip the oats from the seed head and thresh them to remove the inedible seed coat. Once this is done, the oats can be rolled, ground into flour, or cooked until they burst.
WILD WHEAT
Triticum spp.
SEASON Fall
HABITAT Fields, open sunny areas
DISTRIBUTION Global
DETAILS Wild wheat is a cereal grain from a herbaceous annual grass. It typically grows from 3–4 feet (1–1.2 m) tall and has a similar appearance to wild oats.
IDENTIFIERS Wheat has grasslike leaves and bears seed-filled spikelets at the top of the plant. Wheat is one of the first known domesticated cereals, grown perhaps as early as 9,000 BCE Ancient species and strains of this wheat can still be found in Europe and Africa, while wild wheat in North America has most likely escaped from cultivation.
USES Thresh the seeds from the inside of the spikelets and grind into flour. Watch out for ergot, which is a toxic purple fungus that grows in the spikelets in place of the actual wheat seeds. Discard any purplish wild wheat collected, as this fungus can be deadly.
124 PICK WILD FRUITS
Wild fruits are the culinary crown jewels of foraging. Nothing is as mouthwatering as a handful of sweet berries, sun-ripened to perfection. Collect ’em quick—they’re only around for a short time.
PAW PAW
Asimina triloba
SEASON Late summer
HABITAT Riverbanks and wet areas
DISTRIBUTION Midwest U.S. to the Atlantic
DETAILS The paw paw is a deciduous tree in the custard apple family (Annonaceae), found in its native range of the southern, eastern, and midwestern United States and southern Ontario.
IDENTIFIERS Paw paw has large alternate simple leaves, and fruits that resemble chubby bananas about 2–6 inches (5–15 cm) long and 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) wide. The fruit is full of large brown seeds.
USES These fruits carry 80 calories to the cup (125 g) and contain vitamin C and potassium. The sweet, strange flavor is a little like a banana with hints of mango. Look for them in August on trees near rivers, and pick them when they are fragrant and almost mushy, but before they rot and turn dark. They are best when eaten raw, though they can be cooked in desserts or turned into an interesting dried fruit.
GROUND CHERRY
Physalis spp.
SEASON Summer
HABITAT Fields, open sunny areas
DISTRIBUTION North America
DETAILS Ground cherries are herbaceous annual plants that grow a small fruit in a papery husk. Some species can grow to6 feet (2 m) tall, and most resemble the common cherry tomato of the same family. Like tomatoes, most species require abundant light and warm temperatures.
IDENTIFIERS The common ground cherry (Physalis longifolia) has a husk covering the berry that has ten veins and can reach lengths up to 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) .
USES The small fruits can be used like the tomato (raw in salads or cooked) after they are extracted from the papery husk. Some species have a sweeter taste that works well as a dessert, in fruit preserves, or dried. They also contain pectin and can be made into pie filling or jam.
SEA GRAPE
Coccoloba uvifera
SEASON Late summer, early fall
HABITAT Lawns, fields, and open ground
DISTRIBUTION Global
DETAILS The sea grape is tropical woody shrub and a member of the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae. It has stiff, round alternate simple leaves, and can be found near tropical coastal beaches throughout eastern North America. The small tree or large shrub is unable to survive frost.
IDENTIFIERS In late summer, the sea grape bears clusters of grapelike fruit, each about ¾ inch (19 mm) in diameter. These ripen to a reddish or purple color and contain a large seed that is not edible; only the pulp of the reddish fruits of the sea grape may be eaten.
USES The pulp can be consumed raw, cooked into preserves and jams, or fermented into sea grape wine. In the West Indies and Jamaica, sea grape sap and boiled bark is used to create a reddish brown dye and to tan leather.
PERSIMMON
Diospyros virginiana
SEASON Late summer
HABITAT Fields and forest edges
DISTRIBUTION Eastern U.S.
DETAILS The American persimmon is a deciduous tree found in the eastern United States.
IDENTIFIERS Persimmons have alternate simple leaves and small orange fruits. A related species with larger fruits can be found in Japan and neighboring countries. Watch out for very wrinkled fruits in late October—these are bitter and will give you a strong case of cotton mouth if not yet ripe. Generally, the rougher they look, the sweeter they are.
USES The scientific name of this fruit is diospyros, which means “food of the gods”—and it’s no exaggeration. The completely ripe, native persimmon fruits are a sticky, sweet treasure trove of flavor. Persimmons have 127 calories and a full day’s vitamin C per cup (125 g) of pulp. The wood is also rock hard and makes good mallets and tool handles.
WILD GRAPE
Vitis spp.
SEASON Late summer and fall
HABITAT Forest edges and fence rows
DISTRIBUTION Global
DETAILS Wild grapes are deciduous woody vines found throughout the world. Grapes have alternate simple leaves that are heavily toothed. More than 20 species of wild grape are found east of the Mississippi, ripening at different times from August through October.
IDENTIFIERS Make sure it’s a grape! The Canada moonseed looks like a grape, but it is poisonous. Grapes should have one to four teardrop-shaped seeds, while the dangerous moonseed has only one curved and flat seed. The grape vines also have curly tendrils, while the moonseed has no curls.
USES Depending on the species and sugar content, grapes are roughly 100 calories per cup (185 g). Most wild grapes carry decent amounts of vitamins and minerals, and up to a quarter of your daily potassium requirement.
WILD STRAWBERRY
Fragaria spp.
SEASON Summer
HABITAT Woodlands and fields
DISTRIBUTION Northern Hemisphere
DETAILS The wild strawberry is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows naturally throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. There are more than 20 different Fragaria species worldwide.
IDENTIFIERS The woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca), is the most common species. Strawberries have compound leaves with three leaflets. Look for tan seeds on the
surface.
USES Though the wild berries are not high in calories, real wild strawberries are great tasting. One cup of berries will give you more than a full day’s supply of vitamin C. Take care to avoid confusion with the Indian strawberry, which is still edible, but completely flavorless. It has red seeds on the surface, rather than tan. When you get a real wild strawberry, you’ll know it. It will be very flavorful and sweet and will make your day—or your breakfast.
MALLOW (CHEESEWEED)Malva spp.
SEASON Summer
HABITAT Sandy soils, dunes, and forests
DISTRIBUTION Southeast U.S.
DETAILS The common mallow (Malva neglecta) is also known as in America as the cheeseweed or cheeseplant. This small herbaceous annual plant is often considered a weed. There are about 25–30 species in the family Malvaceae, and they are widespread throughout the temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions.
IDENTIFIERS The white or pink flowers have five petals and are about ½ inch (12 mm) wide. The small, green fruit resembles a wheel of cheese to many people, hence the plant’s nicknames.
USES The crunchy green fruits are good as a trailside snack, fun to put in a salad, and can even be cooked with other wild greens.
CRANBERRY
Vaccinium spp.
SEASON Fall
HABITAT Northern bogs and wetlands
DISTRIBUTION Northern Hemisphere
DETAILS These plants are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines which are closely related to blueberries. Cranberries are found in acidic bogs in the northern regions. They may grow as low, creeping shrubs or grow in vines up to 7 feet (2 m) long.
IDENTIFIERS The dark pink flowers have petals that are sharply reflexed (peeled backward). The fruit of the cranberry is a berry that turns from its initial white color to a deep red when fully ripened.
USES The combination of sour and bitter flavors in ripe cranberries discourages most people from eating them raw, although you could. They are much better after cooking and sweetening, such as in cranberry sauce and preserves, but their high vitamin C content is destroyed by the heat of cooking.
AUTUMN OLIVE
Elaeagnus spp.
SEASON Late summer
HABITAT Fields, fence rows, and open areas
DISTRIBUTION Northern Hemisphere
DETAILS Autumn olive grows as a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically up to 9–12 feet (3–4 m) tall. The simple alternate leaves are covered with minute silvery scales on the top of the leaf and even more on the underside.
IDENTIFIERS The four-lobed, yellowish-white flowers give way to small fruits, which are 1/4–1/3 inches (6–8 mm) in diameter. The unripe fruit is silvery-scaled and yellow, and it ripens to a red color that is freckled with little brown dots.
USES The ripe fruit starts out very tannic and tart in the beginning of the ripening stage, but eventually increases in sweetness. The red fruits can be eaten raw, cooked into jam or sauce, dehydrated into a dried fruit, and even turned into wine. The seeds are high in protein and can be ingested with the pulp.
MULBERRY
Morus spp.
SEASON Summer
HABITAT Fields and fence rows
DISTRIBUTION Northern Hemisphere
DETAILS Mulberry is a deciduous tree that produces sweet berries and strong fiber. The native red mulberry (Morus rubra) and several Asian species can be found throughout the United States.
IDENTIFIERS Mulberries have large, heart-shaped, toothed alternate simple leaves. These blackberry-like fruits dangle from a tree as opposed to growing on a thorny bush.
USES Mulberries provide 85 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement and 14 percent of your daily iron. The berries can be eaten right off the tree, cooked into pies, or turned into sweet wine. Make sure the berries are sweet and ripe, as underripe mulberries can lead to serious reactions (everything from vomiting to hallucinations). You can also use the inner bark of early summer to create very strong cordage fibers.
CHERRY
Prunus spp.
SEASON Summer
HABITAT Forest edges and fields
DISTRIBUTION Northern Hemisphere
DETAILS The cherry tree is a deciduous tree consisting of many different species throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
IDENTIFIERS Cherry trees have small-toothed alternate simple leaves, and their broken twigs have a strong bitter-sour smell. The black cherry (Prunus serotina) is one of the tastier wild cherry species, and bears reddish-black fruits that ripen each July.
USES One cup (125 g) of pitted black cherries has 77 calories and a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals. Cherry fruits are great when eaten fresh and still great in pie, jam, and wine. Make sure you spit out the cherry pits—and don’t mess around with wilting green cherry leaves. Both are poisonous due to their high levels of cyanide.
HAWTHORN
Crataegus spp.
SEASON Fall
HABITAT Mountains and forests
DISTRIBUTION Northern Hemisphere
DETAILS Hawthorn is a small deciduous tree or shrub also called thornapple, May tree, and whitehorn. It belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and has many related species. These trees have alternate simple leaves and are native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia, and North America.
IDENTIFIERS Crataegus species usually grow 16–49 feet (5–15 m) tall, with typically thorny branches. These thorns can grow from branches or from the trunk itself, and can reach lengths of 4.5 inches (11.5 cm). Lobed leaves are common, and most species have serrate margins and variable shapes.
USES The red fruits of most hawthorns are tart and look like small crabapples. You can make hawthorn jams, jellies, juices, wine, and liqueur.
125 SPOT UNIQUE VEGETABLES
For the survivalist and the wild-food enthusiast, fields and open areas contain a wide range of unique vegetable foods, some with flavors that defy description.
MILKWEED
Asclepias spp.
SEASON Spring and summer
HABITAT Fields, roadsides, and open ground
DISTRIBUTION Global
DETAILS The milkweed plants are herbaceous perennials, with opposite branching simple leaves. Plants can reach heights over 3 feet (1 m).
IDENTIFIERS They get their name from the milky white juice that exudes from any injury.
USES Some milkweeds are quite toxic, but the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is an edible wild vegetable. Collect the young shoots (which have downy hairs) when they are around 6 inches (15 cm) long and boil for five minutes. Drain, add boiling water from another vessel, boil another five minutes, drain again, and serve. Treat the young seed pods of early summer likewise for a veggie that tastes like peas. The fiber from the recently deceased stalks makes strong cordage, and the fluff from older seed pods is great fire-starting tinder.
OYSTER PLANT
Tragopogon porrifolius
SEASON Summer
HABITAT Open fields and roadsides
DISTRIBUTION Global
DETAILS Oyster plant (also known as salsify) is a common herbaceous biennial wildflower, native to Europe but introduced to North America, Africa, and Australia. The plant can reach a height of up to4 feet (1.2 m).
IDENTIFIERS With all Tragopogon species, the stem is largely unbranched and bears simple alternate leaves that resemble grass. Oyster plant exudes a milky juice from the stems, and the purple flower head measures about 2 inches (5 cm); each flower has green bracts that are longer than the petals. These plants are hard to spot before flowering, as they blend in with many grasses.
USES Dig up the root for a raw or cooked vegetable that has historically been used as a diuretic, liver cleanser, and tonic, similar to dandelion.
BURDOCK
Arctium spp.
SEASON Spring through fall
HABITAT Open sunny areas
DISTRIBUTION Global
DETAILS This herbaceous biennial plant is native to Asia and has been introdu
ced around the world. Burdock is most often known for its 1-inch (2.5-cm) burrs, which tenaciously stick to clothing, fur, and hair. The central stalk of this plant can reach a height of more than 4 feet (1.2 m).
IDENTIFIERS Burdock has large simple leaves with wavy margins during the first year. During the second, it has larger, slightly fuzzy leaves with a flower stalk.
USES Collect tender leaves during the first two years of life and boil in changes of water to remove their bitterness (follow the procedure for milkweed). Dig up the very deep roots and also use changes of boiling water to cook. The burrs can be dampened and grown as salad sprouts—and they work as emergency Velcro!
SAW PALMETTO
Serenoa repens
SEASON Fruits in fall, hearts year-round
HABITAT Sandy soils, dunes, forests
DISTRIBUTION Southeast U.S.
DETAILS The saw palmetto is the only species in the genus Serenoa. It has sometimes been called Sabal serrulatum when associated with alternative medicine. A small, woody plant, it typically reaches a height of around 3–6 feet (1–2 m).
IDENTIFIERS The leaves grow in a palmately compound arrangement of about 20 leaflets. The petiole (leaf stalk) bears many small sharp teeth or spines, no doubt the source of the “saw” name.