The outdoor pantry

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Foraging-Wild-Edible-Plants.aspx?utm_content=08.14.09+FG&utm_campaign=FG&utm_source=iPost&utm_medium=email&page=3

The Outdoor Pantry
Here is a list (by no means comprehensive) of commonly known, edible wild plants in North America. Some of these plants are found nearly everywhere in the United States; others are regional.

GREENS & HERBS
Chickweed (Stellaria media)
Chicory (Cichorium)
Curly dock (Rumex crispus)
Dandelion (Taraxacum)
Fiddleheads (various fern species)
Lamb’s quarters, goosefoot (Chenopdium)
Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata)
Nettle (Urtica)
Peppercress (Cardamine)
Pigweed (Amaranthus)
Plantain (Plantago)
Pokeweed (Phytolacca)
Purslane (Portulaca)
Seaweeds — dulse, kelp, laver, wrack
Sorrel (Rumex acetosa)
Watercress (Nasturtium)
“Wild” asparagus (Asparagus officinalis ssp. prostratus)
Wild mustard (Brassica)
Wild horsemint, bee balm (Monarda punctata)

ROOTS, BULBS & TUBERS
Arrowhead, wapatoo (Sagittaria variabilis)
American lotus, water chinquapin (Nelumbo lutea)
Jerusalem artichoke, sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Ramps, ramson, wild leek (Allium tricoccum)
Burdock (Arctium)
Grassnut, California hyacinth (Brodiaea capitata)
Groundnut (Apios tuberosa)
Prairie turnip, Prairie potato (Psoralea esculenta)
Cattail (Typha latifolia)
Camas, quamash (Camassia esculenta)
Chufa, nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus)
Sego lily (Calochortus Nuttallii)
Coontie, Florida arrowroot (Zamia pumila)

FRUIT
Wild strawberry (Fragaria)
Red and black raspberry, wineberry (Rubus)
Blackberry (Rubus)
Blueberry (Vaccinium)
Wild grapes (Vitis)
Mulberry (Morus)
Juneberry, serviceberry (Amelanchier)
Chokeberry (Aronia)
Elderberry (Sambucus)
Wild cherry (Prunus)
Wild plum (Prunus)
Gooseberry (Ribes)
Buffalo currant (Ribes)
Persimmon (Diospyros)
Rose hips (Rosa)
Prickly pear, tuna (Opuntia)
Pawpaw (Asimina)

RELATED CONTENT
Foraging for Edible Wild Plants: A Field Guide to Wild Berries
Learn about foraging for wild edible plants. Wild berries include blackberries, raspberries, dewber...

Food Security, Oil Supply, Population: Stabilizing Tipping Points in Nature
How many failing countries will it take before civilization itself fails? We have the technologies ...

Let’s Talk About Hunger
Here’s a new way to bring together coalitions that are working toward the promotion of locally grow...

Food Co-ops: Good Food and Good Prices
Food Co-ops: Good Food and Good Prices September/October 1979 A "New Wave" of grocery outlets can g...

CITY FOOD/COUNTRY FOOD
CITY FOOD/COUNTRY FOOD February/March 1998 By Joe Novara Maybe food really should be shrink-wrapped...
NUTS & SEEDS
Acorn (Quercus)
Beechnut (Fagus grandifolia)
Black walnut (Juglans nigra)
Butternut (Fuglans cinerea)
Chia (Salvia species)
Hickory (Carya)
Pecan (Carya illinoensis)
Pine nut, pinyon (Pinus species)
Sunflower (Helianthus species)
Wild rice (Zizania)

MUSHROOMS
Morel (Morchella)
Chanterelle (Cantharellus)
Black trumpet, black chanterelle (Craterellus)
Oyster (Pleurotus)
Hen of the woods (Grifola frondosa)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more about food foraging:

Eat Your Weeds (but Get to Know Them First)
Interview with Euell Gibbons, the Modern Forager

One that's an alien but is being found in more and more places is both Russian and autumn olive. (Eleagnus ssp) They're similar in appearance and both have edible berries. They're higher in lycopene than tomatoes. Not all of the berries are as tasty. And, the longer they're on the bush, the sweeter they become.