Wild Edible Plants

Wild plants that can be eaten are full of vitamins and essential nutrients, and also taste good. However, identify them positively before you start including them in your diet, as many wild plants are poisonous. When collecting wild edible plants, avoid those that are growing near buildings and along roadsides, as they are mostly sprayed with pesticides.

Avoid eating any leaves or seeds with an almond-like scent as it is a characteristic of the poisonous cyanide compound. Many edible plants like acorns and water lily rhizomes grow in the wild and are bitter to taste. These bitter substances, usually tannin compounds can be eliminated by boiling them in water several times. Here are examples of the same.

White dead nettle is a kind of weed that is prolific in the English countryside. It has a very sharp scent and adds texture and flavor to salads.

Cow parsley, also known as wild chervil, has a flavor similar to that of aniseed, and is used in salads. The purple variety can be steamed and drizzled with butter, or preserved by making a pickle.

The violet flower can be deep-fried and used in jams. Its young leaves can be used in salads, and for thickening soups.

The prickly pear cactus is a well-known wild and edible plant of North America. It has multiple broad leaves with long and sharp spines. Its leaves are fleshy and have pink, purple, or yellow flowers. The spines are removed from the plant and are eaten either raw, or deep-fried.

Most ferns contain carcinogens, but Hart's tongue fern is an exception. It can be used as a salad leaf after being boiled in salty water.

Seaweed is a kind of marine algae that is found near sea shores. Thin varieties of seaweed can be sun dried or grilled over fire. These can be used to flavor and thicken soups and stews.

Cattail can be found in fresh and brackish waters of marshes and swamps. It is a tall plant with sword-shaped leaves which can be used in salads. Its young roots can be added to thicken soups.

These plants which grow in the wild can be safely consumed by people. However, always ensure that the plant is edible before attempting to cook it in any form.