THEOFFICIALU.S.ARMYILLUSTRATEDGUIDETOEDIBLEWILDPLANTS

THEOFFICIALU.S.ARMYILLUSTRATEDGUIDETOEDIBLEWILD

PLANTS

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

Part1EdiblePlantsPlantIdentificationUniversalEdibilityTestEdiblePlants

Part2PoisonousPlantsRulesforAvoidingPoisonousPlantsContactDermatitisIngestionPoisoningPoisonousPlants

THEOFFICIALU.S.ARMYILLUSTRATEDGUIDETOEDIBLEWILDPLANTS

PART1

EDIBLEPLANTSIn a survival situation, plants can provide food andmedicine. Theirsafeusagerequiresabsolutelypositiveidentification,knowinghowtoprepare themforeating,andknowinganydangerousproperties theymight have. Familiarity with botanical structures of plants andinformationonwhere theygrowwillmake themeasier to locateandidentify.

PlantIdentification

You identify plants, other than by memorizing particular varieties throughfamiliarity,byusing such factors as leaf shapeandmargin, leaf arrangements,androotstructure.

The basic leaf margins (see Figure 1.1) are toothed, lobed, and toothless orsmooth.

These leaves may be lance-shaped, elliptical, egg-shaped, oblong, wedge-shaped,triangular,long-pointed,ortop-shaped(Figure1.2).

The basic types of leaf arrangements (Figure 1.3) are opposite, alternate,compound,simple,andbasalrosette.

Thebasictypesofrootstructures(Figure1.4)arethebulb,clove,taproot,tuber,rhizome,corm,andcrown.Bulbsarefamiliartousasonionsand,whenslicedinhalf,willshowconcentricrings.Clovesarethosebulblikestructuresthatremindus of garlic and will separate into small pieces when broken apart. Thischaracteristicseparateswildonionsfromwildgarlic.Taprootsresemblecarrotsandmay be single-rooted or branched, but usually only one plant stalk arisesfrom each root. Tubers are like potatoes and daylilies and youwill find thesestructureseitheronstringsorinclustersunderneaththeparentplants.Rhizomesarelargecreepingrootstocksorundergroundstemsandmanyplantsarisefromthe “eyes” of these roots. Corms are similar to bulbs but are solid when cutrather than possessing rings. A crown is the type of root structure found onplantssuchasasparagusandlooksmuchlikeamopheadunderthesoil’ssurface.

Learn as much a possible about plants you intend to use for food and theiruniquecharacteristics.Someplantshavebothedibleandpoisonousparts.Manyareedibleonlyatcertaintimesoftheyear.Othersmayhavepoisonousrelativesthatlookverysimilartotheonesyoucaneatoruseformedicine.

UniversalEdibilityTest

Therearemanyplantsthroughouttheworld.Tastingorswallowingevenasmallportion of some can cause severe discomfort, extreme internal disorders, andevendeath.Therefore, ifyouhave theslightestdoubtaboutaplant’sedibility,applytheUniversalEdibilityTest(Figure1.5)beforeeatinganyportionofit.

Before testingaplant foredibility,makesure thereareenoughplants tomakethe testing worth your time and effort. Each part of a plant (roots, leaves,flowers, and so on) requires more than 24 hours to test. Do not waste timetestingaplantthatisnotrelativelyabundantinthearea.

Remember,eatinglargeportionsofplantfoodonanemptystomachmaycausediarrhea,nausea,orcramps.Twogoodexamplesofthisaresuchfamiliarfoodsasgreenapplesandwildonions.Evenaftertestingplantfoodandfindingitsafe,eatitinmoderation.

Youcan see from the stepsand time involved in testing for edibility justhowimportantitistobeabletoidentifyedibleplants.

To avoid potentially poisonous plants, stay away from any wild or unknownplantsthathave—

•Milkyordiscoloredsap.•Beans,bulbs,orseedsinsidepods.•Bitterorsoapytaste.•Spines,finehairs,orthorns.•Dill,carrot,parsnip,orparsleylikefoliage.•“Almond”scentinwoodypartsandleaves.•Grainheadswithpink,purplish,orblackspurs.•Three-leavedgrowthpattern.

Using theabovecriteriaaseliminatorswhenchoosingplants for theUniversalEdibilityTestwillcauseyoutoavoidsomeedibleplants.Moreimportant,thesecriteriawilloftenhelpyouavoidplantsthatarepotentiallytoxictoeatortouch.

Learn as much as possible about the plant life of the areas where you trainregularlyandwhereyouexpecttobetravelingorworking.

AbalCalligonumcomosum

Description:Theabalisoneofthefewshrubbyplantsthatexistsintheshadydeserts.Thisplantgrows toabout1.2meters,and itsbranches look likewispsfromabroom.Thestiff,greenbranchesproduceanabundanceofflowersintheearlyspringmonths(March,April).

HabitatandDistribution:Thisplantisfoundindesertscrubandwasteinanyclimaticzone.ItinhabitsmuchoftheNorthAfricandesert.Itmayalsobefoundon the desert sands of theMiddle East and as far eastward as the RajputanadesertofwesternIndia.

EdibleParts:Thisplant’sgeneralappearancewouldnotindicateitsusefulnesstothesurvivor,butwhilethisplant isfloweringinthespring, itsfreshflowerscanbeeaten.Thisplantiscommonintheareaswhereitisfound.Ananalysisofthe food value of this plant has shown it to be high in sugar and nitrogenouscomponents.

AcaciaAcaciafarnesiana

Description:Acaciaisaspreading,usuallyshorttreewithspinesandalternatecompound leaves. Its individual leaflets are small. Its flowers are ball-shaped,bright yellow, and very fragrant. Its bark is awhitish-gray color. Its fruits aredarkbrownandpodlike.

Habitat and Distribution: Acacia grows in open, sunny areas. It is foundthroughoutalltropicalregions.

Note: There are about 500 species of acacia. These plants are especiallyprevalentinAfrica,southernAsia,andAustralia,butmanyspeciesarefoundinthewarmeranddrierpartsofAmerica.

EdibleParts:Itsyoungleaves,flowers,andpodsareedibleraworcooked.

AgaveAgavespecies

Description:Theseplantshavelargeclustersofthick,fleshyleavesborneclosetothegroundandsurroundingacentralstalk.Theplantsfloweronlyonce,thendie.Theyproduceamassiveflowerstalk.

Habitat and Distribution: Agaves prefer dry, open areas. They are foundthroughoutCentralAmerica, theCaribbean,andpartsof thewesterndesertsoftheUnitedStatesandMexico.

EdibleParts:Itsflowersandflowerbudsareedible.Boilthembeforeeating.

CAUTIONThejuiceofsomespeciescausesdermatitisinsomeindividuals.

OtherUses:Cutthehugeflowerstalkandcollectthejuicefordrinking.Somespecies have very fibrous leaves. Pound the leaves and remove the fibers forweavingandmakingropes.Mostspecieshavethick,sharpneedlesatthetipsof

the leaves. Use them for sewing or making hooks. The sap of some speciescontainsachemicalthatmakesthesapsuitableforuseasasoap.

AlmondPrunusamygdalus

Description: The almond tree, which sometimes grows to 12.2meters, lookslikeapeachtree.Thefreshalmondfruitresemblesagnarled,unripepeachandgrows in clusters. The stone (the almond itself) is covered with a thick, dry,woollyskin.

HabitatandDistribution:Almondsarefoundinthescrubandthornforestsofthe tropics, the evergreen scrub forests of temperate areas, and indesert scrubandwasteinallclimaticzones.ThealmondtreeisalsofoundinthesemidesertareasoftheOldWorldinsouthernEurope,theeasternMediterranean,Iran,theMiddleEast,China,Madeira,theAzores,andtheCanaryIslands.

Edible Parts: Themature almond fruit splits open lengthwise down the side,exposing the ripe almond nut. You can easily get the dry kernel by simplycracking open the stone. Almond meats are rich in food value, like all nuts.Gather theminlargequantitiesandshell themforfurtheruseassurvivalfood.Youcouldlivesolelyonalmondsforratherlongperiods.Whenyouboilthem,

thekernel’soutercoveringcomesoffandonlythewhitemeatremains.

AmaranthAmaranthusspecies

Description:Theseplants,whichgrow90centimeters to150centimeters tall,are abundant weeds in many parts of the world. All amaranth have alternatesimple leaves.Theymayhavesomeredcolorpresenton thestems.Theybearminute,greenish flowers indenseclusters at the topof theplants.Their seedsmaybebrownorblackinweedyspeciesandlight-coloredindomesticspecies.

Habitat and Distribution: Look for amaranth along roadsides, in disturbedwasteareas,orasweedsincropsthroughouttheworld.Someamaranthspecieshavebeengrownasagraincropandagardenvegetableinvariouspartsoftheworld,especiallyinSouthAmerica.

EdibleParts:Allpartsareedible,butsomemayhavesharpspinesyoushouldremovebeforeeating.Theyoungplantsorthegrowingtipsofolderplantsareanexcellentvegetable.Simplyboil theyoungplantsoreat themraw.Theirseedsareverynutritious.Shake the topsof theolderplants toget the seeds.Eat theseedsraw,boiled,groundintoflour,orpoppedlikepopcorn.

ArcticwillowSalixarctica

Description: The arctic willow is a shrub that never exceeds more than 60centimetersinheightandgrowsinclumpsthatformdensematsonthetundra.

Habitat andDistribution: The arcticwillow is common on tundras inNorthAmerica,Europe,andAsia.Youcanalsofindit insomemountainousareasintemperateregions.

EdibleParts:Youcancollect thesucculent, tenderyoungshootsof thearcticwillow in early spring. Strip off the outer bark of the new shoots and eat theinnerportionraw.Youcanalsopeelandeatrawtheyoungundergroundshootsofanyofthevariouskindsofarcticwillow.YoungwillowleavesareoneoftherichestsourcesofvitaminC,containing7to10timesmorethananorange.

ArrowrootMarantaandSagittariaspecies

Description: The arrowroot is an aquatic plant with arrow-shaped leaves andpotatoliketubersinthemud.

Habitat andDistribution: Arrowroot is foundworldwide in temperate zonesandthetropics.Itisfoundinmoisttowethabitats.

Edible Parts: The rootstock is a rich source of high quality starch. Boil therootstockandeatitasavegetable.

AsparagusAsparagusofficinalis

Description: The spring growth of this plant resembles a cluster of greenfingers.Thematureplanthasfernlike,wispyfoliageandredberries.Itsflowersaresmallandgreenishincolor.Severalspecieshavesharp,thorn-likestructures.

Habitat andDistribution:Asparagus is foundworldwide in temperate areas.Lookforitinfields,oldhomesites,andfencerows.

EdibleParts:Eat theyoungstemsbefore leavesform.Steamorboil themfor10 to 15minutes before eating.Rawasparagusmay cause nauseaor diarrhea.Thefleshyrootsareagoodsourceofstarch.

WARNINGDonoteatthefruitsofanyspeciessincesomearetoxic.

BaelfruitAeglemarmelos

Description:Thisisatreethatgrowsfrom2.4to4.6meterstall,withadensespinygrowth.Thefruitis5to10centimetersindiameter,grayoryellowish,andfullofseeds.

HabitatandDistribution:Baelfruitisfoundinrainforestsandsemievergreenseasonalforestsofthetropics.ItgrowswildinIndiaandBurma.

Edible Parts: The fruit, which ripens in December, is at its best when justturning ripe. The juice of the ripe fruit, diluted with water andmixed with asmallamountoftamarindandsugarorhoney,issourbutrefreshing.Likeothercitrusfruits,itisrichinvitaminC.

Bamboo

VariousspeciesincludingBambusa,Dendrocalamus,Phyllostachys

Description:Bamboos arewoodygrasses that growup to 15meters tall.Theleavesaregrasslikeandthestemsarethefamiliarbamboousedinfurnitureandfishingpoles.

HabitatandDistribution:Lookforbambooinwarm,moistregionsinopenorjunglecountry,inlowland,oronmountains.BamboosarenativetotheFarEast(TemperateandTropicalzones)buthavebeenwidelyplantedaroundtheworld.

EdibleParts:Theyoungshootsofalmostallspeciesareedibleraworcooked.Rawshootshavea slightlybitter taste that is removedbyboiling.Toprepare,remove the toughprotectivesheath that iscoatedwith tawnyor redhairs.Theseed grain of the flowering bamboo is also edible. Boil the seeds like rice orpulverizethem,mixwithwater,andmakeintocakes.

OtherUses:Usethematurebambootobuildstructuresortomakecontainers,ladles, spoons, and various other cooking utensils. Also use bamboo tomake

tools andweapons. You canmake a strong bow by splitting the bamboo andputtingseveralpiecestogether.

CAUTIONGreen bamboo may explode in a fire. Green bamboo has an internalmembraneyoumustremovebeforeusingitasafoodorwatercontainer.

BananaandplantainMusaspecies

Description:Thesearetreelikeplantswithseverallargeleavesatthetop.Theirflowersareborneindensehangingclusters.

Habitat and Distribution: Look for bananas and plantains in open fields ormargins of forests where they are grown as a crop. They grow in the humidtropics.

Edible Parts: Their fruits are edible raw or cooked. They may be boiled orbaked.Youcanboil theirflowersandeatthemlikeavegetable.Youcancookandeattherootstocksandleafsheathesofmanyspecies.Thecenteror“heart”oftheplantisedibleyear-round,cookedorraw.

OtherUses: You can use the layers of the lower third of the plants to covercoalstoroastfood.Youcanalsousetheirstumpstogetwater.Youcanusetheirleavestowrapotherfoodsforcookingorstorage.

BaobabAdansoniadigitata

Description:Thebaobab treemaygrowashighas18metersandmayhaveatrunk9metersindiameter.Thetreehasshort,stubbybranchesandagray,thickbark.Itsleavesarecompoundandtheirsegmentsarearrangedlikethepalmofahand.Itsflowers,whicharewhiteandseveralcentimetersacross,hangfromthehigherbranches.Itsfruitisshapedlikeafootball,measuresupto45centimeterslong,andiscoveredwithshortdensehair.

Habitat and Distribution: These trees grow in savannas. They are found inAfrica,inpartsofAustralia,andontheislandofMadagascar.

EdibleParts:Youcanusetheyoungleavesasasoupvegetable.Thetenderrootof the young baobab tree is edible. The pulp and seeds of the fruit are alsoedible.Useonehandfulofpulptoaboutonecupofwaterforarefreshingdrink.Toobtainflour,roasttheseeds,thengrindthem.

OtherUses:Drinkingamixtureofpulpandwaterwillhelpcurediarrhea.Oftenthehollowtrunksaregoodsourcesoffreshwater.Thebarkcanbecutintostrips

andpoundedtoobtainastrongfiberformakingrope.

BatokoplumFlacourtiainermis

Description:Thisshruborsmalltreehasdarkgreen,alternate,simpleleaves.Itsfruitsarebrightredandcontainsixormoreseeds.

HabitatandDistribution:ThisplantisanativeofthePhilippinesbutiswidelycultivatedforitsfruitinotherareas.ItcanbefoundinclearingsandattheedgesofthetropicalrainforestsofAfricaandAsia.

EdibleParts:Eatthefruitraworcooked.

BearberryorkinnikinnickArctostaphylosuva-ursi

Description:Thisplant isacommonevergreenshrubwith reddish, scalybarkandthick,leatheryleaves4centimeterslongand1centimeterwide.Ithaswhiteflowersandbrightredfruits.

HabitatandDistribution:Thisplantisfoundinarctic,subarctic,andtemperateregions,mostofteninsandyorrockysoil.

EdibleParts: Itsberriesareedibleraworcooked.Youcanmakearefreshingteafromitsyoungleaves.

BeechFagusspecies

Description:Beechtreesarelarge(9to24meters),symmetricalforesttreesthathavesmooth, lightgraybarkanddarkgreenfoliage.Thecharacterof itsbark,plus its clusters of prickly seedpods, clearly distinguish the beech tree in thefield.

HabitatandDistribution:This tree is foundin theTemperateZone. ItgrowswildintheeasternUnitedStates,Europe,Asia,andNorthAfrica.Itisfoundinmoistareas,mainlyintheforests.ThistreeiscommonthroughoutsoutheasternEuropeandacrosstemperateAsia.BeechrelativesarealsofoundinChile,NewGuinea,andNewZealand.

EdibleParts:Thematurebeechnuts readily fall outof thehusklike seedpods.Youcaneatthesedarkbrowntriangularnutsbybreakingthethinshellwithyourfingernailandremovingthewhite,sweetkernelinside.Beechnutsareoneofthemostdeliciousofallwildnuts.Theyareamostusefulsurvivalfoodbecauseofthe kernel’s high oil content. You can also use the beechnuts as a coffee

substitute.Roastthemsothatthekernelbecomesgoldenbrownandquitehard.Thenpulverizethekerneland,afterboilingorsteepinginhotwater,youhaveapassablecoffeesubstitute.

BignayAntidesmabunius

Description: Bignay is a shrub or small tree, 3 to 12meters tall, with shiny,pointed leaves about 15 centimeters long. Its flowers are small, clustered, andgreen.Ithasfleshy,darkredorblackfruitandasingleseed.Thefruitisabout1centimeterindiameter.

HabitatandDistribution:Thisplantisfoundinrainforestsandsemievergreenseasonal forests in the tropics. It is found in open places and in secondaryforests. It grows wild from the Himalayas to Ceylon and eastward throughIndonesia to northern Australia. However, it may be found anywhere in thetropicsincultivatedforms.

EdibleParts:Thefruitisedibleraw.Donoteatanyotherpartsofthetree.InAfrica,therootsaretoxic.Otherpartsoftheplantmaybepoisonous.

CAUTIONEateninlargequantities,thefruitmayhavealaxativeeffect.

Blackberry,raspberry,anddewberryRubusspecies

Description:Theseplantshavepricklystems(canes)thatgrowupward,archingback toward the ground. They have alternate, usually compound leaves. Theirfruitsmaybered,black,yellow,ororange.

HabitatandDistribution:Theseplantsgrowinopen,sunnyareasatthemarginofwoods,lakes,streams,androadsthroughouttemperateregions.Thereisalsoanarcticraspberry.

Edible Parts: The fruits and peeled young shoots are edible. Flavor variesgreatly.

OtherUses:Usetheleavestomaketea.Totreatdiarrhea,drinkateamadebybrewingthedriedrootbarkoftheblackberrybush.

BlueberryandhuckleberryVacciniumandGaylussaciaspecies

Description:Theseshrubsvaryinsizefrom30to3.7centimeterstall.Allhavealternate, simple leaves.Their fruitsmaybedarkblue, black, or red andhavemanysmallseeds.

Habitat and Distribution: These plants prefer open, sunny areas. They arefoundthroughoutmuchof thenorthtemperateregionsandathigherelevationsinCentralAmerica.

EdibleParts:Theirfruitsareedibleraw.

BreadfruitArtocarpusincisa

Description:This treemaygrowup to9meters tall. Ithasdarkgreen,deeplydividedleavesthatare75centimeterslongand30centimeterswide.Itsfruitsarelarge,green,ball-likestructuresupto30centimetersacrosswhenmature.

Habitat and Distribution: Look for this tree at the margins of forests andhomesites in thehumid tropics. It isnative to theSouthPacific regionbuthasbeenwidelyplantedintheWestIndiesandpartsofPolynesia.

EdibleParts:The fruit pulp is edible raw.The fruit canbe sliced, dried, andgroundintoflourforlateruse.Theseedsareediblecooked.

OtherUses:Thethicksapcanserveasglueandcaulkingmaterial.Youcanalsouseitasbirdlime(toentrapsmallbirdsbysmearingthesapontwigswheretheyusuallyperch).

BurdockArctiumlappa

Description:Thisplanthaswavy-edged,arrow-shapedleavesandflowerheadsinburrlikeclusters.Itgrowsupto2meterstall,withpurpleorpinkflowersandalarge,fleshyroot.

HabitatandDistribution:BurdockisfoundworldwideintheNorthTemperateZone.Lookforitinopenwasteareasduringspringandsummer.

Edible Parts: Peel the tender leaf stalks and eat them raw or cook them likegreens.Therootsarealsoedibleboiledorbaked.

CAUTIONDonotconfuseburdockwithrhubarbthathaspoisonousleaves.

Other Uses: A liquid made from the roots will help to induce sweating andincreaseurination.Dry the root, simmer it inwater, strain the liquid, and thendrinkthestrainedliquid.Usethefiberfromthedriedstalktoweavecordage.

BurlPalmCoryphaelata

Description:This treemay reach18meters inheight. Ithas large, fan-shapedleaves up to 3meters long and split into about 100 narrow segments. It bearsflowersinhugeclustersatthetopofthetree.Thetreediesafterflowering.

HabitatandDistribution:ThistreegrowsincoastalareasoftheEastIndies.

EdibleParts:The trunkcontainsstarch that isedible raw.Thevery tipof thetrunk is also edible raw or cooked. You can get large quantities of liquid bybruisingthefloweringstalk.Thekernelsofthenutsareedible.

CAUTIONTheseedscoveringmaycausedermatitisinsomeindividuals.

OtherUses:Youcanusetheleavesasweavingmaterial.

CannalilyCannaindica

Description: The canna lily is a coarse perennial herb, 90 centimeters to 3meters tall.Theplantgrows froma large, thick,underground rootstock that isedible.Its largeleavesresemble thoseof thebananaplantbutarenotsolarge.The flowersofwildcanna lilyareusually small, relatively inconspicuous,andbrightlycoloredreds,oranges,oryellows.

Habitatanddistribution:Asawildplant,thecannalilyisfoundinalltropicalareas,especiallyinmoistplacesalongstreams,springs,ditches,andthemarginsofwoods.Itmayalsobefoundinwet,temperate,mountainousregions.Itiseasytorecognizebecauseit iscommonlycultivatedinflowergardensintheUnitedStates.

EdibleParts:Thelargeandmuchbranchedrootstocksarefullofediblestarch.Theyoungerpartsmaybe finelychoppedand thenboiledorpulverized intoameal.Mixintheyoungshootsofpalmcabbageforflavoring.

CarobtreeCeratoniasiliqua

Description:Thislargetreehasaspreadingcrown.Itsleavesarecompoundandalternate. Its seedpods, also known as Saint John’s bread, are up to 45centimeterslongandarefilledwithround,hardseedsandathickpulp.

HabitatandDistribution:ThistreeisfoundthroughouttheMediterranean,theMiddleEast,andpartsofNorthAfrica.

Edible Parts: The young tender pods are edible raw or boiled. You canpulverizetheseedsinmaturepodsandcookasporridge.

CashewnutAnacardiumoccidentale

Description:Thecashewisaspreadingevergreentreegrowingtoaheightof12meters, with leaves up to 20 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide. Itsflowers are yellowish-pink. Its fruit is very easy to recognize because of itspeculiar structure.The fruit is thick andpear-shaped, pulpy and redor yellowwhenripe.Thisfruitbearsahard,green,kidney-shapednutatitstip.Thenutissmooth,shiny,andgreenorbrownaccordingtoitsmaturity.

HabitatandDistribution:ThecashewisnativetotheWestIndiesandnorthernSouthAmerica,but transplantationhasspread it toall tropicalclimates. In theOldWorld, it has escaped from cultivation and appears to bewild at least inpartsofAfricaandIndia.

EdibleParts:Thenutenclosesoneseed.Theseedisediblewhenroasted.Thepear-shaped fruit is juicy, sweet-acid, and astringent. It is quite safe andconsidereddeliciousbymostpeoplewhoeatit.

CAUTIONThegreenhullsurroundingthenutcontainsaresinousirritantpoisonthatwillblister the lips and tongue likepoison ivy.Heatdestroys thispoisonwhenroastingthenuts.

CattailTyphalatifolia

Description: Cattails are grasslike plants with strap-shaped leaves 1 to 5centimeterswideandgrowingupto1.8meterstall.Themaleflowersareborneinadensemassabovethefemaleflowers.Theselastonlyashorttime,leavingthe female flowers that develop into the brown cattail. Pollen from the maleflowersisoftenabundantandbrightyellow.

Habitat and Distribution: Cattails are found throughout most of the world.Lookfor theminfullsunareasat themarginsof lakes,streams,canals,rivers,andbrackishwater.

EdibleParts:Theyoungtendershootsareedibleraworcooked.Therhizomeisoftenverytoughbutisarichsourceofstarch.Poundtherhizometoremovethestarch and use as a flour. The pollen is also an exceptional source of starch.Whenthecattailisimmatureandstillgreen,youcanboilthefemaleportionandeatitlikecornonthecob.

OtherUses:Thedried leavesareanexcellentsourceofweavingmaterialyou

canuse tomakefloatsand rafts.Thecottonyseedsmakegoodpillowstuffingand insulation. The fluff makes excellent tinder. Dried cattails are effectiveinsectrepellentswhenburned.

CereuscactusCereusspecies

Description:These cacti are tall andnarrowwith angled stemsandnumerousspines.

Habitat andDistribution: Theymay be found in true deserts and other dry,open, sunny areas throughout the Caribbean region, Central America, and thewesternUnitedStates.

EdibleParts:Thefruitsareedible,butsomemayhavealaxativeeffect.

OtherUses:Thepulpof thecactus isagoodsourceofwater.Breakopen thestemandscoopoutthepulp.

ChestnutCastaneasativa

Description:TheEuropeanchestnut isusuallya large tree,up to18meters inheight.

HabitatandDistribution: In temperate regions, thechestnut is found inbothhardwood and coniferous forests. In the tropics, it is found in semievergreenseasonalforests.TheyarefoundoverallofmiddleandsouthEuropeandacrossmiddleAsiatoChinaandJapan.Theyarerelativelyabundantalongtheedgeofmeadowsandasaforesttree.TheEuropeanchestnutisoneofthemostcommonvarieties.WildchestnutsinAsiabelongtotherelatedchestnutspecies.

EdibleParts:Chestnutsarehighlyusefulassurvivalfood.Ripenutsareusuallypickedinautumn,althoughunripenutspickedwhilegreenmayalsobeusedforfood.Perhapstheeasiestwaytopreparethemistoroasttheripenutsinembers.Cookedthisway,theyarequitetasty,andyoucaneatlargequantities.Anotherwayistoboilthekernelsafterremovingtheoutershell.Afterbeingboileduntilfairlysoft,youcanmashthenutslikepotatoes.

ChicoryCichoriumintybus

Description:Thisplantgrowsupto1.8meterstall.Ithasleavesclusteredatthebaseofthestemandsomeleavesonthestem.Thebaseleavesresemblethoseofthe dandelion. The flowers are sky blue and stay open only on sunny days.Chicoryhasamilkyjuice.

HabitatandDistribution:Look for chicory inold fields,waste areas,weedylots, and along roads. It is a native of Europe and Asia, but is also found inAfricaandmostofNorthAmericawhereitgrowsasaweed.

EdibleParts:Allpartsareedible.Eattheyoungleavesasasaladorboiltoeatasavegetable.Cooktherootsasavegetable.Foruseasacoffeesubstitute,roasttherootsuntiltheyaredarkbrownandthenpulverizethem.

ChufaCyperusesculentus

Description:Thisverycommonplanthasatriangularstemandgrasslikeleaves.Itgrowstoaheightof20to60centimeters.Thematureplanthasasoftfurlikebloom that extends from a whorl of leaves. Tubers 1 to 2.5 centimeters indiametergrowattheendsoftheroots.

Habitat and Distribution: Chufa grows in moist sandy areas throughout theworld.Itisoftenanabundantweedincultivatedfields.

EdibleParts:The tubersareedible raw,boiled,orbaked.Youcanalsogrindthemandusethemasacoffeesubstitute.

CoconutCocosnucifera

Description:Thistreehasasingle,narrow,talltrunkwithaclusterofverylargeleavesat the top.Each leafmaybeover6meters longwithover100pairsofleaflets.

Habitat and Distribution: Coconut palms are found throughout the tropics.Theyaremostabundantnearcostalregions.

Edible Parts: The nut is a valuable source of food. The milk of the youngcoconutisrichinsugarandvitaminsandisanexcellentsourceofliquid.Thenutmeatisalsonutritiousbutisrichinoil.Topreservethemeat,spreaditinthesununtilitiscompletelydry.

Other Uses: Use coconut oil to cook and to protect metal objects fromcorrosion.Alsousetheoiltotreatsaltwatersores,sunburn,anddryskin.Usetheoilinimprovisedtorches.Usethetreetrunkasbuildingmaterialandtheleavesasthatch.Hollowout thelargestumpforuseasafoodcontainer.Thecoconuthusksaregoodflotationdevicesand thehusk’sfibersareused toweaveropes

and other items. Use the gauzelike fibers at the leaf bases as strainers or usethemtoweaveabugnetortomakeapadtouseonwounds.Thehuskmakesagoodabrasive.Driedhuskfiberisanexcellenttinder.Asmolderinghuskhelpstorepelmosquitoes.Torendercoconutoil,putthecoconutmeatinthesun,heatitoveraslowfire,orboilitinapotofwater.Coconutswashedouttoseaareagoodsourceoffreshliquidfortheseasurvivor.

CommonjujubeZiziphusjujuba

Description:Thecommonjujubeiseitheradeciduoustreegrowingtoaheightof 12meters or a large shrub, dependinguponwhere it grows andhowmuchwaterisavailableforgrowth.Itsbranchesareusuallyspiny.Itsreddish-browntoyellowish-green fruit is oblong to ovoid, 3 centimeters or less in diameter,smooth, and sweet in flavor,buthasa ratherdrypulparoundacomparativelylargestone.Itsflowersaregreen.

Habitat andDistribution: The jujube is found in forested areas of temperateregionsandindesertscrubandwasteareasworldwide,ItiscommoninmanyofthetropicalandsubtropicalareasoftheOldWorld.InAfrica,itisfoundmainlyborderingtheMediterranean.InAsia,itisespeciallycommoninthedrierpartsofIndiaandChina.ThejujubeisalsofoundthroughouttheEastIndies.Itcanbefoundborderingsomedesertareas.

EdibleParts:Thepulp,crushedinwater,makesarefreshingbeverage.Iftimepermits, you can dry the ripe fruit in the sun like dates. Its fruits are high in

vitaminsAandC.

CranberryVacciniummacrocarpon

Description: This plant has tiny leaves arranged alternately. Its stem creepsalongtheground.Itsfruitsareredberries.

HabitatandDistribution:Itonlygrowsinopen,sunny,wetareasinthecolderregionsoftheNorthernHemisphere.

EdibleParts:Theberriesareverytartwheneatenraw.Cookinasmallamountofwaterandaddsugar,ifavailable,tomakeajelly.

Other Uses: Cranberries may act as a diuretic. They are useful for treatingurinarytractinfections.

CrowberryEmpetrumnigrum

Description:Thisisadwarfevergreenshrubwithshortneedlelikeleaves.Ithassmall,shiny,blackberriesthatremainonthebushthroughthewinter.

Habitat and Distribution: Look for this plant in tundra throughout arcticregionsofNorthAmericaandEurasia.

EdibleParts:Thefruitsareediblefreshorcanbedriedforlateruse.

CuipotreeCavanillesiaplatanifolia

Description:Thisisaverydominantandeasilydetectedtreebecauseitextendsabovetheothertrees.Itsheightrangesfrom45to60meters.Ithasleavesonlyatthetopandisbare11monthsoutoftheyear.Ithasringsonitsbarkthatextendtothetoptomakeiteasilyrecognizable.Itsbarkisreddishorgrayincolor.Itsrootsarelightreddish-brownoryellowish-brown.

Habitat and Distribution: The cuipo tree is located primarily in CentralAmericantropicalrainforestsinmountainousareas.

EdibleParts:Togetwaterfromthistree,cutapieceoftherootandcleanthedirtandbarkoffoneend,keepingtheroothorizontal.Putthecleanendtoyourmouthorcanteenandraisetheother.Thewaterfromthistreetasteslikepotatowater.

OtherUses:Useyoungsaplingsandthebranches’innerbarktomakerope.

DandelionTaraxacumofficinale

Description:Dandelion leaves have a jagged edge, grow close to the ground,and are seldommore than 20 centimeters long. Its flowers are bright yellow.Thereareseveraldandelionspecies.

Habitat and Distribution: Dandelions grow in open, sunny locationsthroughouttheNorthernHemisphere.

EdibleParts:Allpartsareedible.Eattheleavesraworcooked.Boiltherootsas a vegetable. Roots roasted and ground are a good coffee substitute.DandelionsarehighinvitaminsAandCandincalcium.

OtherUses:Usethewhitejuiceintheflowerstemsasglue.

DatePalmPhoenixdactylifera

Description: The date palm is a tall, unbranched tree with a crown of huge,compoundleaves.Itsfruitisyellowwhenripe.

Habitat and Distribution: This tree grows in arid semitropical regions. It isnative to North Africa and the Middle East but has been planted in the aridsemitropicsinotherpartsoftheworld.

EdibleParts:Thefruitisediblefreshbutisverybitterifeatenbeforeitisripe.Youcandrythefruitsinthesunandpreservethemforalongtime.

OtherUses: The trunks provide valuable buildingmaterial in deserts regionswhere fewother treelikeplantsare found.The leavesaredurableandyoucanuse them for thatching and as weaving material. The base of the leavesresemblescoarsecloththatyoucanuseforscrubbingandcleaning.

DaylilyHemerocallisfulva

Description:Thisplanthasunspotted,tawnyblossomsthatopenfor1dayonly.It has long, swordlike, green basal leaves. Its root is a mass of swollen andelongatedtubers.

Habitat and Distribution: Daylilies are found worldwide in Tropic andTemperate Zones. They are grown as a vegetable in the Orient and as anornamentalplantelsewhere.

EdibleParts:Theyounggreenleavesareedibleraworcooked.Tubersarealsoedibleraworcooked.Youcaneatitsflowersraw,buttheytastebettercooked.Youcanalsofrytheflowersforstorage.

CAUTIONEatingexcessiveamountsofrawflowersmaycausediarrhea.

DuchesneaorIndianstrawberryDuchesneaindica

Description:Theduchesnea is a small plant that has runners and three-partedleaves.Itsflowersareyellowanditsfruitresemblesastrawberry.

Habitatanddistribution:ItisnativetosouthernAsiabutisacommonweedinwarmertemperateregions.Lookforitinlawns,gardens,andalongroads.

EdibleParts:Itsfruitisedible.Eatitfresh.

ElderberrySambucuscanadensis

Description: Elderberry is a many-stemmed shrub with opposite, compoundleaves.Itgrowstoaheightof6meters.Itsflowersarefragrant,white,andbornein large flat-toppedclustersup to30centimetersacross. Itsberrylike fruitsaredarkblueorblackwhenripe.

HabitatandDistribution:Thisplantisfoundinopen,usuallywetareasatthemargins of marshes, rivers, ditches, and lakes. It grows throughout much ofeasternNorthAmericaandCanada.

Edible Parts: The flowers and fruits are edible. You can make a drink bysoaking the flowerheads for8hours, discarding the flowers, anddrinking theliquid.

CAUTIONAllotherpartsoftheplantarepoisonousanddangerousifeaten.

FireweedEpilobiumangustifolium

Description: This plant grows up to 1.8meters tall. It has large, showy, pinkflowers and lance-shaped leaves. Its relative, the dwarf fireweed (Epilobiumlatifolium),grows30to60centimeterstall.

HabitatandDistribution:Tall fireweedisfoundinopenwoods,onhillsides,onstreambanks,andnearseashoresinarcticregion.Itisespeciallyabundantinburned-over areas. Dwarf fireweed is found along streams, sandbars, andlakeshoresandonalpineandarcticslopes.

EdibleParts:Theleaves,stems,andflowersareedibleinthespringbutbecometoughinsummer.Youcansplitopenthestemsofoldplantsandeatthepithraw.

FishtailpalmCaryotaurens

Description:Fishtailpalmsarelargetrees,at least18meters tall.Their leavesareunlikethoseofanyotherpalm;theleafletsareirregularandtoothedontheuppermargins.Allotherpalmshaveeitherfan-shapedorfeatherlikeleaves.Itsmassivefloweringshootisborneatthetopofthetreeandhangsdownward.

Habitat andDistribution: The fishtail palm is native to the tropics of India,Assam,andBurma.SeveralrelatedspeciesalsoexistinSoutheastAsiaandthePhilippines.Thesepalmsarefoundinopenhillcountryandjungleareas.

EdibleParts:Thechieffoodinthispalmisthestarchstoredinlargequantitiesinitstrunk.Thejuicefromthefishtailpalmisverynourishingandyouhavetodrinkitshortlyaftergettingitfromthepalmflowershoot.Boilthejuicedowntoget a rich sugar syrup.Use the samemethod as for the sugar palm to get thejuice.Thepalmcabbagemaybeeatenraworcooked.

FoxtailgrassSetariaspecies

Description:Thisweedygrassisreadilyrecognizablebythenarrow,cylindricalheadcontaininglonghairs.Itsgrainsaresmall,lessthan6millimeterslong.Thedenseheadsofgrainoftendroopwhenripe.

HabitatandDistribution:Lookforfoxtailgrassesinopen,sunnyareas,alongroads, and at themargins of fields. Some species occur inwet,marshy areas.SpeciesofSetariaarefoundthroughouttheUnitedStates,Europe,westernAsia,and tropicalAfrica. In somepartsof theworld, foxtail grasses aregrownas afoodcrop.

EdibleParts:Thegrainsareediblerawbutareveryhardandsometimesbitter.Boilingremovessomeofthebitternessandmakesthemeasiertoeat.

GoaBeanPsophocarpustetragonolobus

Description:Thegoabeanisaclimbingplantthatmaycoversmallshrubsandtrees.Itsbeanpodsare22centimeterslong,itsleaves15centimeterslong,anditsflowersarebrightblue.Thematurepodsare4-angled,withjaggedwingsonthepods.

Habitat andDistribution: This plant grows in tropicalAfrica,Asia, theEastIndies, thePhilippines,andTaiwan.Thismemberof thebean (legume) familyservestoillustrateakindofediblebeancommoninthetropicsoftheOldWorld.Wildediblebeansofthissortaremostfrequentlyfoundinclearingsandaroundabandonedgardensites.Theyaremorerareinforestedareas.

EdibleParts:Youcaneat theyoungpodslikestringbeans.Thematureseedsareavaluablesourceofproteinafterparchingorroastingthemoverhotcoals.Youcangerminate the seeds (asyoucanmanykindsofbeans) indampmossand eat the resultant sprouts. The thickened roots are edible raw. They areslightlysweet,withthefirmnessofanapple.Youcanalsoeattheyoungleaves

asavegetable,raworsteamed.

HackberryCeltisspecies

Description:Hackberrytreeshavesmooth,graybarkthatoftenhascorkywartsor ridges.The treemay reach39meters inheight.Hackberry treeshave long-pointed leaves thatgrow in tworows.This treebears small, roundberries thatcan be eaten when they are ripe and fall from the tree. The wood of thehackberryisyellowish.

Habitat and Description: This plant is widespread in the United States,especiallyinandnearponds.

EdibleParts:Itsberriesareediblewhentheyareripeandfallfromthetree.

HazelnutorwildfilbertCorylusspecies

Description:Hazelnutsgrowonbushes1.8 to3.6metershigh.Onespecies inTurkeyandanotherinChinaarelargetrees.Thenutitselfgrowsinaverybristlyhuskthatconspicuouslycontractsabovethenutintoalongneck.Thedifferentspeciesvaryinthisrespectastosizeandshape.

HabitatandDistribution:Hazelnuts are foundoverwideareas in theUnitedStates, especially the eastern half of the country and along the Pacific coast.These nuts are also found in Europe where they are known as filberts. Thehazelnut is common inAsia, especially in easternAsia from theHimalayas toChinaandJapan.Thehazelnutusuallygrowsinthedensethicketsalongstreambanksandopenplaces.Theyarenotplantsofthedenseforest.

EdibleParts:Hazelnutsripenintheautumnwhenyoucancrackthemopenandeat thekernel.Thedriednut isextremelydelicious.Thenut’shighoilcontentmakesitagoodsurvivalfood.Intheunripestage,youcancrackthemopenand

eatthefreshkernel.

HorseradishtreeMoringapterygosperma

Description: This tree grows from 4.5 to 14 meters tall. Its leaves have afernlikeappearance.Itsflowersandlong,pendulousfruitsgrowontheendsofthebranches.Itsfruit(pod)lookslikeagiantbean.Its25-to-60-centimeter-long-pods are triangular in cross section,with strong ribs. Its roots have a pungentodor.

Habitat and Distribution: This tree is found in the rain forests andsemievergreenseasonalforestsofthetropicalregions.ItiswidespreadinIndia,SoutheastAsia,Africa,andCentralAmerica.Lookforitinabandonedfieldsandgardensandattheedgesofforests.

EdibleParts:Theleavesareedibleraworcooked,dependingontheirhardness.Cuttheyoungseedpodsintoshortlengthsandcookthemlikestringbeansorfrythem. You can get oil for frying by boiling the young fruits of palms andskimmingtheoiloffthesurfaceofthewater.Youcaneattheflowersaspartofasalad.Youcanchewfresh,youngseedpodstoeatthepulpyandsoftseeds.The

rootsmaybegroundasasubstituteforseasoningsimilartohorseradish.

IcelandmossCetrariaislandica

Description:Thismoss growsonly a few inches high. Its colormaybe gray,white,orevenreddish.

Habitat andDistribution: Look for it in open areas. It is found only in thearctic.

EdibleParts:AllpartsoftheIcelandmossareedible.Duringthewinterordryseason,itisdryandcrunchybutsoftenswhensoaked.Boilthemosstoremovethebitterness.Afterboiling,eatbyitself,oraddtomilkorgrainsasathickeningagent.Driedplantsstorewell.

IndianpotatoorEskimopotatoClaytoniaspecies

Description: All Claytonia species are somewhat fleshy plants only a fewcentimeterstall,withshowyflowersabout2.5centimetersacross.

Habitat andDistribution: Some species are found in rich forestswhere theyare conspicuous before the leaves develop. Western species are foundthroughoutmostofthenorthernUnitedStatesandinCanada.

EdibleParts:Thetubersareediblebutyoushouldboilthembeforeeating.

JuniperJuniperusspecies

Description: Junipers, sometimes called cedars, are trees or shrubswith verysmall, scalelike leaves densely crowded around thebranches.Each leaf is lessthan1.2centimeterslong.Allspecieshaveadistinctaromaresemblingthewell-known cedar. The berrylike cones are usually blue and covered with whitishwax.

Habitat and Distribution: Look for junipers in open, dry, sunny areasthroughout North America and northern Europe. Some species are found insoutheasternEurope,acrossAsiatoJapan,andinthemountainsofNorthAfrica.

EdibleParts:Theberriesandtwigsareedible.Eattheberriesraworroasttheseedstouseasacoffeesubstitute.Usedriedandcrushedberriesasaseasoningformeat.Gatheryoungtwigstomakeatea.

CAUTION

Manyplantsmaybecalledcedarsbutarenotrelatedtojunipersandmaybe harmful. Always look for the berrylike structures, needle leaves, andresinous,fragrantsaptobesuretheplantyouhaveisajuniper.

LotusNelumbospecies

Description: There are two species of lotus: one has yellow flowers and theother pink flowers. The flowers are large and showy. The leaves, whichmayfloatonorriseabovethesurfaceofthewater,oftenreach1.5metersinradius.Thefruithasadistinctiveflattenedshapeandcontainsupto20hardseeds.

Habitat and Distribution: The yellow-flowered lotus is native to NorthAmerica. The pink-flowered species, which is widespread in the Orient, isplantedinmanyotherareasoftheworld.Lotusesarefoundinquietfreshwater.

EdibleParts:Allpartsof theplantareedible raworcooked.Theunderwaterpartscontainlargequantitiesofstarch.Digthefleshyportionsfromthemudandbakeorboilthem.Boiltheyoungleavesandeatthemasavegetable.Theseedshaveapleasantflavorandarenutritious.Eatthemraw,orparchandgrindthemintoflour.

MalangaXanthosomacaracu

Description:Thisplanthassoft,arrow-shapedleaves,upto60centimeterslong.Theleaveshavenoabovegroundstems.

Habitat and Distribution: This plant grows widely in the Caribbean region.Lookforitinopen,sunnyfields.

EdibleParts:Thetubersarerichinstarch.Cookthembeforeeatingtodestroyapoisoncontainedinallpartsoftheplant.

WARNINGAlwayscookbeforeeating.

MangoMangiferaindica

Description:This treemay reach30meters inheight. Ithasalternate, simple,shiny,darkgreenleaves.Itsflowersaresmallandinconspicuous.Itsfruitshavealargesingleseed.Therearemanycultivatedvarietiesofmango.Somehaveredflesh,othersyellowororange,oftenwithmanyfibersandakerosenetaste.

HabitatandDistribution:Thistreegrowsinwarm,moistregions.ItisnativetonorthernIndia,Burma,andwesternMalaysia.Itisnowgrownthroughoutthetropics.

Edible Parts: The fruits are a nutritious food source. The unripe fruit can bepeeledanditsflesheatenbyshreddingitandeatingitlikeasalad.Theripefruitcanbepeeledandeatenraw.Roastedseedkernelsareedible.

CAUTIONIfyouare sensitive topoison ivy, avoideatingmangoes, as theycauseaseverereactioninsensitiveindividuals.

ManiocManihotutillissima

Description:Maniocisaperennialshrubbyplant,1to3meterstall,withjointedstemsanddeepgreen,fingerlikeleaves.Ithaslarge,fleshyrootstocks.

Habitat and Distribution: Manioc is widespread in all tropical climates,particularlyinmoistareas.Althoughcultivatedextensively, itmaybefoundinabandonedgardensandgrowingwildinmanyareas.

Edible Parts: The rootstocks are full of starch and high in food value. Twokinds ofmanioc are known: bitter and sweet.Both are edible. The bitter typecontains poisonous hydrocyanic acid. To preparemanioc, first grind the freshmanioc roots into a pulp, then cook it for at least 1 hour to remove the bitterpoison from the roots. Then flatten the pulp into cakes and bake as bread.Manioccakesor flourwillkeepalmost indefinitely ifprotectedagainst insectsanddampness.Wraptheminbananaleavesforprotection.

CAUTIONForsafety,alwayscooktherootsofeithertype.

Forsafety,alwayscooktherootsofeithertype.

MarshmarigoldCalthapalustris

Description: This plant has rounded, dark green leaves arising from a shortstem.Ithasbrightyellowflowers.

HabitatandDistribution:Thisplantisfoundinbogs,lakes,andslow-movingstreams.ItisabundantinarcticandsubarcticregionsandinmuchoftheeasternregionsofthenorthernUnitedStates.

EdibleParts:Allpartsareedibleifboiled.

CAUTIONAswithallwaterplants,donoteat thisplantraw.Rawwaterplantsmaycarrydangerousorganismsthatareremovedonlybycooking.

MulberryMorusspecies

Description: This tree has alternate, simple, often lobed leaves with roughsurfaces.Itsfruitsareblueorblackandmanyseeded.

HabitatandDistribution:Mulberrytreesarefoundinforests,alongroadsides,and in abandoned fields in Temperate and Tropical Zones of North America,SouthAmerica,Europe,Asia,andAfrica.

EdibleParts:Thefruitisedibleraworcooked.Itcanbedriedforeatinglater.

CAUTIONWhen eaten in quantity, mulberry fruit acts as a laxative. Green, unripefruitcanbehallucinogenicandcauseextremenauseaandcramps.

OtherUses:Youcanshredtheinnerbarkofthetreeanduseittomaketwineorcord.

NettleUrticaandLaporteaspecies

Description: These plants grow several feet high. They have small,inconspicuous flowers. Fine, hairlike bristles cover the stems, leafstalks, andundersidesofleaves.Thebristlescauseastingingsensationwhentheytouchtheskin.

Habitat andDistribution: Nettles prefermoist areas along streams or at themarginsofforests.TheyarefoundthroughoutNorthAmerica,CentralAmerica,theCaribbean,andnorthernEurope.

EdibleParts:Youngshootsandleavesareedible.Boilingtheplantfor10to15minutes destroys the stinging element of the bristles. This plant is verynutritious.

Other Uses: Mature stems have a fibrous layer that you can divide intoindividualfibersandusetoweavestringortwine.

NipapalmNipafruticans

Description:Thispalmhasa short,mainlyunderground trunkandvery large,erectleavesupto6meterstall.Theleavesaredividedintoleaflets.Afloweringheadformsonashorterectstemthatrisesamongthepalmleaves.Thefruiting(seed)headisdarkbrownandmaybe30centimetersindiameter.

Habitat andDistribution: This palm is common onmuddy shores in coastalregionsthroughouteasternAsia.

EdibleParts:Theyoung flower stalk and the seedsprovide agood sourceofwater and food.Cut the flower stalk and collect the juice.The juice is rich insugar.Theseedsarehardbutedible.

OtherUses:Theleavesareexcellentasthatchandcoarseweavingmaterial.

OakQuercusspecies

Description: Oak trees have alternate leaves and acorn fruits. There are twomaingroupsofoaks:redandwhite.Theredoakgrouphasleaveswithbristlesand smoothbark in theupper part of the tree.Redoak acorns take2years tomature.Thewhiteoakgrouphasleaveswithoutbristlesandaroughbarkintheupperportionofthetree.Whiteoakacornsmaturein1year.

Habitat and Distribution: Oak trees are found in many habitats throughoutNorthAmerica,CentralAmerica,andpartsofEuropeandAsia.

Edible Parts: All parts are edible, but often contain large quantities of bittersubstances.Whiteoakacornsusuallyhaveabetter flavor than redoakacorns.Gather and shell the acorns. Soak red oak acorns inwater for 1 to 2 days toremove the bitter substance. You can speed up this process by putting woodashesinthewaterinwhichyousoaktheacorns.Boiltheacornsorgrindthemintoflourandusetheflourforbaking.Youcanuseacornsthatyoubakeduntilverydarkasacoffeesubstitute.

CAUTIONTannicacidgivestheacornstheirbittertaste.Eatinganexcessiveamountof acorns high in tannic acid can lead to kidney failure. Before eatingacorns,leachoutthischemical.

OrachAtriplexspecies

Description: This plant is vinelike in growth and has arrowhead-shaped,alternate leavesup to5centimeters long.Young leavesmaybe silver-colored.Itsflowersandfruitsaresmallandinconspicuous.

Habitat andDistribution: Orach species are entirely restricted to salty soils.TheyarefoundalongNorthAmerica’scoastsandontheshoresofalkalinelakesinland.TheyarealsofoundalongseashoresfromtheMediterraneancountriestoinlandareasinNorthAfricaandeastwardtoTurkeyandcentralSiberia.

EdibleParts:Theentireplantisedibleraworboiled.

PalmettopalmSabalpalmetto

Description: The palmetto palm is a tall, unbranched treewith persistent leafbasesonmostofthetrunk.Theleavesarelarge,simple,andpalmatelylobed.Itsfruitsaredarkblueorblackwithahardseed.

HabitatandDistribution:Thepalmettopalm is found throughout thecoastalregionsofthesoutheasternUnitedStates.

Edible Parts: The fruits are edible raw. The hard seeds may be ground intoflour.Theheartofthepalmisanutritiousfoodsourceatanytime.Cutoffthetopofthetreetoobtainthepalmheart.

PapayaorpawpawCaricapapaya

Description:Thepapayaisasmalltree1.8to6meterstall,withasoft,hollowtrunk.Whencut, theentireplantexudesamilkyjuice.Thetrunkisrough,andthe leaves are crowded at the trunk’s apex. The fruit grows directly from thetrunk, among and below the leaves. The fruit is green before ripening.Whenripe,itturnsyelloworremainsgreenishwithasquashlikeappearance.

Habitat andDistribution: Papaya is found in rain forests and semievergreenseasonalforestsintropicalregionsandinsometemperateregionsaswell.Lookfor it inmoist areas near clearings and former habitations. It is also found inopen,sunnyplacesinuninhabitedjungleareas.

Edible Parts: The ripe fruit is high in Vitamin C. Eat it raw or cook it likesquash. Place green fruit in the sun tomake it ripen quickly.Cook the youngpapayaleaves,flowers,andstemscarefully,changingthewaterasfortaro.

CAUTIONBecarefulnottogetthemilkysapfromtheunripefruitintoyoureyes.Itwill cause intense pain and temporary—sometimes even permanent—blindness.

OtherUses:Usethemilkyjuiceoftheunripefruittotenderizetoughmeat.Rubthejuiceonthemeat.

PersimmonDiospyrosvirginianaandotherspecies

Description: These trees have alternate, dark green, elliptic leaveswith entiremargins. The flowers are inconspicuous. The fruit are orange, have a stickyconsistency,andhaveseveralseeds.

HabitatandDistribution:Thepersimmonisacommonforestmargintree.

ItiswidespreadinAfrica,easternNorthAmerica,andtheFarEast.

EdibleParts:TheleavesareagoodsourceofvitaminC.Thefruitsareedibleraworbaked.Tomaketea,drytheleavesandsoaktheminhotwater.Youcaneattheroastedseeds.

CAUTIONSomepersonsareunabletodigestpersimmonpulp.Unripepersimmonsarehighlyastringentandinedible.

PincushioncactusMammillariaspecies

Description:Membersofthiscactusgroupareround,short,barrel-shaped,andwithoutleaves.Sharpspinescovertheentireplant.

HabitatandDistribution:ThesecactiarefoundthroughoutmuchofthedesertregionsofthewesternUnitedStatesandpartsofCentralAmerica.

EdibleParts:Theyareagoodsourceofwaterinthedesert.

PinePinusspecies

Description:Pinetreesareeasilyrecognizedbytheirneedlelikeleavesgroupedin bundles. Each bundlemay contain one to five needles, the number varyingamong species. The tree’s odor and sticky sap provide a simple way todistinguishpinesfromsimilarlookingtreeswithneedlelikeleaves.

Habitat and Distribution: Pines prefer open, sunny areas. They are foundthroughout North America, Central America, much of the Caribbean region,NorthAfrica,theMiddleEast,Europe,andsomeplacesinAsia.

Edible Parts: The seeds of all species are edible. You can collect the youngmalecones,whichgrowonlyinthespring,asasurvivalfood.Boilorbaketheyoungcones.Thebarkofyoungtwigsisedible.Peeloffthebarkofthintwigs.Youcanchewthejuicyinnerbark;itisrichinsugarandvitamins.Eattheseedsraworcooked.GreenpineneedleteaishighinvitaminC.

OtherUses:Usetheresintowaterproofarticles.Alsouseitasglue.Collecttheresinfromthetree.Ifthereisnotenoughresinonthetree,cutanotchinthebark

somoresapwillseepout.Puttheresininacontainerandheatit.Thehotresinisyourglue.Useitasisoraddasmallamountofashdusttostrengthenit.Useitimmediately.Youcanusehardenedpineresinasanemergencydentalfilling.

Plantain,broadandnarrowleafPlantagospecies

Description:Thebroadleafplantainhasleavesover2.5centimetersacrossthatgrowclosetotheground.Theflowersareonaspikethatrisesfromthemiddleoftheclusterofleaves.Thenarrowleafplantainhasleavesupto12centimeterslong and 2.5 centimeterswide, coveredwith hairs. The leaves form a rosette.Theflowersaresmallandinconspicuous.

HabitatandDistribution:LookfortheseplantsinlawnsandalongroadsintheNorthTemperateZone.Thisplant is a commonweed throughoutmuchof theworld.

EdibleParts:Theyoung tender leavesareedible raw.Older leavesshouldbecooked.Seedsareedibleraworroasted.

OtherUses: To relieve pain fromwounds or sores,wash and soak the entireplantforashorttimeandapplyittotheinjuredarea.Totreatdiarrhea,drinkteamade from28grams (1ounce)of theplant leavesboiled in0.5 literofwater.Theseedsandseedhusksactaslaxatives.

PokeweedPhytolaccaamericana

Description:Thisplantmaygrowashighas3meters.Itsleavesareellipticandup to1meter in length. Itproducesmanylargeclustersofpurplefruits in latespring.

Habitat andDistribution: Look for this plant in open, sunny areas in forestclearings, in fields, and along roadsides in eastern North America, CentralAmerica,andtheCaribbean.

EdibleParts:Theyoungleavesandstemsareediblecooked.Boilthemtwice,discardingthewaterfromthefirstboiling.Thefruitsareedibleifcooked.

CAUTIONAll parts of this plant are poisonous if eaten raw. Never eat theunderground portions of the plant as these contain the highestconcentrationsofthepoisons.Donoteatanyplantover25centimeterstallorwhenredisshowingintheplant.

OtherUses:Usethejuiceoffreshberriesasadye.

PricklypearcactusOpuntiaspecies

Description: This cactus has flat, padlike stems that are green. Many round,furrydotsthatcontainsharp-pointedhairscoverthesestems.

HabitatandDistribution:Thiscactusisfoundinaridandsemiaridregionsandindry,sandyareasofwetter regions throughoutmostof theUnitedStatesandCentral and South America. Some species are planted in arid and semiaridregionsofotherpartsoftheworld.

EdibleParts:Allpartsoftheplantareedible.Peelthefruitsandeatthemfreshorcrushthemtopreparearefreshingdrink.Avoidthetiny,pointedhairs.Roasttheseedsandgrindthemtoaflour.

CAUTIONAvoidanypricklypearcactuslikeplantwithmilkysap.

OtherUses:Thepadisagoodsourceofwater.Peelitcarefullytoremoveall

sharphairsbeforeputtingitinyourmouth.Youcanalsousethepadstopromotehealing.Splitthemandapplythepulptowounds.

PurslanePortulacaoleracea

Description:Thisplantgrowsclosetotheground.Itisseldommorethanafewcentimeterstall.Itsstemsandleavesarefleshyandoftentingedwithred.Ithaspaddleshaped leaves, 2.5 centimeters or less long, clustered at the tips of thestems.Itsflowersareyelloworpink.Itsseedsaretinyandblack.

Habitat and Distribution: It grows in full sun in cultivated fields, fieldmargins,andotherweedyareasthroughouttheworld.

EdibleParts:Allpartsareedible.Washandboiltheplantsforatastyvegetableoreatthemraw.Usetheseedsasafloursubstituteoreatthemraw.

RattanpalmCalamusspecies

Description: The rattan palm is a stout, robust climber. It has hooks on themidribof its leaves that it uses to remain attached to treesonwhich it grows.Sometimes,maturestemsgrowto90meters.Ithasalternate,compoundleavesandawhitishflower.

Habitat and Distribution: The rattan palm is found from tropical AfricathroughAsiatotheEastIndiesandAustralia.Itgrowsmainlyinrainforests.

EdibleParts:Rattanpalmsholdaconsiderableamountofstarchintheiryoungstem tips.You can eat them roasted or raw. In other kinds, a gelatinous pulp,eithersweetorsour,surroundstheseeds.Youcansuckoutthispulp.Thepalmheartisalsoedibleraworcooked.

OtherUses:Youcanobtainlargeamountsofpotablewaterbycuttingtheendsofthelongstems.Thestemscanbeusedtomakebasketsandfishtraps.

ReedPhragmitesaustralis

Description:Thistall,coarsegrassgrowsto3.5meterstallandhasgray-greenleavesabout4centimeterswide.Ithaslargemassesofbrownflowerbranchesinearlysummer.Theserarelyproducegrainandbecomefluffy,graymasseslateintheseason.

HabitatandDistribution:Lookforreedinanyopen,wetarea,especiallyonethat has been disturbed through dredging. Reed is found throughout thetemperateregionsofboththeNorthernandSouthernHemispheres.

Edible Parts: All parts of the plant are edible raw or cooked in any season.Harvest the stems as they emerge from the soil and boil them. You can alsoharvestthemjustbeforetheyproduceflowers,thendryandbeatthemintoflour.Youcanalsodigupandboil theundergroundstems,but theyareoften tough.Seedsareedibleraworboiled,buttheyarerarelyfound.

ReindeermossCladoniarangiferin

Description:Reindeermossisalow-growingplantonlyafewcentimeterstall.Itdoesnotflowerbutdoesproducebrightredreproductivestructures.

Habitat andDistribution: Look for this lichen in open, dry areas. It is verycommoninmuchofNorthAmerica.

EdibleParts:Theentireplantisediblebuthasacrunchy,brittletexture.Soakthe plant in water with some wood ashes to remove the bitterness, then dry,crush,andaddittomilkortootherfood.

RocktripeUmbilicariaspecies

Description:Thisplantformslargepatcheswithcurlingedges.Thetopof theplantisusuallyblack.Theundersideislighterincolor.

Habitat and Distribution: Look on rocks and boulders for this plant. It iscommonthroughoutNorthAmerica.

EdibleParts:The entire plant is edible. Scrape it off the rock andwash it toremovegrit.Theplantmaybedryandcrunchy;soakitinwateruntilitbecomessoft. Rock tripesmay contain large quantities of bitter substances; soaking orboilingtheminseveralchangesofwaterwillremovethebitterness.

CAUTIONTherearesomereportsofpoisoningfromrocktripe,soapplytheUniversalEdibilityTest.

RoseappleEugeniajambos

Description:This treegrows3 to9metershigh. It hasopposite, simple,darkgreen,shinyleaves.Whenfresh,ithasfluffy,yellowish-greenflowersandredtopurpleegg-shapedfruit.

HabitatandDistribution:Thistreeiswidelyplantedinallofthetropics.Itcanalsobefoundinasemiwildstateinthickets,wasteplaces,andsecondaryforests.

EdibleParts:Theentirefruitisedibleraworcooked.

SagopalmMetroxylonsagu

Description:Thesepalmsarelowtrees,rarelyover9meterstall,withastout,spinytrunk.Theouterrindisabout5centimetersthickandhardasbamboo.Therindenclosesaspongyinnerpithcontainingahighproportionofstarch. Ithastypicalpalmlikeleavesclusteredatthetip.

Habitat and Distribution: Sago palm is found in tropical rain forests. ItflourishesindamplowlandsintheMalayPeninsula,NewGuinea,Indonesia,thePhilippines, and adjacent islands. It is found mainly in swamps and alongstreams,lakes,andrivers.

EdibleParts:Thesepalms,whenavailable,areofgreatusetothesurvivor.Onetrunk, cut justbefore it flowers,will yield enough sago to feedaperson for1year.Obtain sago starch fromnonfloweringpalms.Toextract the edible sago,cut away the bark lengthwise from one half of the trunk, and pound the soft,whitishinnerpart(pith)asfineaspossible.Kneadthepithinwaterandstrainit

through a coarse cloth into a container.The fine,white sagowill settle in thecontainer.Oncethesagosettles,itisreadyforuse.Squeezeofftheexcesswaterand let it dry. Cook it as pancakes or oatmeal. Two kilograms of sago is thenutritionalequivalentof1.5kilogramsofrice.Theupperpartofthetrunk’scoredoesnotyieldsago,butyoucanroastit inlumpsoverafire.Youcanalsoeattheyoungsagonutsandthegrowingshootsorpalmcabbage.

OtherUses:Usethestemsoftallsorghumsasthatchingmaterials.

SassafrasSassafrasalbidum

Description:Thisshruborsmall treebearsdifferent leaveson thesameplant.Some leaves will have one lobe, some two lobes, and some no lobes. Theflowers,whichappearinearlyspring,aresmallandyellow.Thefruitsaredarkblue.Theplantpartshaveacharacteristicrootbeersmell.

HabitatandDistribution:Sassafrasgrowsatthemarginsofroadsandforests,usually in open, sunny areas. It is a common tree throughout eastern NorthAmerica.

EdibleParts:Theyoungtwigsandleavesareediblefreshordried.Youcanadddriedyoungtwigsandleavestosoups.Digtheundergroundportion,peeloffthebark,andletitdry.Thenboilitinwatertopreparesassafrastea.

OtherUses:Shredthetendertwigsforuseasatoothbrush.

SaxualHaloxylonammondendron

Description:Thesaxualisfoundeitherasasmalltreeorasalargeshrubwithheavy,coarsewoodandspongy,water-soakedbark.Thebranchesoftheyoungtreesarevividgreenandpendulous.Theflowersaresmallandyellow.

Habitat andDistribution: The saxual is found in desert and arid areas. It isfound on the arid salt deserts of Central Asia, particularly in the TurkestanregionandeastoftheCaspianSea.

EdibleParts:Thethickbarkactsasawaterstorageorgan.Youcangetdrinkingwater by pressing quantities of the bark. This plant is an important source ofwaterinthearidregionsinwhichitgrows.

ScrewpinePandanusspecies

Description:Thescrewpineisastrangeplantbuiltonstilts,orproproots,thatsupport the plant aboveground so that it appears more or less suspended inmidair.Theseplantsareeithershrubbyortreelike,3to9meterstall,withstiffleaves having sawlike edges. The fruits are large, roughened balls resemblingpineapples,butwithoutthetuftofleavesattheend.

HabitatandDistribution:Thescrewpineisatropicalplantthatgrowsinrainforestsandsemievergreenseasonal forests. It is foundmainlyalongseashores,although certain kinds occur inland for some distance, from Madagascar tosouthernAsiaand the islandsof thesouthwesternPacific.Thereareabout180types.

EdibleParts:Knocktheripefruit tothegroundtoseparatethefruitsegmentsfromthehardoutercovering.Chewtheinnerfleshypart.Cookfruitthatisnotfully ripe in an earth oven. Before cooking, wrap the whole fruit in bananaleaves, breadfruit leaves, or any other suitable thick, leathery leaves. After

cooking for about 2 hours, you can chew fruit segments like ripe fruit.Greenfruitisinedible.

SeaorachAtriplexhalimus

Description:Theseaorachisasparinglybranchedherbaceousplantwithsmall,gray-colored leaves up to 2.5 centimeters long. Sea orach resembles lamb’s-quarter, a commonweed inmost gardens in theUnited States. It produces itsflowersinnarrow,denselycompactedspikesatthetipsofitsbranches.

HabitatandDistribution:Theseaorach is found inhighlyalkalineandsaltyareasalongseashoresfromtheMediterraneancountriestoinlandareasinNorthAfricaandeastwardtoTurkeyandcentralSiberia.Generally,itcanbefoundintropical scrub and thorn forests, steppes in temperate regions, andmost desertscrubandwasteareas.

EdibleParts:Itsleavesareedible.Intheareaswhereitgrows,ithasthehealthyreputationofbeingoneofthefewnativeplantsthatcansustainmanintimesofwant.

SheepsorrelRumexacetosella

Description:Theseplantsareseldommorethan30centimeterstall.Theyhavealternate leaves,oftenwitharrowlikebases,verysmall flowers,andfrequentlyreddishsterns.

Habitat and Distribution: Look for these plants in old fields and otherdisturbedareasinNorthAmericaandEurope.

EdibleParts:Theplantsareedibleraworcooked.

CAUTION:Theseplantscontainoxalicacid thatcanbedamaging if toomanyplantsareeatenraw.Cookingseemstodestroythechemical.

SorghumSorghumspecies

Description: There are many different kinds of sorghum, all of which beargrains in heads at the top of the plants. The grains are brown, white, red, orblack.Sorghumisthemainfoodcropinmanypartsoftheworld.

Habitat and Distribution: Sorghum is found worldwide, usually in warmerclimates.Allspeciesarefoundinopen,sunnyareas.

EdibleParts:Thegrainsareedibleatanystageofdevelopment.Whenyoung,the grains are milky and edible raw. Boil the older grains. Sorghum is anutritiousfood.

OtherUses:Usethestemsoftallsorghumasbuildingmaterials.

SpatterdockoryellowwaterlilyNupharspecies

Description:Thisplanthas leavesup to60centimeters longwitha triangularnotch at the base. The shape of the leaves is somewhat variable. The plant’syellowflowersare2.5centimetersacrossanddevelopintobottle-shapedfruits.Thefruitsaregreenwhenripe.

Habitat and Distribution: These plants grow throughout most of NorthAmerica.Theyare found inquiet, fresh, shallowwater (neverdeeper than1.8meters).

EdibleParts:Allpartsof theplant areedible.The fruits contain severaldarkbrownseedsyoucanparchorroastandthengrindintoflour.Thelargerootstockcontains starch.Dig it outof themud,peeloff theoutside, andboil the flesh.Sometimes the rootstock contains large quantities of a very bitter compound.Boilinginseveralchangesofwatermayremovethebitterness.

SterculiaSterculiafoetida

Description: Sterculias are tall trees, rising in some instances to 30 meters.Their leaves are either undivided or palmately lobed.Their flowers are red orpurple. The fruit of all sterculias is similar in aspect, with a red, segmentedseedpodcontainingmanyedibleblackseeds.

HabitatandDistribution:Thereareover100speciesofsterculiasdistributedthroughallwarmortropicalclimates.Theyaremainlyforesttrees.

EdibleParts:Thelarge,redpodsproduceanumberofedibleseeds.Theseedsofallsterculiasareedibleandhaveapleasanttastesimilartococoa.Youcaneatthemlikenuts,eitherraworroasted.

CAUTIONAvoideatinglargequantities.Theseedsmayhavealaxativeeffect.

StrawberryFragariaspecies

Description:Strawberry isasmallplantwitha three-leavedgrowthpattern. Ithassmall,whiteflowersusuallyproducedduringthespring.Itsfruitisredandfleshy.

HabitatandDistribution:StrawberriesarefoundintheNorthTemperateZoneand also in the high mountains of the southern Western Hemisphere.Strawberriespreferopen,sunnyareas.Theyarecommonlyplanted.

EdibleParts:Thefruitisediblefresh,cooked,ordried.StrawberriesareagoodsourceofvitaminC.Youcanalsoeattheplant’sleavesordrythemandmakeateawiththem.

WARNINGEatonlywhite-floweringtruestrawberries.Othersimilarplants

withoutwhiteflowerscanbepoisonous.

SugarcaneSaccharumofficinarum

Description: This plant grows up to 4.5 meters tall. It is a grass and hasgrasslike leaves. Itsgreenorreddishstemsareswollenwhere the leavesgrow.Cultivatedsugarcaneseldomflowers.

Habitat andDistribution: Look for sugarcane in fields. It grows only in thetropics (throughout theworld). Because it is a crop, it is often found in largenumbers.

EdibleParts:The stem is an excellent sourceof sugar and is verynutritious.Peel theouter portionoffwithyour teeth and eat the sugarcane raw.Youcanalsosqueezejuiceoutofthesugarcane.

SugarpalmArengapinnata

Description:Thistreegrowsabout15metershighandhashugeleavesupto6meters long.Needlelikestructuresstickoutof thebasesof the leaves.Flowersgrowbelowtheleavesandformlargeconspicuousclustersfromwhichthefruitsgrow.

HabitatandDistribution:Thispalmisnative to theEast Indiesbuthasbeenplantedinmanypartsofthetropics.Itcanbefoundatthemarginsofforests.

EdibleParts:Thechiefuseofthispalmisforsugar.However,itsseedsandthetipofitsstemsareasurvivalfood.Bruiseayoungflowerstalkwithastoneorsimilarobjectandcollect the juiceas itcomesout. It isanexcellentsourceofsugar.Boiltheseeds.Usethetipofthestemsasavegetable.

CAUTIONThefleshcoveringtheseedsmaycausedermatitis.

OtherUses:Theshaggymaterialat thebaseof the leavesmakesanexcellentropeasitisstrongandresistsdecay.

SweetsopAnnonasquamosa

Description: This tree is small, seldom more than 6 meters tall, and multi-branched.Ithasalternate,simple,elongate,darkgreenleaves.Itsfruit isgreenwhen ripe, round in shape, and coveredwith protruding bumpson its surface.Thefruit’sfleshiswhiteandcreamy.

HabitatandDistribution:Lookforsweetsopatmarginsoffields,nearvillages,andaroundhomesitesintropicalregions.

EdibleParts:Thefruitfleshisedibleraw.

OtherUses:Youcanusethefinelygroundseedsasaninsecticide.

CAUTIONThegroundseedsareextremelydangeroustotheeyes.

TamarindTamarindusindica

Description:Thetamarindisalarge,denselybranchedtree,upto25meterstall.Ithaspinnateleaves(dividedlikeafeather)with10to15pairsofleaflets.

Habitat and Distribution: The tamarind grows in the drier parts of Africa,Asia,andthePhilippines.AlthoughitisthoughttobeanativeofAfrica,ithasbeencultivatedinIndiaforsolongthatitlookslikeanativetree.Itisalsofoundin theAmerican tropics, theWest Indies,CentralAmerica, and tropical SouthAmerica.

Edible Parts: The pulp surrounding the seeds is rich in vitamin C and is animportant survival food.You canmake a pleasantly acid drink bymixing thepulpwithwater and sugarorhoneyand letting themixturemature for severaldays.Suckthepulptorelievethirst.Cooktheyoung,unripefruitsorseedpodswithmeat.Usetheyoungleavesinsoup.Youmustcooktheseeds.Roastthemabovea fireor inashes.Anotherway is to remove theseedcoatandsoak theseedsinsaltedwaterandgratedcoconutfor24hours,thencookthem.Youcan

peelthetamarindbarkandchewit.

Taro,cocoyam,elephantears,eddo,dasheenColocasiaandAlocasiaspecies

Description:Allplants inthesegroupshavelargeleaves,sometimesupto1.8meterstall,thatgrowfromaveryshortstem.Therootstockisthickandfleshyandfilledwithstarch.

Habitat andDistribution: These plants grow in the humid tropics. Look fortheminfieldsandnearhomesitesandvillages.

Edible Parts: All parts of the plant are ediblewhen boiled or roasted.Whenboiling,changethewateroncetogetridofanypoison.

CAUTIONIfeatenraw,theseplantswillcauseaseriousinflammationofthemouth

andthroat.

ThistleCirsiumspecies

Description: This plantmay grow as high as 1.5meters. Its leaves are long-pointed,deeplylobed,andprickly.

HabitatandDistribution:Thistlesgrowworldwideindrywoodsandfields.

EdibleParts:Peelthestalks,cutthemintoshortsections,andboilthembeforeeating.Therootsareedibleraworcooked.

CAUTIONSomethistlespeciesarepoisonous.

OtherUses:Twistthetoughfibersofthestemstomakeastrongtwine.

TiCordylineterminalis

Description:The tihasunbranchedstemswithstraplike leavesoftenclusteredatthetipofthestem.Theleavesvaryincolorandmaybegreenorreddish.Theflowersgrowattheplant’stopinlarge,plumelikeclusters.Thetimaygrowupto4.5meterstall.

HabitatandDistribution:Lookforthisplantatthemarginsofforestsornearhomesitesintropicalareas.ItisnativetotheFarEastbutisnowwidelyplantedintropicalareasworldwide.

EdibleParts:The rootsandvery tenderyoung leavesaregoodsurvival food.Boil or bake the short, stout roots found at the base of the plant. They are avaluable source of starch.Boil the very young leaves to eat.You can use theleavestowrapotherfoodtocookovercoalsortosteam.

OtherUses:Use the leaves to cover sheltersor tomakea raincloak.Cut theleaves into liners for shoes; this works especially well if you have a blister.Fashion temporary sandals from the ti leaves. The terminal leaf, if not

completelyunfurled,canbeusedasasterilebandage.Cuttheleavesintostrips,thenbraidthestripsintorope.

TreefernVariousgenera

Description:Treefernsaretalltreeswithlong,slendertrunksthatoftenhaveavery rough, barklike covering. Large, lacy leaves uncoil from the top of thetrunk.

HabitatandDistribution:Treefernsarefoundinwet,tropicalforests.

Edible Parts: The young leaves and the soft inner portion of the trunk areedible.Boiltheyoungleavesandeatasgreens.Eattheinnerportionofthetrunkraworbakeit.

TropicalAlmondTerminaliacatappa

Description: This tree grows up to 9 meters tall. Its leaves are evergreen,leathery,45centimeterslong,15centimeterswide,andveryshiny.Ithassmall,yellowish-green flowers. Its fruit is flat, 10 centimeters long, and not quite aswide.Thefruitisgreenwhenripe.

HabitatandDistribution:Thistreeisusuallyfoundgrowingneartheocean.Itis a common and often abundant tree in theCaribbean andCentral andSouthAmerica. It is also found in the tropical rain forests of southeastern Asia,northernAustralia,andPolynesia.

Edible Parts: The seed is a good source of food. Remove the fleshy, greencoveringandeattheseedraworcooked.

WalnutJuglansspecies

Description:Walnuts growon very large trees, often reaching 18meters tall.Thedividedleavescharacterizeallwalnutspecies.Thewalnutitselfhasathickouterhuskthatmustberemovedtoreachthehardinnershellofthenut.

HabitatandDistribution:TheEnglishwalnut,inthewildstate,isfoundfromsoutheastern Europe across Asia to China and is abundant in the Himalayas.SeveralotherspeciesofwalnutarefoundinChinaandJapan.TheblackwalnutiscommonintheeasternUnitedStates.

EdibleParts:Thenutkernelripensintheautumn.Yougetthewalnutmeatbycracking the shell.Walnutmeats are highly nutritious because of their proteinandoilcontent.

OtherUses:Youcanboilwalnutsandusethejuiceasanantifungalagent.Thehusksof“green”walnutsproduceadarkbrowndyeforclothingorcamouflage.Crushthehusksof“green”blackwalnutsandsprinklethemintosluggishwaterorpondsforuseasfishpoison.

WaterchestnutTrapanatans

Description:Thewaterchestnutisanaquaticplantthatrootsinthemudandhasfinelydivided leaves thatgrowunderwater. Its floating leavesaremuch largerand coarsely toothed. The fruits, borne underwater, have four sharp spines onthem.

HabitatandDistribution:Thewaterchestnutisafreshwaterplantonly.ItisanativeofAsiabuthasspreadtomanypartsoftheworldinbothtemperateandtropicalareas.

EdibleParts:Thefruitsareedibleraworcooked.Theseedsarealsoasourceoffood.

WaterlettuceCeratopterisspecies

Description: The leaves of water lettuce are much like lettuce and are verytenderandsucculent.Oneoftheeasiestwaysofdistinguishingwaterlettuceisby the little plantlets that grow from the margins of the leaves. These littleplantlets grow in the shapeof a rosette.Water lettuceplantsoften cover largeareasintheregionswheretheyarefound.

Habitat andDistribution: Found in the tropics throughout theOldWorld inboth Africa and Asia. Another kind is found in the NewWorld tropics fromFloridatoSouthAmerica.Waterlettucegrowsonlyinverywetplacesandoftenas a floatingwater plant. Look forwater lettuce in still lakes, ponds, and thebackwatersofrivers.

EdibleParts:Eatthefreshleaveslikelettuce.Becarefulnottodiptheleavesinthecontaminatedwaterinwhichtheyaregrowing.Eatonlytheleavesthatarewelloutofthewater.

CAUTIONThis plant has carcinogenic properties and should only be used as a lastresort.

WaterlilyNymphaeaodorata

Description:Theseplantshavelarge,triangularleavesthatfloatonthewater’ssurface, large, fragrant flowers that are usuallywhite or red, and thick, fleshyrhizomesthatgrowinthemud.

Habitat and Distribution: Water lilies are found throughout much of thetemperateandsubtropicalregions.

EdibleParts:The flowers, seeds, and rhizomes are edible rawor cooked.Toprepare rhizomes for eating, peel off the corky rind. Eat raw, or slice thinly,allowtodry,andthengrindintoflour.Dry,parch,andgrindtheseedsintoflour.

OtherUses:Usetheliquidresultingfromboilingthethickenedrootinwaterasamedicinefordiarrheaandasagargleforsorethroats.

WaterplantainAlismaplantago-aquatica

Description:Thisplanthas small,white flowers andheart-shaped leaveswithpointedtips.Theleavesareclusteredatthebaseoftheplant.

HabitatandDistribution:Lookforthisplantinfreshwaterandinwet,fullsunareasinTemperateandTropicalZones.

EdibleParts:Therootstocksareagoodsourceofstarch.Boilorsoaktheminwatertoremovethebittertaste.

CAUTIONToavoidparasites,alwayscookaquaticplants.

WildcaperCapparisaphylla

Description:This isa thornyshrubthat loses its leavesduring thedryseason.Itsstemsaregray-greenanditsflowerspink.

Habitat andDistribution:These shrubs form large stands in scrub and thornforestsandindesertscrubandwaste.TheyarecommonthroughoutNorthAfricaandtheMiddleEast.

EdibleParts:Thefruitsandthebudsofyoungshootsareedibleraw.

WildcrabappleorwildappleMalusspecies

Description:Mostwildapplelookenoughlikedomesticapplesthatthesurvivorcaneasilyrecognizethem.Wildapplevarietiesaremuchsmallerthancultivatedkinds; thelargestkindsusuallydonotexceed5to7.5centimetersindiameter,andmost often less. They have small, alternate, simple leaves and often havethorns.Theirflowersarewhiteorpinkandtheirfruitsreddishoryellowish.

HabitatandDistribution:Theyarefoundinthesavannaregionsofthetropics.Intemperateareas,wildapplevarietiesarefoundmainlyinforestedareas.Mostfrequently, they are found on the edge ofwoods or in fields. They are foundthroughouttheNorthernHemisphere.

EdibleParts:Preparewildapples foreating in thesamemannerascultivatedkinds.Eatthemfresh,whenripe,orcooked.Shouldyouneedtostorefood,cuttheapplesintothinslicesanddrythem.Theyareagoodsourceofvitamins.

CAUTIONAppleseedscontaincyanidecompounds.Donoteat.

WilddesertgourdorcolocynthCitrulluscolocynthis

Description: The wild desert gourd, a member of the watermelon family,produces a 2.4-to 3-meter-long ground-traveling vine. The perfectly roundgourdsareaslargeasanorange.Theyareyellowwhenripe.

Habitat and Distribution: This creeping plant can be found in any climaticzone, generally in desert scrub and waste areas. It grows abundantly in theSahara,inmanyArabcountries,onthesoutheasterncoastofIndia,andonsomeoftheislandsoftheAegeanSea.Thewilddesertgourdwillgrowinthehottestlocalities.

Edible Parts: The seeds inside the ripe gourd are edible after they arecompletely separated from the very bitter pulp.Roast or boil the seeds—theirkernels are rich in oil.The flowers are edible.The succulent stem tips can bechewedtoobtainwater.

WilddockandwildsorrelRumexcrispusandRumexacetosella

Description:Wilddockisastoutplantwithmostofitsleavesatthebaseofitsstem that is commonly 15 to 30 centimeters long. The plants usually developfrom a strong, fleshy, carrotlike taproot. Its flowers are usually very small,growingingreentopurplishplumelikeclusters.Wildsorrelissimilartothewilddockbut smaller.Manyof the basal leaves are arrow-shapedbut smaller thanthoseofthedockandcontainasourjuice.

Habitat and Distribution: These plants can be found in almost all climaticzonesoftheworld,inareasofhighaswellaslowrainfall.Manykindsarefoundasweedsinfields,alongroadsides,andinwasteplaces.

EdibleParts:Becauseofthetendernatureofthefoliage,thesorrelandthedockareusefulplants, especially indesert areas.Youcaneat their succulent leavesfreshorslightlycooked.Totakeawaythestrongtaste,changethewateronceortwiceduringcooking.Thislattertipisausefulhintinpreparingmanykindsofwildgreens.

WildfigFicusspecies

Description: These trees have alternate, simple leaves with entire margins.Often, the leavesaredarkgreenandshiny.All figshaveamilky,sticky juice.Thefruitsvary insizedependingon thespecies,butareusuallyyellow-brownwhenripe.

HabitatandDistribution:Figsareplantsofthetropicsandsemitropics.Theygrow in several different habitats, including dense forests, margins of forests,andaroundhumansettlements.

EdibleParts:Thefruitsareedibleraworcooked.Somefigshavelittleflavor.

WildgourdorluffaspongeLuffacylindrica

Description:Theluffaspongeiswidelydistributedandfairlytypicalofawildsquash.Thereareseveraldozenkindsofwildsquashesintropicalregions.Likemostsquashes,theluffaisavinewithleaves7.5to20centimetersacrosshaving3 lobes.Some squasheshave leaves twice this size.Luffa fruits areoblongorcylindrical,smooth,andmany-seeded.Luffaflowersarebrightyellow.Theluffafruit,whenmature,isbrownandresemblesacucumber.

HabitatandDistribution:Amemberofthesquashfamily,whichalsoincludesthewatermelon,cantaloupe,andcucumber,theluffaspongeiswidelycultivatedthroughout the Tropical Zone. It may be found in a semiwild state in oldclearings and abandoned gardens in rainforests and semievergreen seasonalforests.

EdibleParts:Youcanboiltheyounggreen(half-ripe)fruitsandeatthemasavegetable.Addingcoconutmilkwillimprovetheflavor.Afterripening,theluffaspongedevelopsan inediblespongelike texture in the interiorof thefruit.You

can also eat the tender shoots, flowers, and young leaves after cooking them.Roastthematureseedsalittleandeatthemlikepeanuts.

WildgrapevineVitisspecies

Description: Thewild grape vine climbswith the aid of tendrils.Most grapevinesproducedeeply lobed leaves similar to thecultivatedgrape.Wildgrapesgrowinpyramidal,hangingbunchesandareblack-bluetoamber,orwhitewhenripe.

HabitatandDistribution:Wildgrapesaredistributedworldwide.Somekindsare found in deserts, others in temperate forests, and others in tropical areas.WildgrapesarecommonlyfoundthroughouttheeasternUnitedStatesaswellasin the southwestern desert areas.Most kinds are rampant climbers over othervegetation. The best place to look forwild grapes is on the edges of forestedareas.WildgrapesarealsofoundinMexico.IntheOldWorld,wildgrapesarefoundfromtheMediterraneanregioneastwardthroughAsia,theEastIndies,andtoAustralia.Africaalsohasseveralkindsofwildgrapes.

Edible Parts: The ripe grape is the portion eaten. Grapes are rich in naturalsugarsand, for this reason,aremuchsoughtafterasasourceofenergy-giving

wildfood.Nonearepoisonous.

OtherUses:Youcanobtainwater fromseveredgrapevinestems.Cutoff thevineat thebottomandplace thecutend inacontainer.Makea slant-wisecutintothevineabout1.8metersuponthehangingpart.Thiscutwillallowwaterto flow from thebottomend.Aswaterdiminishes involume,makeadditionalcutsfurtherdownthevine.

CAUTIONTo avoid poisoning, do not eat grapelike fruits with only a single seed(moonseed).

WildonionandgarlicAlliumspecies

Description:Alliumcernuumisanexampleofthemanyspeciesofwildonionsandgarlics,alleasilyrecognizedbytheirdistinctiveodor.

Habitat andDistribution:Wild onions and garlics are found in open, sunnyareasthroughoutthetemperateregions.Cultivatedvarietiesarefoundanywhereintheworld.

EdibleParts:Thebulbsandyoungleavesareedibleraworcooked.Useinsouportoflavormeat.

CAUTIONThereareseveralplantswithonionlikebulbsthatareextremelypoisonous.Becertainthattheplantyouareusingisatrueonionorgarlic.Donoteatbulbswithnoonionsmell.

OtherUses:Eatinglargequantitiesofonionswillgiveyourbodyanodorthat

willhelptorepelinsects.Garlicjuiceworksasanantibioticonwounds.

WildpistachioPistaciaspecies

Description:Somekindsofpistachiotreesareevergreen,whileotherslosetheirleavesduring thedry season.The leavesalternateon the stemandhaveeitherthreelargeleavesoranumberofleaflets.Thefruitsornutsareusuallyhardanddryatmaturity.

HabitatandDistribution:AboutsevenkindsofwildpistachionutsarefoundindesertorsemidesertareassurroundingtheMediterraneanSeatoTurkeyandAfghanistan.Itisgenerallyfoundinevergreenscrubforestsorscrubandthornforests.

EdibleParts:Youcaneattheoilnutkernelsafterparchingthemovercoals.

WildriceZizaniaaquatica

Description:Wildriceisatallgrassthataverages1to1.5metersinheight,butmayreach4.5meters.Itsgraingrowsinverylooseheadsatthetopoftheplantandisdarkbrownorblackishwhenripe.

HabitatandDistribution:Wild ricegrowsonly inverywet areas in tropicalandtemperateregions.

EdibleParts:During the spring and summer, the central portionof the lowerstems and root shoots are edible. Remove the tough covering before eating.Duringthelatesummerandfall,collectthestraw-coveredhusks.Dryandparchthehusks,breakthem,andremovetherice.Boilorroastthericeandthenbeatitintoflour.

WildroseRosaspecies

Description:Thisshrubgrows60centimetersto2.5metershigh.Ithasalternateleavesandsharpprickles.Itsflowersmaybered,pink,oryellow.Itsfruit,calledrosehip,staysontheshrubyear-round.

Habitat andDistribution: Look forwild roses in dry fields and openwoodsthroughouttheNorthernHemisphere.

EdibleParts:Theflowersandbudsareedibleraworboiled.Inanemergency,youcanpeelandeattheyoungshoots.Youcanboilfresh,youngleavesinwatertomakea tea.After the flowerpetals fall,eat the rosehips; thepulp ishighlynutritiousandanexcellentsourceofvitaminC.Crushorgrinddriedrosehipstomakeflour.

CAUTIONEatonlytheouterportionofthefruitastheseedsofsomespeciesarequitepricklyandcancauseinternaldistress.

WoodsorrelOxalisspecies

Description:Woodsorrel resemblesshamrockor four-leafclover,withabell-shapedpink,yellow,orwhiteflower.

Habitat and Distribution: Wood sorrel is found in Temperate Zonesworldwide,inlawns,openareas,andsunnywoods.

EdibleParts:Cooktheentireplant.

CAUTIONEat only small amounts of this plant as it contains a fairly highconcentrationofoxalicacidthatcanbeharmful.

YamDioscoreaspecies

Description: These plants are vines that creep along the ground. They havealternate, heart-or arrow-shaped leaves.Their rootstockmaybevery large andweighmanykilograms.

Habitat andDistribution: True yams are restricted to tropical regionswherethey are an important food crop. Look for yams in fields, clearings, andabandoned gardens. They are found in rain forests, semievergreen seasonalforests,andscrubandthornforestsinthetropics.Inwarmtemperateareas,theyarefoundinseasonalhardwoodormixedhardwood-coniferousforests,aswellassomemountainousareas.

EdibleParts:Boiltherootstockandeatitasavegetable.

YambeanPachyrhizuserosus

Description: The yam bean is a climbing plant of the bean family, withalternate, three-parted leaves and a turniplike root. The bluish or purplishflowersarepealikeinshape.Theplantsareoftensorampantthattheycoverthevegetationuponwhichtheyaregrowing.

HabitatandDistribution:TheyambeanisnativetotheAmericantropics,butit was carried by man years ago to Asia and the Pacific islands. Now it iscommonlycultivatedintheseplaces,andisalsofoundgrowingwildinforestedareas.Thisplantsgrowsinwetareasoftropicalregions.

EdibleParts:Thetubersareaboutthesizeofaturnipandtheyarecrisp,sweet,and juicy and have a nutty flavor. They are nourishing and at the same timequenchthethirst.Eatthemraworboiled.Tomakeflour,slicetherawtubers,letthemdryinthesun,andgrindintoaflourthatishighinstarchandmaybeusedtothickensoup.

CAUTIONTherawseedsarepoisonous.

PART2

POISONOUSPLANTS

Plants basically poison on contact, ingestion, or by absorption orinhalation.Theycausepainfulskinirritationsuponcontact,theycauseinternal poisoning when eaten, and they poison through skinabsorption or inhalation in respiratory system. Many edible plantshavedeadlyrelativesandlook-alikes.Positiveidentificationofedibleplantswill eliminate thedangerofaccidentalpoisoning.There isnoroom for experimentation where plants are concerned, especially inunfamiliarterritory.

Plantpoisoningrangesfromminorirritationtodeath.Acommonquestionaskedis,“Howpoisonousisthisplant?”Itisdifficulttosayhowpoisonousplantsarebecause—•Someplantsrequirecontactwithalargeamountoftheplantbeforenoticinganyadversereactionwhileotherscausedeathwithonlyasmallamount.

•Everyplantwillvary in theamountof toxins itcontainsduetodifferentgrowingconditionsandslightvariationsinsubspecies.

•Everypersonhasadifferentlevelofresistancetotoxicsubstances.•Somepersonsmaybemoresensitivetoaparticularplant.

Somecommonmisconceptionsaboutpoisonousplantsare—•Watchtheanimalseatandwhattheyeat.Mostofthetimethisstatementis

true,butsomeanimalscaneatplantsthatarepoisonoustohumans.•Boiltheplantinwaterandanypoisonswillberemoved.Boilingremoves

manypoisons,butnotall.• Plants with a red color are poisonous. Some plants that are red are

poisonous,butnotall.

RulesforAvoidingPoisonousPlants

Your best policy is to be able to look at a plant and identify itwith absolutecertaintyandtoknowitsusesordangers.Manytimesthisisnotpossible.Ifyouhavelittleornoknowledgeofthelocalvegetation,usetherulestoselectplantsfor the “Universal Edibility Test” (see Appendix). Remember, avoid— • Allmushrooms.Mushroomidentificationisverydifficultandmustbeprecise,evenmore so than with other plants. Some mushrooms cause death very quickly.Some mushrooms have no known antidote. Two general types of mushroompoisoningaregastrointestinalandcentralnervoussystem.

•Contactwithortouchingplantsunnecessarily.

ContactDermatitis

Contactdermatitis fromplantswillusuallycause themost trouble in the field.The effects may be persistent, spread by scratching, and are particularlydangerousifthereiscontactinoraroundtheeyes.

Theprincipal toxinof theseplants isusually anoil thatgetson the skinuponcontact with the plant. The oil can also get on equipment and then infect

whoever touches theequipment.Neverburnacontactpoisonousplantbecausethe smokemaybe as harmful as the plant.There is a greater danger of beingaffectedwhen overheated and sweating. The infectionmay be local or itmayspreadoverthebody.

Symptoms may take from a few hours to several days to appear. Signs andsymptomscanincludeburning,reddening,itching,swelling,andblisters.

Whenyoufirstcontactthepoisonousplantsorthefirstsymptomsappear,trytoremove theoilbywashingwithsoapandcoldwater. Ifwater isnotavailable,wipe your skin repeatedly with dirt or sand. Do not use dirt if blisters havedeveloped. The dirt may break open the blisters and leave the body open toinfection.After you have removed the oil, dry the area.You canwashwith atannic acid solution and crush and rub jewelweedon the affected area to treatplant-causedrashes.Youcanmaketannicacidfromoakbark.

IngestionPoisoning

Ingestionpoisoningcanbeveryseriousandcouldleadtodeathveryquickly.Donoteatanyplantunlessyouhavepositivelyidentifieditfirst.Keepalogofallplantseaten.

Signs and symptoms of ingestion poisoning can include nausea, vomiting,diarrhea, abdominal cramps, depressed heartbeat and respiration, headaches,hallucinations,drymouth,unconsciousness,coma,anddeath.

If you suspect plant poisoning, try to remove the poisonousmaterial from thevictim’smouthandstomachassoonaspossible.Inducevomitingbyticklingtheback of his throat or by giving him somewarm saltwater, if he is conscious.Dilute the poison by administering large quantities of water or milk, if he isconscious.

Castorbean,castor-oilplant,palmaChristiRicinuscommunisSpurge(Euphorbiaceae)Family

Description: The castor bean is a semiwoodyplantwith large, alternate, star-likeleavesthatgrowsasatreeintropicalregionsandasanannualintemperateregions.Itsflowersareverysmallandinconspicuous.Itsfruitsgrowinclustersatthetopsoftheplants.

CAUTIONAll parts of the plant are very poisonous to eat. The seeds are large andmaybemistakenforabeanlikefood.

Habitat andDistribution: This plant is found in all tropical regions and hasbeenintroducedtotemperateregions.

ChinaberryMeliaazedarachMahogany(Meliaceae)Family

Description:Thistreehasaspreadingcrownandgrowsupto14meterstall.Ithasalternate,compoundleaveswithtoothedleaflets.Itsflowersarelightpurplewithadarkcenterandgrow inball-likemasses. Ithasmarble-sized fruits thatarelightorangewhenfirstformedbutturnlighterastheybecomeolder.

CAUTIONAllpartsofthetreeshouldbeconsidereddangerousifeaten.Itsleavesarea natural insecticide andwill repel insects from stored fruits and grains.Takecarenottoeatleavesmixedwiththestoredfood.

Habitat andDistribution: Chinaberry is native to theHimalayas and easternAsia but is now planted as an ornamental tree throughout the tropical andsubtropicalregions.IthasbeenintroducedtothesouthernUnitedStatesandhas

escapedtothickets,oldfields,anddisturbedareas.

Cowhage,cowage,cowitchMucunapruritumLeguminosae(Fabaceae)Family

Description:Avinelikeplantthathasovalleafletsingroupsofthreeandhairyspikeswithdullpurplishflowers.Theseedsarebrown,hairypods.

CAUTIONContactwiththepodsandflowerscausesirritationandblindnessifintheeyes.

HabitatandDistribution:TropicalareasandtheUnitedStates.

Deathcamas,deathlilyZigadenusspeciesLily(Liliaceae)Family

Description:Thisplantarisesfromabulbandmaybemistakenforanonionlikeplant. Its leaves are grasslike. Its flowers are six-parted and the petals have agreen,heart-shapedstructureonthem.Theflowersgrowonshowystalksabovetheleaves.

CAUTIONAllpartsof thisplantareverypoisonous.Deathcamasdoesnothavetheonionsmell.

HabitatandDistribution:Deathcamasisfoundinwet,open,sunnyhabitats,althoughsomespeciesfavordry,rockyslopes.TheyarecommoninpartsofthewesternUnitedStates.SomespeciesarefoundintheeasternUnitedStatesandinpartsoftheNorthAmericanwesternsubarcticandeasternSiberia.

LantanaLantanacamaraVervain(Verbenaceae)Family

Description:Lantana is a shrublike plant thatmaygrowup to 45 centimetershigh.Ithasopposite,roundleavesandflowersborneinflat-toppedclusters.Theflower color (which varies in different areas) may be white, yellow, orange,pink,orred.Ithasadarkblueorblackberrylikefruit.Adistinctivefeatureofallpartsofthisplantisitsstrongscent.

CAUTIONAll parts of this plant are poisonous if eaten and canbe fatal.This plantcausesdermatitisinsomeindividuals.

HabitatandDistribution:Lantana is grownas anornamental in tropical andtemperateareasandhasescapedcultivationasaweedalongroadsandoldfields.

ManchineelHippomanemancinellaSpurge(Euphorbiaceae)Family

Description:Manchineelisatreereachingupto15metershighwithalternate,shinygreen leavesandspikesof smallgreenish flowers. Its fruitsaregreenorgreenish-yellowwhenripe.

CAUTIONThistreeisextremelytoxic.Itcausesseveredermatitisinmostindividualsafter only .5 hour. Even water dripping from the leaves may causedermatitis. The smoke from burning it irritates the eyes. No part of thisplantshouldbeconsideredafood.

Habitat and Distribution: This tree prefers coastal regions. Found in southFlorida,theCaribbean,CentralAmerica,andnorthernSouthAmerica.

OleanderNeriumoleanderDogbane(Apocynaceae)Family

Description:This shrubor small treegrows to about9meters,with alternate,verystraight,darkgreenleaves.Itsflowersmaybewhite,yellow,red,pink,orintermediatecolors.Itsfruitisabrown,podlikestructurewithmanysmallseeds.

CAUTIONAllpartsoftheplantareverypoisonous.Donotusethewoodforcooking;itgivesoffpoisonousfumesthatcanpoisonfood.

HabitatandDistribution:ThisnativeoftheMediterraneanareaisnowgrownasanornamentalintropicalandtemperateregions.

PangiPangiumedulePangiFamily

Description:This tree,withheart-shaped leaves inspirals, reachesaheightof18meters.Itsflowersgrowinspikesandaregreenincolor.Itslarge,brownish,pear-shapedfruitsgrowinclusters.

CAUTIONAllpartsarepoisonous,especiallythefruit.

HabitatandDistribution:PangitreesgrowinsoutheastAsia.

PhysicnutJatrophacurcasSpurge(Euphorbiaceae)Family

Description:Thisshruborsmalltreehaslarge,3-to5-partedalternateleaves.Ithas small, greenish-yellow flowers and its yellow, apple-sized fruits containthreelargeseeds.

CAUTIONThe seeds taste sweetbut theiroil isviolentlypurgative.Allpartsof thephysicnutarepoisonous.

HabitatandDistribution:ThroughoutthetropicsandsouthernUnitedStates.

Poisonhemlock,fool’sparsleyConiummaculatumParsley(Apiaceae)Family

Description: This biennial herb may grow to 2.5 meters high. The smooth,hollow stem may or may not be purple or red striped or mottled. Its whiteflowers are small and grow in small groups that tend to form flat umbels. Itslong,turnipliketaprootissolid.

CAUTIONThis plant is very poisonous and even a very small amount may causedeath.ThisplantiseasytoconfusewithwildcarrotorQueenAnne’slace,especiallyinitsfirststageofgrowth.WildcarrotorQueenAnne’slacehashairyleavesandstemsandsmellslikecarrot.Poisonhemlockdoesnot.

HabitatandDistribution:Poisonhemlockgrows inwetormoistground likeswamps,wetmeadows,streambanks,andditches.NativetoEurasia,ithasbeen

introducedtotheUnitedStatesandCanada.

PoisonivyandpoisonoakToxicodendronradicansandToxicodendrondiversibbaCashew(Anacardiaceae)Family

Description: These two plants are quite similar in appearance and will oftencrossbreed tomake a hybrid. Both have alternate, compound laveswith threeleaflets.Theleavesofpoisonivyaresmoothorserrated.Poisonoak’sleavesarelobedandresembleoakleaves.Poisonivygrowsasavinealongthegroundorclimbs by red feeder roots. Poison oak grows like a bush.The greenish-whiteflowersaresmallandinconspicuousandarefollowedbywaxygreenberriesthatturnwaxywhiteoryellow,thengray.

CAUTIONAllparts,atalltimesoftheyear,cancauseseriouscontactdermatitis.

Habitat and Distribution: Poison ivy and oak can be found in almost anyhabitatinNorthAmerica.

PoisonsumacToxicodendronvernixCashew(Anacardiaceae)Family

Description: Poison sumac is a shrub that grows to 8.5 meters tall. It hasalternate, pinnately compound leafstalks with 7 to 13 leaflets. Flowers aregreenish-yellow and inconspicuous and are followed by white or pale yellowberries.

CAUTIONAllpartscancauseseriouscontactdermatitisatalltimesoftheyear.

Habitat andDistribution: Poison sumac grows only inwet, acid swamps inNorthAmerica.

Renghastree,rengastree,markingnut,black-varnishtreeGlutaCashew(Anacardiaceae)Family

Description: This family comprises about 48 species of trees or shrubs withalternatingleavesinterminaloraxillarypanicles.Flowersaresimilartothoseofpoisonivyandoak.

CAUTIONCancausecontactdermatitissimilartopoisonivyorpoisonoak.

HabitatandDistribution:India,easttoSoutheastAsia.

Rosarypeaorcrab’seyesAbrusprecatoriusLeguminosae(Fabaceae)Family

Description:Thisplant is avinewith alternate compound leaves, lightpurpleflowers,andbeautifulseedsthatareredandblack.

CAUTIONThis plant is one of the most dangerous plants. One seed may containenoughpoisontokillanadult.

HabitatandDistribution:ThisisacommonweedinpartsofAfrica,southernFlorida,Hawaii,Guam,theCaribbean,andCentralandSouthAmerica.

StrychninetreeNuxvomicaLogania(Loganiaceae)Family

Description:Thestrychninetreeisamedium-sizedevergreen,reachingaheightofabout12meters,withathick,frequentlycrookedtrunk.Itsdeeplyveinedovalleavesgrowinalternatepairs.Small,looseclustersofgreenishflowersappearatthe ends of branches and are followed by fleshy, orange-red berries about 4centimetersindiameter.

CAUTIONThe berries contain the disklike seeds that yield the poisonous substancestrychnine.Allpartsoftheplantarepoisonous.

Habitat and Distribution: A native of the tropics and subtropics ofsoutheasternAsiaandAustralia.

TrumpetvineortrumpetcreeperCampsisradicansTrumpetcreeper(Bignoniaceae)Family

Description:Thiswoodyvinemayclimbto15metershigh.Ithaspealikefruitcapsules. The leaves are pinnately compound, 7 to 11 toothed leaves per leafstock.Thetrumpet-shapedflowersareorangetoscarletincolor.

CAUTIONThisplantcausescontactdermatitis.

Habitat and Distribution: This vine is found in wet woods and thicketsthroughouteasternandcentralNorthAmerica.

WaterhemlockorspottedcowbaneCicutamaculataParsley(Apiaceae)Family

Description: This perennial herb may grow to 1.8 meters high. The stem ishollowandsectionedofflikebamboo.Itmayormaynotbepurpleorredstripedormottled.Itsflowersaresmall,white,andgrowingroupsthattendtoformflatumbels. Its rootsmay have hollow air chambers and,when cut,may producedropsofyellowoil.

CAUTIONThis plant is very poisonous and even a very small amount of this plantmaycausedeath.Itsrootshavebeenmistakenforparsnips.

Habitat andDistribution:Water hemlockgrows inwet ormoist ground likeswamps,wetmeadows,streambanks,andditchesthroughouttheUnitedStates

andCanada.