Creeping Charlie

CREEPING CHARLIE

Ground Ivy

Species: Glechoma hederacea

Risk: None, Edible

Creeping Charlie is a ground vine that thrives in shady places. Many gardeners and landscapers have trouble keeping its growth in check as it grows fast and can overtake entire yards within a few months. The only problem with this vine comes when you try to get rid of it.

It grows well in most soil conditions and among varieties of other flora. The small, wrinkled spade-shaped petals can blanket an entire area and choke the growth of grass and other plants. 

Early settlers in America imported and cultivated the plant. Its leaves are harvested for fresh greens, dried for making tea, and gathered for salads. It has been made use of for various medicinal purposes. However, today Creeping Charlie is mainly regarded as a nuisance.

NOTES

It is not advised to eat this plant, or any wild edible, raw. Wild edibles should always be sanitized and cooked in order to kill any harmful bacteria that can live on or in them. The benefits of a meal gathered from the wild may not outweigh the risks of illness due to food borne bacteria.

Red Clover

RED CLOVER

Grassland Plant

Species: Trifolium pratense

Risk: None, Edible

Fields and pastures throughout Missouri are home to millions of these small pink flowering plants. 

They have been part common in folklore for generations. We've all heard of the luck in finding a four-leaf clover. However, many people see their usefulness going no further than luck and food for grazing livestock. 

Every part of this small blossom, from the roots to its pink flower is edible. The flower contains protein as well as Vitamin C. A Red Clover salad can be made using all parts of the plant. The blossoms can be dried used to make teas and add flavor to soups and stews. It can also be dried and ground into flour for use in other cooking recipes. It can be quite a bountiful resource given the sheer volume of it there is to be found.

The leaves can be used to make salads and add filler to any meal. Eaten raw, Red Clovers can be quite difficult to digest. Boiling and cooking any parts to be consumed is recommended in order to make it a safer and more enjoyable experience.

It is also better to find new and fresh sprouts that have yet to flower to assure quality. Older or dead clovers can be very unpalatable and potentially unsafe to eat. Harvest your salad with care. 

NOTES

It is not advised to eat this plant, or any wild edible, raw. Wild edibles should always be sanitized and cooked in order to kill any harmful bacteria that can live on or in them. The benefits of a meal gathered from the wild may not outweigh the risks of illness due to food borne bacteria.

Scallions - Wild Green Onions

SCALLION

Wild Green Onion

Species: Allium

Risk: None, Edible and Delicious

These plants go by many names. People call them yard onions, green shallots and baby onions. These wild edibles can be found all over the state, from wooded areas to backyards. Their bulb grows underground while and their stalks grow above it. These stalks can be anywhere from five inches to two feet long. 

As the Scallion grows, its stalks sprout more and more layers that split off and become leaves. These layers allow the onion to protrude upward to gather sunlight. However, sometimes a stalk becomes too large or weak to support itself and can be found leaning or laying down.

The bulbs of the Scallion are roughly the size of a small marble. They are usually found two to four inches below the soil. If you intent to harvest, it is recommended that you dig down to reach them rather than just pulling on the stalk. This can result in ripping the stalk off at ground level and leaving the bulb buried. 

The small roots at the base of the bulb can make removal difficult. Yet, successfully harvesting these small wild onions is well worth the effort as they can liven up any meal with their wonderful flavor.

NOTES

DO NOT eat wild onions, or any other edible, that you find growing wild in town or on someone's lawn. Harmful chemicals and pesticides from city utilities and lawn maintenance can taint the soil, rendering any wild plant growing there unsafe to eat. Always remember that good judgement is paramount when foraging for food.

PREPARING WILD SCALLIONS

First, rinse off all dirt and grime from the entire plant using clean water.

Once clean, gently pull off the tough outermost layer of stalk and leaves from the stalk and bulb. This will remove remaining dirt and reveal the tender inner stalk.

Use a knife to sever the root base from the bulb. 

 Discard the roots and any dried or dead tips and from the ends of the stalks.

Dice the entire plant. The wild Scallion is a great find because nearly all of it can be consumed.

Serve and enjoy.

The Multiflora Rose

MULTIFLORA ROSE

Common Rose Bush

Species: Rosa multiflora var. cathayensis

Risk: Approach with Caution, Minimally Edible

The Multiflora Rose is a shrub that grows all over Missouri. This invasive plant has multiplied exponentially throughout the Heartland since it was introduced in the 1930s. Native to far east Asia, this rose bush was originally intended for use in America as a natural barrier, much akin to Hedge Apple trees. However, due to cross pollination from birds and insects, as well as a lack of natural predators, it quickly grew out of control.

Every inch on this dense shrub is covered in needles and thorns. The vines themselves are extremely resilient and strong. It spreads and grows with hardly any impediment and the older bushes can grow to 15 feet in height. The vines grope outward and can obstruct forest pathways and snare anything that passes by. In essence, this rose bush is nature's razor wire. 

During the late spring, the first flowers begin to bloom in full. Their flowers grow from small buds and progress from a dark to light pink as the plant ages and blossoms. The only positive aspect of this intrusive rose bush is its aesthetics. However, buying, selling or propagating the Multiflora Rose is prohibited by law due to its destructive nature.

The seeds of this rose bush are small red berries that begin to grow in early Spring and ripen in Summer. These berries can be gathered and consumed. The flower petal can be dried and used to make tea. However, attaining these feeble resources is not without risk. Even the leaves are wreathed in small barbs.

Young sprouts can be identified by their red vines and signature thorns that begin each new vine stalk. From infancy to adulthood, this detestable rose shrub grows larger and wider. 

The Multifloral Rose spreads and obstructs pathways, prairies, crop lands and forested areas. It is difficult to eradicate due to its high reproduction and growth rate. Identify and avoid.

The Honey Locust Thorn Tree

HONEY LOCUST

Common Thorn Tree

Species: Gleditsia triacanthos

Risk: Approach with Caution, Partially Edible

The Honey Locust is a common sight in Missouri. This tree should be passed carefully as its entire body, from the trunk to the tips of its branches, is covered in thorns. These thorns can grow anywhere from three to eight inches long and often grow in clusters. Neither the tree nor its thorns carry any harmful poison or toxin.  

The leaves of the Honey Locust are doubly compound, meaning they sprout off of a single stem in parallel leaflets. The branches on which they sprout are also covered in thorns. The leaves are safe to touch, although you risk a few pokes should you feel the need to do so. 

The only edible part of this tree is the pulp inside the seed pods. The pods fully mature in early Fall. When ripe, the long seed pods become dark brown and begin falling from the tree. Although the seed pods contain edible pulp, these should only be gathered when absolutely necessary.

NOTES

Careful identification and avoidance of this tree could save you a few nasty pokes. Old and dead branches have a tendency to fall off or be ripped from the tree by the wind. These fallen branches can present a hazard to hikers unaware of their proximity to the Honey Locust. These thorns can puncture shoes and possibly deliver a deep wound. Avoidance is the best policy.

USEFUL TIPS

Although the edible seed pods are only available during Autumn, the tree itself remains useful year round. The wood itself is quite sturdy and resistant to rot. The dense canopy under the tree can be used as protection from the sun, provided having dealt with the issue of the thorns. The thorns themselves are possibly the most useful part of the Honey Locust. The thorns have been used as fish hooks, spear heads, nails, sewing needles and small game traps. Gather with caution.