Foraging for Food- The weed identification thread.

[rebecca100]

It should get really prickley purple flowers. There is a use for it, but I don't remember what.

 

[sunsaver]

You beat me to it, R100! The purple blooming thistle is Russian or "bull" thistle. The hollow core is delish, and tastes much like it's relative, artichoke. The white ones around here are very aromatic and not good to eat. The variegated one is milk thistle, and can protect the liver from toxins.

 

[rebecca100]

I didn't know that. All I've ever seen are the stinking purple ones that for some reason I always end up scratched up by. They are all over our old place.

 

[rebecca100]

It seems like I read the purple thistle can be used as a rennet substitute.

 

[savingdogs]

yes, very sharp near the base. You have to dig it up with a shovel. I'm allergic to thistle, so glad to know what that is. It does get an ugly purply flower. It is very invasive too.

That is interesting it can be used as a rennet substitute. I've heard that stinging nettles can be used that way as well.

I can identify nettles no problem, but we seem to have two varieties, a greener smaller one and a taller more purple one. I have only eaten the more purple one and I must say it was really yummy.

 

[Dawn419]

savingdogs,

Here's a link for you: Mullein Images.

It's a biennial, gets it's leaves the first year and blooms it's second year.

#3 kinda looks like Jewelweed, but I'm not positive about that.

#4 is Trillium.

I've seen them bloom in red, white and pink in TN. They are also called Wake Robin's and Sweet Bubbies.

#11 is Bleeding Hearts.

The third pic in the third row looks like your pic.

#12 could be Chickweed.

Our chickens and guineas love the stuff. It's supposed to be a good pot herb tto, but I can never get enough to try it for myself. So, I've fenced off a little clump and am letting it go to seed so I can sow a patch of it in the fenced in garden.


Hope this is some help!


Dawn

 

[sunsaver]

The flowers look exactly like chickweed, dawn419, but bigger than i've ever seen, and no heart shaped leaves are visible. SD lives much farther north than us, so i'll have to say that i'm not yet sold on chickweed for #12.

 

[miss_thenorth]

1 some type of thistle
2 does 2 get a purple flower stalk? If so , it could be fireweed
3 ?
4 trillium
5 canadian thistle
6 notsure if you are referring to the thistle
7 need a closer up pic
8 ?
9 need to see the what colour the flower is--golden rod?
10-13 ?
14 some type of thistle

 

[savingdogs]

You beat me to it, R100! The purple blooming thistle is Russian or "bull" thistle. The hollow core is delish, and tastes much like it's relative, artichoke. The white ones around here are very aromatic and not good to eat. The variegated one is milk thistle, and can protect the liver from toxins.

Oh my goodness, my allergist told me Russian Thistle was probably one of my main allergy triggers, to stay away from it !!!!!!Thank you so much for identifying it for me. They showed me a photo of Russian thistle but much younger plant.

I don't think that is jewelweed, Dawn, as I don't think I've seen that orange flower anywhere around here, but I'll watch for it. I read jewelweed can be an antidote to stinging nettle so I was looking for it, they said it would look like the drops of rain/dew were sitting on it like a jewel. I have not seen that here either, but I sure hope it is jewelweed!

I have two of you thinking number four is trillium so I'm going to mark that photo as such.

 

[BarredBuff]

Neat pictures I am of no help.