View photos of the edible and medicinal plant, Hydrocotyle verticillata (Marsh pennywort), profiled in the Wild Edible Series: California and Texas.
Hydrocotyle verticillata (Marsh pennywort)
Hydrocotyle verticillata (Marsh pennywort)
Hydrocotyle verticillata (Marsh pennywort)
Hydrocotyle verticillata (Marsh pennywort)
A passage from Wild Edible Plants of the California:
California is home to five species of Pennywort, though only three are widespread or regionally abundant. A wetland/riparian (freshwater) plant, look for Pennywort on the edges of slow–moving (or stagnant) bodies of water/marshes.
A passage from Wild Edible Plants of the Texas:
The raw immature leaves are eaten as a salad, used as a garnish, or steamed–sautéed if in need of a cooked green. Raw, the leaves have a refreshing hint–of–celery taste. The older leaves may be a little tough and slightly bitter.
View photos of the the medicinal plant Aralia racemosa (Spikenard).
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Aralia racemosa (Spikenard)
Due to its non–polar resin content, the tincture (or syrup made from the tincture) is Spiknard’s best preparation . As a stimulating expectorant used in chronic/subacute bronchial conditions, it has little rival. It will be found especially helpful if the situation is long–standing and the lungs feel weak and tired.
View photos of the medicinal plant Aralia nudicaulis (Wild Sarsaparilla).
Aralia nudicaulis (Wild Sarsaparilla)
Aralia nudicaulis (Wild Sarsaparilla)
Aralia nudicaulis (Wild Sarsaparilla)
Unrelated to true Sarsaparilla (Smilax), Wild sarsaparilla looks a lot like Ginseng (Panax), above ground anyway. It’s even in the same family (Araliaceae) as Ginseng and also shares membership with Spikenard (Aralia racemosa).
The plant is colony-forming and can be interesting to collect – its cord-like runners often connect plants separated by 5’-10’. Select a leafy bunch, gently pull, and see where the runner leads. And since the plant prefers hardwood forests with lots of obscuring leaf litter, you never know where it’s going to take you. I’ve always collected it in the Northeast, but it’s also in found in similar habitats in several interior western states. Continue reading Aralia nudicaulis | Wild Sarsaparilla | Medicinal Uses→
Author, Researcher, Clinician. Latest titles: Wild Edible Plants of Oklahoma, 2nd ed., Wild Edible Plants of Arizona, 2nd ed., and Wild Edible Plants of Arkansas, 2nd. ed.
