American Beautyberry

Scientific name: Callicarpa americana, Callicarpa japonica
Abundance: Plentiful
What: ripe berries
How: raw, preserves
Where: woods
When: late summer, fall
Nutritional Value: minor amounts of vitamins and carbohydrates
Other uses: Recent studies indicate beauty berry leaves contain several very strong mosquito repellent molecules. Toxicity of these molecules still needs to be determined.
Dangers: Some people have reported stomach upset after eating beauty berries. Limit yourself to small servings until you know how your body will react.

Medicinal Summary:
Root Bark - diuretic; treats dysentery and stomach aches (tisane)
Leaves & Root - sweatbath soothes rheumatism

Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged in an opposite-alternating pattern along the stems.

Leaf Shape: The leaves are typically ovate to elliptic, with a length ranging from 2 to 6 inches and a width of 1.5 to 3 inches.

Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is serrated or toothed.

Leaf Color: The leaves are green.

Flower Structure: The flowers are small, with a diameter of approximately 1/8 inch, and are clustered around leaf/stem junctions.

Flower Color: Callicarpa americana flowers can be pink to purple.

Fruit: The fruit is a drupe, usually glossy and violet to purple, about 1/8 inch in diameter.

Seed: Seeds are small and enclosed within the drupe.

Bark: The bark is usually smooth and brown.

Hairs: Leaves and stems have fine hairs.

Height: Callicarpa americana typically grows to a height of 3 to 8 feet.

American Beautyberry with ripe berries.


Closeup of the berries. They are almost ripe, just need to darken to a deep purple color.


Closeup of a beautyberry leaf.


Immature berry clusters.


Japanese beautyberry stay white rather than turn purple. They are edible.


Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.


North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.


As late summer turns to fall the bright magenta berries of American beautyberry capture the eye. These shrubs average 3’ to 5’ tall and wide but exceptional ones can grow over 8’ tall. They are understory plants found in most wooded areas, especially if moist soil. American beautyberry shrubs lose their leaves in the winter but the clusters of dried berries often remain on its long, drooping branches. Leaves appear in late spring, often after many other plants. The clusters of purple/pink flowers appear in early summer and quickly become small, white-pink berries.

American beautyberry berries become edible upon reaching full ripeness which usually occurs in late summer to early fall. They should be a dark purple/magenta color but not turning wrinkled and dry. These berries can be eaten raw and have a mild, slight medicinal flavor. To truly maximize the potential of these berries it is best to make jelly out of them. Combine 1.5 qts of berries with 1 qt. water, boil for 20 minutes and then strain out the solids. Add 4.5 cups of sugar and one envelope of Sure Jell to the liquid. Bring the liquid back up to boil for two minutes, skimming off any foam. Pour the hot jelly into sterilized jars and seal. If it doesn't set up you'll need to add another 1/4 envelope of Sure Jell or just use it as a fantastic syrup! The resulting jelly has a unique flavor which reminds me of rose petals and champagne.

These berries can also be used to make wine. Being low in sugars it is best to combine American beautyberry fruit with something sweeter such as grapes or bananas, otherwise the resulting wine will be a bit weak and have an uncomplex flavor.

Some people have reported stomach upset after eating beauty berries. Limit yourself to small servings until you know how your body will react

Three different molecules having mosquito repellent properties have been found in the leaves. Testing by the US army shows these compounds are similar to DEET in their ability to repel mosquitoes but human toxicity has not been determined. I recommend rubbing crushed leaves on your clothing rather than directly onto bare skin. Also note, while effective against mosquitoes these three chemicals don't seem to repel wood ticks or chiggers.



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Bottlebrush Tree

Scientific Name(s): Callistemon spp.
Abundance: common
What: leaves, flowers
How: tea, seasoning
Where: dry sunny yards, landscaping
When: all year
Nutritional Value: flavanoids

Medicinal Summary:
Leaves/Flowers - antifungal; antibacterial; antioxidant; cough suppressant (tisane)

Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are typically arranged alternately along the branches.

Leaf Shape: Leaves are lance-shaped, measuring around 2 to 6 inches in length.

Leaf Venation: The leaves have a prominent midrib with lateral veins.

Leaf Margin: Leaf margins are generally smooth, without serrations.

Flower Structure: The distinctive feature of the bottlebrush tree is its cylindrical flower spikes resembling a bottlebrush. The spikes can range from 2 to 12 inches in length.

Flower Color: Flowers come in various colors, including red, pink, purple, yellow, or white, depending on the species or cultivar.

Seed: The seeds are small and enclosed in woody capsules within the spent flower spikes.

Bark: The bark is typically smooth and ranges in color from gray to brown.

Height: Bottlebrush trees can vary in height, with some species growing up to 10 to 15 feet, while others can reach up to 30 feet.

Hairs: Leaves and stems may have fine hairs, particularly when young.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, woody capsule containing the seeds. Colors can range from brown to gray.

Bottlebrush tree




Close-up of opened flowers.


Close-up of closed flowers.


Close-up of leaves.


Close-up of branch with woody fruit.


Bottlebrush branch.


North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.


Used often as a decorative landscaping tree, the striking red blossoms of the bottlebrush tree offer more than visual beauty. Their aroma is invigorating, somewhat minty or menthol in nature. The trees are small, rarely more than 15' tall and equally as wide. The leaves are evergreen and the blossoms also last can be found on the tree almost all year round. These flowers really explode vigorously in mid-spring and are often swarmed with bees who know a good thing when they smell it!

Both the flowers and leaves can be used to make an aromatic tea. The fresh blossoms do give a sweeter flavor than leaves. Aging the harvested leaves for two weeks helps as this breaks down the cell walls, allowing more of the flavorful compounds to escape into the tea. Flowers, being more delicate, do not benefit any from being aged and ideally are used fresh off the tree.

You can also use the leaves and flowers of the bottlebrush tree similar in manner to bay or rosemary leaves. Add several to a sauce, stew, or roasting meat to add an exotic flavor.

Mashed bottlebrush leaves rubbed on the skin is reported to keep away insects. This property may also be used to keep clothes, bedding, and houses bug free by laying sprigs of the leaves around whatever you want protected.


Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Duckweed

Scientific name: Spirodela polyrhiza, Lemna minor
Abundance: plentiful
What: whole plant
How: puree and add to soups and stews, sautee in oil or butter, dry then powder for a food additive
Where: still water open to the sun
When: summer
Other uses: Dry, crush, then rub on skin to use as an insect repellent.
Nutritional Value: high in protein
Dangers: this plant must be cooked to kill any dangerous aquatic microbes

Leaf Arrangement: Duckweed does not have true leaves; the plant body is a thallus, which floats directly on the water surface.

Leaf Shape: The shape of the thallus is broadly ovate to round, typically measuring 0.04 to 0.2 inches across.

Leaf Venation: There is no venation; the plant's thallus is a simple structure with a single layer of cells.

Leaf Margin: The margins are entire and smooth, as the thallus is undifferentiated.

Leaf Color: The color is usually a vibrant green but can vary to yellow-green depending on nutrient availability and environmental conditions.

Flower Structure: Flowers are seldom seen and are minute when present, lacking petals and reduced to a simple pistil and stamen.

Flower Color: Flowers, when they do appear, are inconspicuous and generally greenish.

Fruit: The fruit is a utricle, a small, bladder-like, one-seeded fruit, but is rarely produced in natural conditions.

Seed: Seeds are small and also rarely produced; the plant primarily reproduces vegetatively.

Stem: Duckweed does not have a stem; the thallus performs all necessary functions.

Hairs: There are no hairs on duckweed; the plant body is smooth.

Height: As a free-floating plant, duckweed does not have height in the traditional sense; the thickness of the thallus is typically less than 0.06 inches.

Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.


North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.


During the warm summer months Duckweed will completely cover sunny, still or slow-moving waters. These plants are the fastest at reproducing known, doubling in surface coverage every two days. On type, Wolffia microscopica, can bud off new plants in as little as 30 hours! Many private lake owners hate the look of a green-covered lake and pump in poisons to kill it...which sucks because among other things this covering of duckweed can suppressed mosquito populations.

Dried duckweed contains 25-45% protein, 4% fat, and 8-10% fiber, which is kind of amazing. Boil it to kill any aquatic microbes which could cause sickness in humans. Because it is so high in protein and grows so fast it is a favorite for use by smart people for chicken and hog food. Really smart people use the dried, powdered duckweed to kick up the nutritional values of their own food.


Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Pawpaw

Scientific Name(s): Asimina triloba (spp.)
Abundance: rare
What: fruit
How: raw, jam, jelly
Where: moist, shady woods
When: late summer
Nutritional Value: protein, calories, Vit C, A, minerals K, Mg, Ca, essential amino acids.

Medicinal Summary: Anti-lice shampoo was made from crushed seeds

Leaf Arrangement: Simple, alternate leaves along the stems.

Leaf Shape: Ovate to lanceolate leaves, typically 8 to 12 inches in length. Reminds me of the sole of a sandal in shape.

Leaf Venation: Very pronounced pinnate veins. 

Leaf Color: Foliage will be green on top and lighter green to gray underneath, with a smooth texture. Crushed leaves release a strong chemical/insecticidal smell.

Leaf Margin: Intact leaf edge.

Flower Structure: Large, maroon to brown flowers, often bell-shaped, with three petals. Flower scent is similar to spoiled meat.

Flower Size: Individual flowers can be 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

Fruit: Large, greenish-yellow to brownish fruit resembling a mango, typically 3 to 6 inches in length.

Seed Size: Seeds within the fruit are dark brown, smooth, and about 1 inch in length.

Bark: Smooth and brownish-gray on young trees, becoming more fissured and darker with age.

Height: Pawpaw trees typically range from 15 to 30 feet in height.

Pawpaw fruit on tree.


Close-up of Pawpaw flowers. They smell like spoiled met to attract flies as pollinators.


Almost ripe pawpaw fruit.


Small, almost ripe pawpaw.


Pawpaw seeds.


Pawpaw leaves are tropical-looking.


Pawpaw seedling. Note the alternating leaves.


Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.


North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.


The banana-custard-like flavor/texture of pawpaw fruits leads many to consider it to be the best tasting fruit available (George Washington was a huge fan). However, once the pawpaw fruit is picked it begins to self-ferment almost immediately, making it unsuitable for shipping or selling in stores. They must be eaten right after harvesting or quickly turned into jam or jelly.

Pawpaw leaves have a sandal-like shape, being narrower a the base where it connects to the tree, widening out towards the end of the leaf, with a point at the very tip. A crushed leaf has a very strong, pungent odor, kind of like an insecticide.
 
The large pawpaw seeds actually do contain several insecticidal compounds and certain Native Americans used the powdered seeds to control lice. These seeds are still used in several over-the-counter lice treatments. It may be as simple to make as heating finely-crushed pawpaw seeds combined with baby shampoo in a crockpot at low heat for 8 hours, allowing to cool, then applying to the hair but I haven't actually tried this. If you do it, you are on your own!

The bark makes decent cordage but stripping it may often kill the tree.

The seeds should be planted right away after harvesting as they dry out and die otherwise. Pawpaws are NOT self-fertile so you need at least two separate trees and three is better, ideally grown from seeds from unrelated trees. The flowers pre-date bees and are pollinated by flies, instead.  Growers have been known to hang bits of raw meat up in the trees when flowers appear to attract flies as the meat rots.


Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Pineapple Weed

Scientific Name(s): Matricaria discoidea
Abundance: uncommon
What: flowers, leaves
How: raw, tea
Where: dry, abused soil such as dirt roads
When: spring, summer, fall
Nutritional Value: minimal

Medicinal Summary: sedative (tisane)

Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.

Leaf Shape: The leaves are finely divided, feathery, and almost fern-like, typically measuring about 1 to 3 inches in length.

Leaf Venation: The venation is not distinctly visible due to the finely divided nature of the leaves.

Leaf Margin: The margins of the individual leaf segments are entire or slightly toothed.

Leaf Color: The leaves are a bright green color.

Flower Structure: The flowers are small, clustered in dense, flat-topped heads. Each head resembles a single flower but is composed of numerous tiny florets.

Flower Color: The florets are yellowish-green, lacking the white petals typical of many other daisy family members.

Fruit: The plant produces a small, dry, one-seeded fruit known as an achene.

Seed: The seeds are tiny, ridged, and brown.

Stem: The stem is erect, branched, and can be smooth or slightly hairy.

Hairs: There may be fine hairs present on the stem and leaves.

Height: Matricaria discoidea typically grows to a height of 6 to 18 inches.

Pineapple weeds.


Whole pineapple weed plant.


Closeup of pineapple weed yellowish-green flowers.


Pineapple weed is an amazing plant which seems to thrive in abused soil such as dirt roads, driveways, and other dry/sandy soil. A very delicious and calming tea similar to chamomile can be made from the plant.

The crushed plant can be rubbed on exposed skin as a weak insect repellent.

USDA does not have records of this plant appearing Texas but it can be grown here from seeds.

North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.




Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.

Queen Anne's Lace/Wild Carrot

Scientific name: Daucus carota, Daucus pusillus
Abundance: uncommon
What: young root, young shoots, seeds
How: 1st year root raw, cooked; 2nd-year flower stems peeled raw or cooked.
Where: fields
When: early summer
Nutritional Value: High in vitamin A and minerals
Other uses: crushed leaves work as an insect repellent
Dangers: don’t confuse with deadly water hemlock. Queen Anne's Lace sometimes has a small red flower in the center of the white flowers and the root smells like carrot. Hemlock has a very foul, disagreeable odor.

Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged alternately along the stem.

Leaf Shape: The leaves are finely divided and fern-like, similar in appearance to domestic carrot leaves, typically measuring about 2 to 4 inches in length.

Leaf Venation: Due to the finely divided nature of the leaves, the venation is not prominently visible.

Leaf Margin: The margins of the leaflets are finely toothed or lobed.

Leaf Color: The leaves are a bright green color.

Flower Structure: The flowers are small and clustered in umbels, which is a flat or slightly rounded cluster that resembles an umbrella.

Flower Color: The flowers of both species are usually white, sometimes with a hint of pink. Daucus carota flower clusters will have a single red/purple flower in the center while Daucus pusillus does not.

Fruit: The plant produces a small, dry fruit that is oval and slightly ribbed.

Seed: The seeds are small, elongated, and dark in color.

Stem: The stem is slender, erect, and can be branched.

Hairs: There will (must!) be hairs present on the stem. Leaves are also hairy.

Height: Wild carrot typically grows to a height of about 1 to 3 feet tall.

Wild carrot flower and stem. Note the hairy stem. Hemlock (TOXIC!) has a smooth, hair-free stem.


Close-up of Queen Anne's lace stem. Notice the hairs and reddish stripes.


Wild carrot (Daucus pusillus) flowers lack the center, solitary red flower found in Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota).

 

Sideview of the wild carrot flowers. Note the "Kermit the Frog" collar beneath the flower head.

Queen Anne's Lace flowers, with the single red-purple flower in the center, marked by the blue arrow. 

Young flower head before the flowers have opened.


Queen Anne's Lace leaves. They have almost a fractal pattern.






Queen Anne's lace "carrot".


Wild carrot seed head after the flowers have gone. They close up like a bird's nest whereas hemlock seed heads remain open.


A stand of wild carrots along a road. Note the closed-up "bird's nest" aspect of the older flower heads.


Highly toxic hemlock along a stream. Note how the flower clusters branch off from each other unlike the single stalk growth pattern of wild carrot.


Here is the toxic Hemlock flower. Note how it is much more open with large spaces between the clusters compared to the wild carrot. It also lacks the "Kermit the Frog" collar.


Left side is Wild Carrot, right side is deadly Water Hemlock. Note the "chambers" in the Water Hemlock root and the purple strips along the hemlock's stem. Hemlock flower lacks the "collar".


Close-up of stems and roots. Wild Carrot stem is hairy, hemlock stem is smooth.


Water Hemlock leaf.


Texas distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.


North American distribution, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture.


Standing in showy white clusters along many Texas roads, wild carrots are an interesting spring/summer plant. They are the mother-species of domestic, orange carrots but wild carrot roots are white and also rather woody. I usually just use the "carrot" for flavoring soups and stews but then remove and discard them before eating the meal. The seeds are a spicy substitute for celery seeds. The flowers can be made into a jelly just like elderberry flowers or used to make a delicious tea.

Hemlock is an extremely poisonous plant which looks very similar to wild carrots. Luckily there are several ways to tell them apart:
1. Wild carrot flower stem is hairy, hemlock flower stem is smooth/have no hairs.In some cases the stem hairs of the wild carrot are not easily seen but if you run your finger along it's stem it will feel like day-old razor stubble.
2. Wild carrot flower stem is solid, hemlock flower stem is hollow.
3. Wild carrot flower stems are green and occasionally have long, reddish stripes. Hemlock flower stem have red/purple spots of assorted size and the occasions partial stripes but will be purple at the bottom.
4. Wild carrot flower stems are not powdery, hemlock flower stems often have a white powder on them.
5. Wild carrot flowers (umbels) are arranged in a a thick, tight pattern with only a small amount of open space between them. Hemlock flowers are much more sparse and have open areas between the smaller flower clusters making up the umbel head.
6. Wild carrots usually don't grow more than 3-6 feet tall, hemlock can grow 6-9 feet tall.
7. Wild carrot flower umbels will curl up into a "bird's nest" when they dry, hemlock umbels remain in their original "umbrella" shape when they die and dry up.


Buy my book! Outdoor Adventure Guides Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.