Lamb's Quarter/Goosefoot/Pigweed

Scientific name: Chenopodium album
Abundance: common
What: young leaves, young stems, seeds
How: Young leaves/stems raw, stir-fried, steamed or boiled; seeds boiled like couscous or grind for flour
Where: yards, fields, disturbed areas, sunny
When: Early spring through early fall
Nutritional Value: high in vitamins A,C,K,B, minerals, and protein
Dangers: beware poisonous mimic Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium)

Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged in an alternate pattern along the stem.

Leaf Shape: The leaves are variable in shape, typically rhombic to ovate; young leaves are more triangular, whereas older leaves may be more elongated. Their size ranges from about 1.5 to 3 inches in length and 1 to 2 inches in width.

Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a main central vein and multiple smaller veins branching out towards the leaf edges.

Leaf Margin: The margins of the leaves are irregularly toothed or slightly lobed.

Leaf Color: The leaves are generally green, but can sometimes have a mealy, whitish coating that gives them a grayish appearance. A decrotive version has been bred whose young, terminal leaves are purple.

Flower Structure: The flowers are small and clustered in dense, spike-like inflorescences. Each flower is tiny, typically less than 0.1 inches in diameter.

Flower Color: The flowers are greenish or slightly reddish.

Fruit: The plant produces a small, one-seeded fruit that is enclosed in the persistent perianth.

Seed: The seeds are small, disc-shaped, and black or dark brown, usually around 0.04 to 0.08 inches in diameter.

Stem: The stem is erect, ribbed, and squareish-angular. A purple splotch is often seen on the topside of a branch-stem junction.

Hairs: The stem and leaves are covered in fine hairs.

Height: Chenopodium album typically grows to a height of 1 to 6 feet.

Lamb's quarter seedling.


A group (flock?) of seedlings.


Larger lamb's quarter, perfect for eating.


Patch of lamb's quarter.


Note the red/purple coloring at the stem-branch joints. To remember this I tell people to think of it as "purple armpit rashes".


Mature lamb's quarter (approximately 5-feet tall).


Close-up of leaf near top of the plant.


Close-up of topside of leaf from lower on a mature plant.


More mature leaves.


Close-up of underside of leaf from lower on a mature plant.


Close-up of lamb's quarter "flowers". Most people don't realize those bumps are flowers!


Lamb's Quarter going to seed.


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.


This common weed can grows all summer long reaching a height of 5' or taller. The small, soft (almost velvety) leaves and tender stems at the growing tip of each branch are best for eating and can be harvested from spring until killed by winter frost. Seeds are harvested in late fall to early winter. It is a very nutritious plant, higher in protein, vitamins, and minerals than spinach. The mild flavor of the leaves makes them excellent for cutting the bitterness of other wild greens but they taste better cooked than raw.

Crushing a leaf releases a very distinctive, somewhat musky scent. This smell was once described to me by an old-timer as "The smell of a good night in a bad house." Anyway, once you smell it you'll never forget it.

Lamb's quarter leaves can be frozen for later use. Blanch the leaves by dipping them in boiling water for one minute then quickly cool them off in ice water. Shake them dry, seal them in a freezer bag with all the air pressed out or use a vacuum sealer, then place them in the freezer. To use simply defrost and add them in to whatever you are cooking of a burst of summer nutrition!

This is a good companion crop to grow in your garden as many insects prefer to eat the leaves of lamb's quarters over the leaves of common vegetables. It sprouts very readily from seeds.

TOXIC MIMIC
The leaves of Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) have a similar shape to those of Lamb's Quarter but the differences between the two are very easy to spot:
1. Silverleaf Nightsade stems have thorns, lack the purple color at joints, and "kink" quit a bit at each leaf junction. Lamb's Quarter stems have no thorns, have the purple "armpit rash", and curve smoothly but very little at each leaf/stem joint.
2. Silverleaf Nightshade flowers are big and purple. Lamb's Quarter flowers are almost unnoticeable.
3. Silverleaf Nightshade produces round, hanging fruit which starts out striped green and eventually turns yellow/orange. Lamb's Quarter produces tiny seeds.

Silverleaf Nightshade leaves (POISONOUS)


Silverleaf Nightshade flower (POISONOUS)


Immature Silverleaf Nightshade fruit (POISONOUS)


Mature Silverleaf Nightshade fruit (POISONOUS)



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Mallow - Rose

Scientific Names: Hibiscus palustris
Abundance: very rare
What: flowers, leaves, seeds, seed pods, roots
How: flowers raw, young leaves raw or cooked, seeds roasted. Tender seed pods are cooked. Roots are diced then roasted.
Where: sunny areas, often used in landscaping
When: spring, summer, fall
Nutritional Value: Flowers high in antioxidants; seeds are high in protein & starch; leaves high in minerals; roots contain starch.

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

Leaf Shape: The leaves are typically palmately lobed, with a length of approximately 3 to 5 inches and a width of 2 to 4 inches.

Leaf Venation: The venation is palmate, with several prominent veins spreading outward from the base of the leaf.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is toothed, featuring serrations along the edge.

Leaf Color: The upper side of the leaves is medium to dark green, while the underside may have a lighter hue.

Flower Structure: The 5-petaled flowers are typically solitary, with a diameter of about 2 to 4 inches. They are located at the leaf axils. Calyx has long, spidery fingers running up alongside the flower buds.

Flower Color: The flowers can range in color from white to pale pink or light lavender with a darker red interior.

Fruit: The fruit is a 1" capsule, containing seeds.

Seed: Seeds are small, dark, and numerous within the capsule. They start out white/off-white and then turn brown as the mature.

Stem: The stems are erect, often reddish in color, and may have fine hairs.

Hairs: Fine hairs may be present on the stems and leaves.

Height: Hibiscus palustris can reach a height of 3 to 6 feet, with the flowers positioned at the leaf axils along the stems.

Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus palustris) plants grow up to five feet tall.




Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus palustris) flower and bud.


Closeup of flower buds (green fruit).


Closeup of Rose Mallow flower (petals may be white to pink in color).




Closeup of Rose Mallow seeds inside pod (brown fruit).


Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow (Hibiscus militaris) plant and flower buds.


Close-up of Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow (Hibiscus militaris) leaf.


Close-up of young Halberd-Leaved Rose Mallow (Hibiscus militaris) flower bud.


Rose mallows are usually found in moist, sunny areas but on occasion they can be found in shady, moist areas, too.

The seeds can be roasted then ground in a coffee grinder for use as a substitute for real coffee. It tastes pretty good, though does not have any caffeine.

Young tender leaves can be cooked like spinach but I find them a bit too rough/stiff to use raw. The flowers are good raw or added to tea. The tender, young flower buds and seed pods can be used like okra, either friend, pickled, or added to Cajun and African foods. The flowers work well in salads.


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Mayapple

Scientific Name(s): Podophyllum peltatum
Abundance: uncommon
What: fruit
How: peel rind then eat raw
Where: woods
When: early summer
Nutritional Value:
Dangers: fruit contains a small amount of toxin but is safe to eat in moderation. Do not eat the seeds or fruit rind.

Leaf Arrangement: 1st year plants have one leaf. Plants two years or older plants will have two leaves opposite each other at the end of the stem.

Leaf Shape: The leaves are large, deeply lobed, and umbrella-like, often reaching lengths of 12 to 16 inches and widths of 8 to 12 inches.

Leaf Venation: The venation is palmate, with several prominent veins radiating outward from the base of the leaf.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is typically lobed and can be smooth or slightly wavy.

Leaf Color: The leaves are bright green and may have a slightly glossy appearance. The underside is paler than the upper surface.

Flower Structure: The flowers are solitary, one per plant, and appear at the leaf axils, typically measuring around 2 to 3 inches in diameter.

Flower Color: The flowers are usually white, occasionally with a tinge of pink or yellow.

Fruit: The fruit is a large, fleshy berry.

Seed: The seeds are numerous, small, and brown, contained within the berry.

Stem: The stem is round and smooth.

Hairs: The plant may have minimal to no hairs on the stem and leaves.

Height: Podophyllum peltatum can reach a height of 12 to 18 inches, with the large, distinctive leaves held above the ground on a single stem.

Mayapple seedling.


Mayapples in East Texas woods in March.


Mayapple plants in June in central Texas. They can have either one or two leaves.


Individual mayapple plant.


Mayapples stems are about nine inches long before the Y-joint and about 18 inches overall.


Mayapple leaves.


Mayapple Y-joint. A single fruit grows off the small stem at the center of the Y-joint.


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.


Mayapples are oddly named as its single, white flower appears in the spring, but the fruit doesn't ripen until early June in Texas. The fruit is yellow and somewhat wrinkly when ripe and small, about two inches along it's longest dimension. Do not eat the fruit if it is still green. Peel the fruit and just eat the inner flesh. Do not eat the skin/rind as it is a strong laxative. The seeds, root, and leaves contain powerful toxins and must NOT be consumed. After enjoying the fruit's flesh, plant the seeds so more mayapples will grow.

Mayapples prefer moist soil in dappled shade so look for it in low-laying woods along paths or where the tree canopy has openings that let a bit of sunlight reach the forest floor. Usually several of the above ground portions near each other are connected via a long, single root. The entire above-ground portion dies away in late summer/early fall.


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.

Milkweed

Scientific name: Asclepias spp.
Abundance: uncommon
What: young shoots, young flower buds, young seed pods
How: all young parts raw or cooked
Where: fields
When: spring, summer
Nutritional Value: minerals
Other uses: cordage, tinder
Dangers: Toxic dogbane looks slightly similar, but is smaller. The milky white sap of dogbane can blister skin. Edible milkweed has fine white hairs on it's stem whereas dogbane does not. If the milkweed pod is bitter boil it to improve taste.

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

Leaf Shape: The leaves are narrow to broadly ovate to oblong, typically measuring about 4 to 8 inches in length and 2 to 4 inches in width, depending on the species.

Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with a prominent central vein and several smaller veins branching off to the sides.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, meaning they are smooth and not toothed or lobed.

Leaf Color: The leaves are a deep green on the upper surface and a lighter green on the underside.

Flower Structure: The flowers are grouped in spherical clusters known as umbels, located at the top of the plant or in the upper leaf axils. Each flower is about 0.5 inches in diameter.

Flower Color: The flowers are typically pink to mauve.

Fruit: The plant produces a fruit known as a follicle, which is a large, pointed pod that splits open when mature.

Seed: The seeds are oval, brown, and attached to long, white, silky hairs that aid in wind dispersal.

Stem: The stem is thick, upright, and doesn't usually branch. 

Hairs: There are fine hairs on the stem and the underside of the leaves.

Height: Common milkweed typically grows to a height of 2 to 6 feet.

Milkweed pod at right size for eating.


Milkweed pods of Asclepias viridis. These are a bit large and would have been better a week or so earlier.


Young milkweed plant before flowering.


Milkweed flower buds.


Close-up of milkweed stem and oppositely opposed leaf set. The upright stalks growing from the leaf joints are flower stalks.


Cluster of Milkweed. The ruler in the picture is 12" long.


Milkweed flowers.


Close-up of flowers.


Even closer-up picture of Milkweed flowers.


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 strong and somewhat plastic-looking, milkweed is usually found in low, moist spots of sunny fields. It's long, oval leaves are rather thick and firm, branching off the stem opposite one another, but then rotated 90 degrees between the sets of leaves as you move up/down the stem. The tops of the leaves are more green than their undersides. When broken or cut Milkweeds bleed a white sap, hence their name. In mid-summer their purple/white flowers appear and by September the spiny, alien-looking pods are ready to release their fluffy seeds.

The young, tender pods are steamed or boiled before eating. If the pods are bitter then boil them in one or more changes of water. The insides of the pods should still be undeveloped without sign of fluffy of the brown, flat seeds.

The milkweed stem contains very strong natural fibers which can be braided into fine cordage. These are the preferred plants of Monarch butterfly caterpillars.


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.