Wild Lettuce

Scientific Name(s): Lactuca spp.
Abundance: uncommon
What: young leaves, shoots, flower buds/stalks
How: leaves & shots raw or boiled; flower buds/stalks cooked
Where: woods, fields, disturbed areas, moist areas
When: spring
Nutritional Value: fiber, some minerals

Medicinal Summary:
Sap - sedative, cough suppressant; soothes chronic pain; anti-anxiety (tisane, tincture)

There are twelve different wild Lactuca species, of which I've only found three. These are Lactuca serriola (aka prickly lettuce), Lactuca canadensis, and Lactuca floridana. Lactuca floridana and Lactuca serriola are fairly common in the Houston area while Lactuca canadensis appears more frequently in areas north and east of Houston.

Lactuca canadensis. Note the lobed leaves at the base and unlobed leaves up higher.


Young Lactuca floridana. All leaves are lobed.


Mature Lactuca floridana.




Lactuca floridana flower.


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.


Both the tasty Lactuca canadenesis and the somewhat bitter Lactuca floridana can grow 7-9 feet tall.

Lactuca canadenesis Structural Features:

Leaf Arrangement: Leaves start out as basal rosette and deeply lobed when plant is young then grow alternating along the stem. Leaves higher up the stem are much less lobed than those at the base.

Leaf Shape: The leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, measuring 2 to 12 inches in length and 0.5 to 2 inches in width.

Leaf Venation: Pinnate veins system.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is typically serrated or toothed.

Leaf Color: Medium to dark green

Flower Structure: Many small (<0.5" diameter), flower heads arranged in clusters at the ends of stems.

Flower Color: The petals of the flower heads are yellow.

Fruit: The fruit consists of small achenes with a pappus (tuft of hairs) for dispersal.

Seed: Achenes are small and brown, often with a pappus attached.

Stem: The stem is erect, branching, and when damaged it produces white sap that very quickly turns yellow.

Hairs: Fine hairs/spines along rib on underside of leaf.

Height: Lactuca canadensis can reach heights of 4 to 9 feet.

Lactuca floridana Structural Features:

Leaf Arrangement: Leaves start out as basal rosette and then grow alternating along the stem. Leaves are deeply lobed in all positions and age.

Leaf Shape: The leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate, measuring 2 to 12 inches in length and 0.5 to 2 inches in width.

Leaf Venation: Pinnate veins system.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is typically serrated or toothed.

Leaf Color: Medium to dark green

Flower Structure: Many small (<0.5" diameter), flower heads arranged in clusters at the ends of stems.

Flower Color: The petals of the flower heads are blue-white.

Fruit: The fruit consists of small achenes with a pappus (tuft of hairs) for dispersal.

Seed: Achenes are small and brown, often with a pappus attached.

Stem: The stem is erect, branching, and when damaged it produces white sap that very quickly turns yellow.

Hairs: Fine hairs/spines along rib on underside of leaf.

Height: Lactuca floridana can reach heights of over 14 feet.

How to tell them apart:

L. canadenesis 
Leaves: deeply lobed at base of plant but much more un-lobed, grass-like at top of plant.
Sap: white at first but quickly turns dark yellowish as it dries.
Flowers: yellow.
Height: 5-9 feet

L. biennis
Sap: stays white even after drying.
Leaves: deeply lobed from base of plant all the way to those at top.
Flowers: blue-white.
Height: up to 16 feet.

The young leaves of L. canadenesis have a slight bitterness, even less than some arugulas, and can be added to salads raw. The flower stalks are tender before the flowers open and can be snapped off and cooked similar to asparagus.

L. biennis is extremely bitter even when very young. Boiling in multiple changes of water helps but most people still don't like it, plus that removes any minerals. On the plus side, the plants produce a LOT of leaves, so you can get a lot of food from it.

There is some record of wild lettuces being smoked for medicinal purposes but it is supposedly a very harsh smoke and must be mixed with other herbs to reduce this harshness.

The sap is collected by pureeing the leaves and stem, squeezing out the juice through a tightly-woven fabric, then boiled down to a black, gooey tar. This tar contains the sedative/pain relieving compounds lactucin and lactucopicrin. The tar is usually taken by dissolving a pea-sized drop of it in a shot of alcohol.


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.

Willow

Scientific name: Salix spp.
Abundance: plentiful
What: twigs, inner bark
How: tea made from chopped up twigs; inner bark is an emergency food and is eaten raw or dried and ground into flour
Where: woods, water, sunny fields, landscaping
When: twigs highest in salicylic acid in early spring; inner bark any time
Nutritional Value: inner bark contains carbohydrates
Dangers: Salicylic acid can cause stomach upset in high doses and trigger Reye's syndrome in young children.

Medicinal Summary:
Young Bark - pain reliever; anti-inflammatory; fever reducer (tisane)
Leaves - soothes skin inflammations (tisane)

Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are typically alternate along the stems.

Leaf Shape: Willow leaves are usually lanceolate or elliptical, with a pointed tip.

Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margin can be serrated or smooth, depending on the species.

Leaf Color: The leaves are generally green, with some species exhibiting a silver or grayish hue on the underside.

Flower Structure: Willows produce catkins as their flowering structures. These are elongated clusters of tiny, inconspicuous flowers.

Flower Color: The color of catkins varies, but it is often yellow or green.

Fruit: The fruit of willows is a small capsule containing numerous seeds.

Seed: Willow seeds are small, with a cotton-like tuft (pappus) aiding in wind dispersal.

Bark: The bark texture varies among species but is often smooth and can be gray, brown, or reddish.

Hairs: Some willow species may have fine hairs on their leaves, stems, or catkins.

Height: Willows can range widely in height, from low shrubs to tall trees, with measurements varying depending on the species.

Mature willow tree.


Medium-sized willow tree.


Close-up of leaves.


Willow trunk


Boiled willow bark makes a beautiful, red-colored tea that reduces fevers, pain, and swelling due to its salicin converting to salicylic acid. It has a somewhat wintergreen-like flavor.


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 long, wispy branches of willow trees give them an appearance unlike any other tree. They require a lot of water so look for them along wet areas. Their high demand for water can cause problems when used in landscaping as their roots will invade and clog sewer and water pipes.

Willow's main claim to fame is the bark, especially on twigs, contains salicin acid, when it comes in contact with your stomach acid, turns into salicylic acid aka aspirin. This is the original source of the wonder drug but be warned, this tea can also have all the bad effects of aspirin, including Reye's syndrome which can cause dangerous swelling in the brain and liver of children. Start with 1 teaspoon of bark boiled 10 minutes in 1 cup of water, let it cool to a safe temperature, then drink. Multiple cups of this through the day may be needed in severe cases.

The inner bark (cambium layer) can be shredded and chopped then boiled into a porridge to obtain calories. The outer bark of young branches is shredded then made into a tea which contains the precursor of aspirin and will give all the medical benefits (and dangers) of aspirin. The best results are achieved using pencil-thick branches harvested in late winter before the leaves begin to bud.

Willow branches are high in a chemical called Gibberellic acid which is a plant hormone responsible for triggering root growth. The rooting powder and solution purchased in stores to help propagate plant cuttings is this chemical. You can make your own rooting solution by grinding up willow twigs in a clean pencil sharpener then soaking these willow shavings in water (40% willow/60% water) for 5-7 weeks. When you want to propagate a plant via a cutting dip the cutting's stem in this willow solution first.

Dried, shredded willow bark is often added to herbal smoking mixtures to give a heavier flavor more like that of true tobacco.


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.

Wine Cups

Scientific name: Callirhoe involucrata
Abundance: uncommon
What: Leaves, tubers
How: leaves cooked, tubers raw or cooked
Where: Sunny areas, ditches, abandoned yards, dry sandy fields
When: All year though tubers are hard to find in the winter without the flowers marking the spot.
Nutritional Value: carbohydrates in tubers

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

Leaf Shape: Leaves are deeply lobed, palmate with 5-7 lobes, and approximately 2 to 4 inches in width.

Leaf Venation: The leaf venation is not distinctive.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margin is typically toothed.

Leaf Color: The leaves of wine cups are medium green.

Flower Structure: Solitary cup-shaped flowers with five deep magenta to purple petals. The flower measures approximately 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.

Flower Color: The flowers are a vibrant magenta to deep purple. Center of flower may be lighter in color.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, hairy, flattish, segmented, disk-shaped capsule.

Seed: Seeds are small and brown, typically found within the capsule.

Stem: The stem is trailing or sprawling across the ground.

Hairs: Fine hairs can be found on the stem and leaves, giving a slightly rough texture.

Height: Wine cups typically grows to a height of 6 to 12 inches.

Wine Cup flower


Close-up of flower

Wine cup leaves and flower.

Wine cup "fruit".


Whole plant in Spring


Plant in Fall/Winter


Whole plant in Fall/Winter




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.


Wine cup tubers can be found in dry, sandy fields, especially in the Texas Hill Country. The leaves are best cooked where their okra-like tendencies can be used to thicken stews. The tubers taste like sweet potatoes and can be eaten raw or cooked. The tubers are biggest in the winter, but are very hard to find then without the wine cup flower showing their location.

The long, almost vine-like stems of wine cups grow in a rosette centered on the tuber. These tubers are covered in fine, delicate roots that often get damaged while digging up the tuber, rendering them unable to survive transplanting. If you dig it you have to eat it, otherwise you're wasting it.


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.

Wireweed

Scientific Name(s): Sida rhombifolia, S. acute, S. cordifolia, S. elliottii, S. Espinosa,
Abundance: common
What: leaves, fruits, roots
How: leaves tea, cooked; roots medicinal
Where: disturbed areas, wet, borders, sunny, shade, fields
When: winter, spring, summer
Nutritional Value: calories, protein,
Dangers: Leaves and roots contain ephedrine. Roots also contain soap-like saponins.

Medicinal Summary:
Root/Seeds - contain ephedrine - stimulant; decongestant; raises blood pressure; appetite suppression (tincture, tisane)

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

Leaf Shape: The leaves are generally lanceolate or ovate, with a length ranging from 1 to 3 inches and a width of approximately 0.5 to 1 inch.

Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate, with prominent veins extending from the central midrib to the edges of the leaves.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are often serrated or toothed.

Leaf Color: The upper surface of the leaves is typically green, while the underside may have a slightly lighter shade.

Flower Structure: The flowers are typically small, consists of five petals, and are found on short stems growing from leaf junctions. They may be clustered at the ends of branches and individual or smaller groups along the branches.

Flower Color: The flowers are commonly yellow, but they may also appear in shades of orange.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, flat, dark, segmented capsule containing the seeds.

Seed: Seeds are small, brown, and found within the capsules.

Stem: The stems are usually slender, upright, and may have a reddish or green color.

Hairs: The plant may have fine hairs on the stems or leaves, contributing to a slightly textured appearance.

Height: Wireweed plants typically range in height from 1 to 3 feet, depending on growing conditions and species variation.

Wireweed aka sida plant in construction site.


Close-up of leaves, ripe fruit, and seeds.


Wireweeds left alone turn into sparse bushes.


They can grow in temporary wet areas. Note the diamond-shaped mature leaves closer to the stem and more elongated, younger leaves near the ends of the branches.


Close-up of leaves and flower buds.


Close-up of nearly opened flower, fruit, and toothed leaves.


Close-up of opened, five-petaled blossom. Note how the petal bases overlap.


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.


Stroll past any disturbed area, especially one that's a bit damp, and you are almost guaranteed to come across lots of this wiry, weedy, sparsely-leafed, yellow flowered plant called wireweed. It seems to love the edges of parking lots, underpasses, and anywhere else the soil is abused and unloved by humans. It first shows up in late spring, carries on through the summer's heat, and lasts into fall until the real "cold" weather hits. Wireweed can survive mild winters, leading it to become perennial. These leggy weeds usually seem to get about two feet tall but if it does survive the winter it can double that height.

The stem is tough, round, and green to brownish. The somewhat elongated or diamond-shaped leaves are toothed, with a pinnate vein pattern, lightly hairy on top and more hairy on the undersides. The leaves themselves grow in an alternating pattern. The yellow flowers have five petals which overlap at their bases and yellow stamen in the center. After the flowers is done a green "button" style of fruit appears which eventually turns dry and brown. Flowers seem to close up during the night and usually open at mid-day though some may open sooner and others later. Wireweed grows a thickish taproot with many side roots coming off it.

The leaves of wireweed are about 7% protein along with a high concentration of carbohydrates but this plant's main claim to fame is both the leaves and roots contain high levels of ephedrine. This medicinal compound is usually accessed by making tea from the leaves and root or smoking the leaves. Please note, ephedrine can cause issues with lungs and heart especially if you already have high blood pressure, other heart issues, diabetes, enlarged prostrate, or thyroid problems. Ephedrine can also interfere with the performance of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressant medications.

Side rhombifolia leaves are eaten as a vegetable in Australia. The tender, young seed pods are mild in flavor but their ephedrine concentration is unknown so use some care if you decide to eat them. The stems of S. rhombifolia contain mucilage but because of it's innate toughness I don't recommend using the chopped-up stem as a thickener. The strength of these stems and roots are what gives it the name "wireweed" and is why it has a long history of being used to weave baskets and otherwise be used as cordage in the wild. The stems and branches were also used to make brooms.


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.

Wisteria

Scientific Name(s): Wisteria spp.
Abundance: common
What: flowers
How: raw
Where: landscaping, sunny borders
When: spring
Nutritional Value:
Dangers: only the flowers are edible, everything else is TOXIC!

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

Leaf Shape: Leaves are typically compound, pinnately divided into numerous small leaflets.

Leaf Venation: Pinnate venation, with veins running from the base to the tip of each leaflet.

Leaf Margin: The leaflets typically have entire margins.

Leaf Color: The leaves are usually medium to dark green.

Flower Structure: Wisteria produces fragrant flowers that are arranged in pendulous clusters called racemes. The individual flowers have a unique pea-like structure with a banner, wings, and keel petals.

Flower Color: Flowers can vary depending on the species, but they are often shades of purple, blue, pink, or white.

Fruit: The fruit is a legume pod, usually elongated, flattened, and typically a few inches long..

Seed: Inside the pod are numerous small, hard seeds that are typically brown or black. These seeds are often shiny and have a smooth surface.

Stem: The stem is typically a climbing vine, often with woody, twisting branches.

Hairs: Fine hairs may be present on some parts of the plant, including the stem and leaves.

Height: Wisteria can climb and trail on various supports and can reach significant heights, sometimes over 30 feet.

Wisteria vine.


Wisteria flowers.


Wisteria flowers closeup.


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 fragrant flowers of wisteria make a wonderful addition to salads or just nibbled as a raw snack. Long ago they were used to flavor wines, but I haven't had a chance to try that. Note that all other parts of the plant (leaves, stem, seeds etc...) are very toxic and must not be consumed!


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.

Wolfberry

Scientific Name: Lycium berlandieri
Abundance: uncommon
What: fruit
How: raw, cooked
Where: sunny, coastal areas, deserts
When: winter, spring
Nutritional Value: Vitamins A, C, E, flavanoids, and essential fatty acids

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

Leaf Shape: The leaves are lanceolate, with a length ranging from 1 to 3 inches and a width of approximately 0.5 to 1 inch. The leaves may be slightly thicker than those of similar-sized leaves on other bushes.

Leaf Venation: The venation is pinnate but the branching veins may be hard to see.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire, with a smooth edge.

Leaf Color: The upper surface of the leaves is typically light green with a grayish cast.

Flower Structure: The flowers are small and tubular, with a diameter of about 0.25 inches. They are arranged in clusters at the tips of the stems.

Flower Color: The flowers can be lavender or purple.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, round berry.

Seed: Seeds are small, flat, and numerous within the berry. They are typically tan or yellowish in color.

Stem: The stems are woody in appearance and brown in color.

Hairs: The plant may have fine hairs on the stems or leaves, contributing to a slightly fuzzy appearance.

Height: Wolfberry plants typically range in height from 3 to 6 feet, depending on growing conditions and species variation.

Woodberry with ripe berries.

Picture curtesy of Colleen M. Simpson - Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center

Close-up of berries and leaves.

Picture curtesy of Colleen M. Simpson - Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center


Picture curtesy of Colleen M. Simpson - Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve & Learning Center

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 you cross the dry, sandy, alkaline soils of south and west Texas and southern coastal areas you make see a gray-colored bush covered in thick, elongated oval leaves. Depending on the time of year, the bush may be covered in long, tubular, white-yellowish-green-ish flowers or if you are lucky, marble-sized, red fruit. It's bark is smooth and gray though lighter than the green-gray of its leaves. You've found a Wolfberry bush and that means you have some great, super-nutritious food!

The berries ripen in mid-winter to early spring. They have a tangy taste as they are related to tomatoes...and so are in the nightshade family. Related to the fad-food Gogi berries, this Texas plant has all the same high vitamin content as well as other beneficial chemical compounds. Usually the berries are dried/dehydrated then nibbled as a healthy snack. They can be added to muffins, and breads. People also use them in smoothies! of course, you can also make infused vodka out of them for a nutritional martini. Recent studies have shown they might help stroke victims.


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.