Hop Hornbeam

Scientific Name(s): Ostrya virginiana
Abundance: uncommon
What: seeds
How: raw, roasted, flour
Where: woods
When: late summer
Nutritional Value: calories
Dangers: none

Leaf Arrangement: Leaves are alternate along the stem.

Leaf Shape: Simple, doubly serrated leaves with an elliptical shape, typically measuring 2 to 5 inches in length.

Leaf Color: Foliage is dark green in summer, turning yellow to bronze in the fall.

Flower Structure: Inconspicuous, small flowers arranged in catkins.

Flower Size: Individual flowers are tiny, around 1/8 inch in size.

Fruit (Samara): The fruit is a small, flattened, papery-winged samara, measuring about 1/2 to 3/4 inch in length, growing in close-packed, hanging clusters resembling that of the vine hops.

Bark: Bark is smooth and gray on young stems, becoming grayish-brown and peeling with age.

Height: American hop hornbeam is a small to medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 20 to 40 feet.

Hairs: Leaves may be rough due to microscopic hairs.

Wood Color: Heartwood color is light to reddish-brown.

Branching Pattern: The branching pattern is irregular, forming a rounded or oval crown.

 spreading 30 feet. May have multiple trunks.

Hornbeam "hops" in June. Alas, they won't make beer.

Close-up of seedhead consisting of overlapping samaras.

Ripe seedheads in September. Each samara holds a seed.


The trunk is gray,  peeling, and rarely exceed 10" in diameter.

Note the edges of the leaves are finely serrated, the vein structure is pinnate, and the leaves alternate on the branch.



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.

I often wonder what Texas beermakers think when they see hop hornbeam seedheads for the first time? Starting in midsummer these medium-sized trees are covered in what looks almost exactly like the hops used in brewing. These rather uncommon trees are usually found along the borders of woods where they are shaded by larger hardwoods but still can grab a bit of sun.

It's unusual seedhead clusters look very much like those of the beer-necessity hop vine. The leaves resemble elms but without the distinctive, directional hairs of the Ulmus (elm) species. The trunk, rarely exceeding 10" in diameter, appear to constantly be peeling their bark in narrow, cracked strips.

The seeds, though small, are plentiful are somewhat time consuming to collect. Regardless, they still were an important food source for Native Americans. The seeds have a mild, nutty flavor raw. Roasting them a bit makes them taste even better. Both the raw and roasted seeds can be boiled into a porridge or ground into a gluten-free flour.


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.

Horsemint/Lemon Bee Balm

Scientific name: Monarda punctata and Monarda citriodora
Abundance: uncommon
What: flowers, leaves
How: tea, flavoring
Where: fields
When: summer
Nutritional Value: minerals, some vitamin A,B2,C

Medicinal Summary:
Leaves/Flowers - antimicrobial; anti-inflammatory; diuretic; expectorant; appetite stimulant; antispasmodic; carminative; anti-parasite (tisane)

Monarda punctata (Spotted Beebalm) Structural Features:

Leaf Arrangement: Leaves are arranged in an opposite-alternting pattern along the stem.

Leaf Shape: Leaves are lanceolate, measuring about 2 to 3 inches in length and 0.5 to 1 inch in width.

Leaf Venation: Venation is pinnate with a prominent central vein.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are serrated.

Leaf Color: Leaves are a medium green, often with a lighter underside.

Flower Structure: Flowers are tubular, clustered in dense, rounded heads with showy, leafy bracts beneath each cluster.

Flower Color Monarda punctata (Spotted Beebalm) : The flowers are pale yellow to pinkish, with purple spots. The bracts are often pink or white.

Flower Color Monarda citriodora (Lemon Beebalm): Flowers are lavender to pink. The bracts can be purple, pink, or white.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, dry capsule.

Seed: Seeds are tiny, contained within the capsules.

Stem: The stem is square in cross-section, typical for the mint family, and can be hairy or smooth.

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

Height: The plant typically reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet.

Horsemint (Monarda punctata).


Close-up of Horsemint flowers which are already turning from white to yellowish.


Horsemint stems have hairs running up the leaf petioles.


Horsemint going to seed.


Old, dried Horsemint still smells nice.


A young Horsemint (Coltmint?) in April in Houston.


Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citriodora).


Close-up of Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citriodora).


Lemon Bee Balm beginning to drop its petals and go to seed.




Young bee balm in late 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.


Lining many roadsides and scattered across sunny fields, horsemint's and lemon bee balm's flower spikes are easily recognisable even while passing by at high speeds. The calyx beneath the flowers start out green but then change to bright pink/purple then white. Horsemint flowers start out white with dark spots inside their "throats" but then these flowers turn yellowish while the spots remain unchanged. Lemon bee balm flowers are pink/purple and stay that color until the flower begins drying out.

The flowers and young leaves of these plants add a wonderful herbal/citrus flavor to tea, candies, and anything else that may need some help with its flavor. Lemon bee balm is preferred for flavoring as some people feel horsemint flowers have kind of a horsey smell/taste undertone.

Horsemint leaves are exceptionally high in thymol which is a sedative but also very good for calming upset stomachs. Its antibacterial and anti-worm properties make it a good plant to know when you may be faced with bad water or spoiled foods.


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.

Horsetails

Scientific name: Equisetaceae spp.
Abundance: uncommon
What: young stems, roots
How: tea with young stems boiled in 3-4 changes of water or roots after roasting
Where: near water
When: young shoots in the spring, roots all year
Nutritional Value: minerals
Other uses: These plants contain a large amount of silica which makes them excellent for scrubbing dishes in the wild. They also contain some very astringent compounds which makes mashed-up horsetails an excellent clotting agent to help stop bleeding.
Dangers: Equisetaceae species contain thiaminase, an enzyme which removes vitamin B from the body. This enzyme is destroyed by cooking the horsetails.

Medicinal Summary:
Stems - hemostat; wound Healer; diuretic; assists rebuilding non-chronic connective tissue damage (poultice, tisane)

Leaf Arrangement: The leaves are arranged in whorls at regular intervals along the stem. These leaves are small and scale-like.

Leaf Shape: Leaves are reduced to small, non-photosynthetic scales that are fused at the base, forming a sheath around the stem.

Leaf Venation: There is no distinct venation due to the reduced size and form of the leaves.

Leaf Margin: Leaf margins are not applicable, as the leaves are scale-like and fused.

Leaf Color: The scale leaves are usually the same color as the stem, typically green to brownish-green.

Flower Structure: These plants do not produce true flowers. They reproduce by spores produced by "bee hive" looking structures at the tips of the stalks.

Flower Color: Not applicable, as Equisetaceae species do not have flowers.

Fruit: No true fruit is produced; they reproduce via spores released from cone-like structures.

Seed: No seeds are produced; reproduction is through spores.

Stem: The stem is elongated, jointed, and hollow, with ridges and furrows running along its length. Texture is rough.

Hairs: There are no hairs on the stem or leaves.

Height: The height varies widely among species, ranging from a few inches to several feet tall.

Stand of horsetails




Close-up of stalk tip.


Spore-producing bodies maturing left to right.


Really close-up of Horsetail tips.


Close-up of Horsetails "joints".


Getting ready to clean some pots.


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.


Looking like prehistoric reeds, horsetails are found in large clumps in the sandy soil along Texas streams. They look prehistoric because they are prehistoric, being 100 million years old. Horsetails reproduce via spores rather than seeds, which puts them closer to ferns than most other vascular plants. A tall stand can reach 30 inches high and densely packed.

Tea from the plant has a slight "black licorice" crossed with green tea flavor. Crushed up a 6-8 horsetails into a cup of water and then boil them for ten minutes. Let stand until cool enough to drink. The silicic acid found in horsetail tea is thought to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and the air sacs in lungs along with promoting regrowth of damaged joint tissue. Its astringent chemicals reduce bleeding especially in the mouth and act as a diuretic to flush out the body.

The high silicate content of horsetails makes them excellent wilderness pot scrubbers. A handful of them rubbed will quickly scrap clean a dirty cook pot, as many old boy scouts know.


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.

Hostas

Scientific Name(s): Hosta species
Abundance: common
What: flowers, leaves, young shoots
How: cooked, pickled
Where: landscaping, shade
When: fall, winter, spring
Nutritional Value:
Dangers: none

Leaf Arrangement: Leaves are basal, emerging directly from the crown of the plant in a rosette formation.

Leaf Shape: Leaves vary from heart-shaped to nearly circular, commonly measuring 6 to 18 inches long and wide, depending on the variety.

Leaf Venation: Venation is pinnate, with a prominent central vein and secondary veins branching off.

Leaf Margin: Margins can be smooth, wavy, or slightly serrated, varying among cultivars.

Leaf Color: Leaf color ranges from green to blue-green, with many varieties displaying variegation in white, cream, or yellow.

Flower Structure: Flowers are tubular, 1"-1.5" long, arranged on tall, erect scapes (stem/stalk) above the foliage.

Flower Color: Flower colors vary from white to lavender and purple.

Fruit: Small, about pea-sized berries, in a line along the end of the scape.

Seed: Seeds are small and black, contained within the capsules.

Stem: The flowering stems, or scapes, are long and leafless, extending above the leafy rosette.

Hairs: Leaves are generally smooth, without significant hairs.

Height: Foliage height varies by variety, generally 1 to 2 feet, with flower scapes extending higher.

Varieties of Hostas.




Close-up of Hosta flowers.


Hosta berries. The short stems coming off the thicker stem have already dropped their berries.


Crushed Hosta berry to show seed and pulp.



Across North America hostas are a very pretty, trouble-free landscaping plant, sometimes call "Plantain Lily". However, here in Texas they do take some care to keep alive. According to Texas A&M, the six best hostas for Texas are: Royal Standard, Blue Cadet, So Sweet, Albo-Marginata, Sugar & Cream, and Blue Angel. Of these only Blue Cadet looked great even in the summer. As summer progresses the local Walmart garden centers have these on clearance for as little as $0.50 and since they do okay indoors as a potted plant you can grow food on your windowsill.

Hostas have a long history of use as food, with the tender, new shoots being the favored part. These are eaten raw or cooked by sautéing or steaming. I want to try grilling them like asparagus or greenbriar tips. The flowers can be picked and added raw to salads. Supposedly some people use the raw flowers as cake decoration but I still have to try that. The sound leaves are also eaten raw but I bet they would ferment well.

My research hasn't turned up any edible uses of the berries.


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.

Hoary Bowlesia

Scientific Name(s): Bowlesia incana
Abundance: common
What: leaves
How: raw
Where: moist, disturbed areas, yards, fields
When: winter, spring
Nutritional Value: assorted vitamins
Dangers: beware the mimic creeping buttercup

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

Leaf Shape: The leaves are orbicular to kidney-shaped, often measuring about 0.5 to 2 inches in diameter.

Leaf Venation: Venation is palmate, with several major veins radiating from a central point.

Leaf Margin: The margins are scalloped or shallowly lobed.

Leaf Color: Leaves are a light green, sometimes with a grayish tinge due to the presence of fine hairs.

Flower Structure: Flowers are small and inconspicuous, borne in leaf axils or at the stem tips.

Flower Color: The flowers are typically white or pale green.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, dry capsule.

Seed: Seeds are tiny, enclosed within the capsule.

Stem: Stems are thin, branching, and can be either erect or decumbent (spreading along the ground).

Hairs: The plant is characterized by its dense, fine, white hairs, giving it a grayish or whitish appearance, hence the name "incana." Hairs on stems grow in star-like clusters.

Height: The plant typically grows to a height of about 6 to 12 inches.

Hoary bowlesia growing in a bed of landscaping pebbles.

Close-up of leaves. Note the five major leaf lobes.

Hoary bowlesia grows in a rosette pattern with all the stems originating from a central point.

This weed begins appearing in winter and continues on into spring. It thrives along sidewalks and other urban environments.

Close-up of horay bowlesia's tiny flowers.  Note the hairiness of the 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.

Hoary bowlesia is one of those native "weeds" that many people see but few know. Its light-green, five-lobed, hairy leaves begin popping up along sidewalks and in yards after several cool, winter rains. In many ways it resembles the toxic creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens) which also grows in similar locations and time but the creeping buttercup has smooth, hair-free leaves whereas hoary bowlesia is covered in fine hairs.

If you think the leaves resemble cilantro somewhat you have a good eye. Both cilantro and hoary bowlesia are members of the Apiaceae family aka the carrot family and the leaves do have a flavor somewhat like mild cilantro. These leaves can be used raw as a salad green or seasoning or cooked as a traditional pot herb. This is a plant who's flavor will depend a great deal on your own major taste buds and the specific plant compounds that register the most strongly. If you're the type of person who really dislikes cilantro I still recommend giving hoary bowlesia a small test-nibble. I haven't heard of any reports of it containing the soap-like molecules that some people find disagreeable so you may like it.

Young, toxic Creeping Buttercup. The leaf shape is similar but these leaves are hairless.


Mature, toxic Creeping Buttercup produces yellow flowers.

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.

Horseweed

Scientific Name(s): Conyza canadensis
Abundance: plentiful
What: leaves, seedlings
How: leaves dried or fresh, seasoning; seedlings boiled
Where: fields, borders, disturbed soil
When: spring, summer
Nutritional Value: protein, calcium, zinc
Dangers: contact may cause skin rash in a small number of people.

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

Leaf Shape: The leaves are lanceolate to oblong, measuring about 1 to 4 inches in length and 0.1 to 0.5 inches in width.

Leaf Venation: Venation is pinnate, with a central vein and smaller veins branching off.

Leaf Margin: The leaf margins are entire or slightly toothed.

Leaf Color: Leaves are a dull green, sometimes with a slightly paler underside.

Flower Structure: The plant produces numerous small flower heads, each with a central disk of tiny yellow flowers surrounded by a few white to pale pink ray flowers.

Flower Color: Disk flowers are yellow, while ray flowers are white to pale pink.

Fruit: The fruit is a small, dry, one-seeded achene.

Seed: Seeds are tiny, enclosed within the achenes.

Stem: The stem is single, erect, and begins branching near the top. 

Hairs: There are fine hairs on the stems and leaves, giving the plant a slightly rough texture.

Height: The plant typically grows to a height of about 1 to 3 feet.

Mature horseweed, pulled up from the ground.


Close-up of young, top, lesser-toothed leaves.


Close-up of lower, mature, toothed leaves.


Young horseweed.




Close-up of young, hairy stem.


Close-up of top but soon to be lower leaves.


Very close-up of lower horseweed leaf.


Horseweed flower cluster.






Close-up of horseweed flower buds.


Horseweed on the left, Goldenrod on the right.


Goldenrod leaf on the left, Horseweed leaf on the right.


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.


Commonly found near the similar-looking goldenrod, horseweed is another plentiful, delicious weed. It prefers sunny, non-acidic soil that has already suffered being disturbed by mankind. Horseweed usually appears in late spring after goldenrod but comes to flowering maturity earlier, usually in later summer. The plant itself is tall, thin, with lance-shaped leaves. Horsehide leaves are found opposite one another with each set alternating 90 degrees from the previous two leaves. Leaves start out fairly lanceolate in shape but become more toothed as they mature. The stem and leaves are both hairy, differing them from the smooth, hairless goldenrod. The plant produces hundreds of tiny, white, dandelion-like flowers which splay out less than those of the bright yellow, pyramids of goldenrod flowers.

Taste and flavor-wise, horseweed is worlds apart from goldenrod. The young, tender seedlings are boiled by some as a somewhat spinach-flavored potherb. As it matures the flavor becomes more herb-like, reminding me of oregano-basil mix. At this stage I really like using its leaves to flavor venison roasts as they slow-cook in a crockpot all day. Really, what better seasoning for wild meat than wild herbs?!

Use a sharp pruning shears to snip off the last 3-4 sets of leaves for use as seasoning. While they can be dried by hanging in your house for later use, the slow-cooking process excels at releasing its flavor even from green, fresh leaves. This plant will continue to grow after this pruning, sometimes putting up multiple new shoots from the point of the cut. You'll often be able to get 2-3 harvests from a single plant over the course of the spring/summer.

Tea made from the leaves has long been used to treat diarrhea and dysentery.

Once the flowers appear in July/August/September its use as food has come to an end. A single plant will produce thousands of drifting seeds, many of which will produce new plants the following spring.

Medicinal Summary:
Leaves; Stem - soothes chronic inflammations of gastrointestinal tract; anti-diarrheal; soothes respiratory tract inflammations; soothes sore throat; antimicrobial; stops bleeding (tisane)

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.