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misquoting about edible plants

1/8/2017

1 Comment

 
So it happens. You chat with someone about edible plants and they write up a little something or other for their group's newsletter and they get it wrong. Not a big deal right? Well when it comes to edible plants, my poor heart nearly leaps out of my chest!!

We live in a world filled with information produced by people of all levels of expertise. This same world has articles written by other people using materials that they have found who may or may not be discerning about their source materials. 

When it comes to edible plants, this is understandably problematic. I urge you to always double check all information that you read and to remember that even in the world of edible plants that: 

a) not all plants are edible in the same ways (some must be cooked for example)
b) not all part of edible plants are edible (DON'T EAT rhubarb leaves)
c) not all edible plants grown in all circumstances are safe (nitrate accumulation in goosefoots)
d) not all edible plants are edible by all people (allergies)
e) not all edible plants are edible at quantity
f) some edible plants look like non edible plants (the carrot family)
g) common names are NOT your friend
h) some edible plants can contain toxic relatives or varieties (almond trees)

Please be safe people!

Double, triple check. Start slow. Be sure.

***

I do not want to copy the misquote directly as it would leave a word stamp so to speak that would seem to corroborate incorrect information but it suggested that I called iris and lupin edible. Generally speaking, they are not. There are some minor instances of iris being used in some ways though with warnings about these possibly being toxic so it's not a Genus I'd explore. There are low alkaloid lupins out there that may be rendered edible after leaching out dangerous alkaloids but again, I wouldn't lump them in with edibles normally. Lastly, it mentions daylilies. Common ditch lily - Hemerocallis fulva - is the one that most foragers have experience with and can be considered edible though caution is advised with the mutliple varieties that have been bred. 

This mistake came out of a phone conversation where many plants were mentioned in different contexts. For example, iris makes a nice companion for edible plants but is not edible itself. 

1 Comment
fred schueler link
1/8/2017 11:40:51 am

3 July 2013 - Canada: New Brunswick: Saint John County: 1.4 km NE Musquash. (50m site), 45.19785N 66.32408W TIME: 1807-1815. AIR TEMP: 18C, sunny, breezy. HABITAT: brushy oldfield near tidal river. OBSERVER: Frederick W. Schueler, Aleta Karstad Schueler, Owen Clarkin. 2013/122/kb, Lupinus polyphyllus (Large leaved Lupine) (Plant). abundant herb, in bloom, seen, song. dispersed muticolour stems all through site. Verse in response to a naturopathic e-mail warning that the seeds are toxic:

The toxic Lupine bean is found
On the New Brunswick shore.
It causes them to retch and scream
and more and more and more. . .

If you should eat a Lupine bean
On the New Brunswick shore,
I'd need to call the medics out
From Saint John once more. . .

So please sweep up those Lupine beans
From the New Brunswick shore.
I've slipped and twisted both my knees
Where you spilled them on the floor.

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  • Home
  • Shop
    • Seeds and Propagation materials
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    • Plant to Plate >
      • Chufa
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    • About Seeds >
      • Seed Starting
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      • Threshing and Winnowing
    • About Design >
      • Edible Landscape Design
    • Plant Lists
    • Garden Critters
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    • About ALE
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