Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
Plants Listed by Environment Type xiii
Collecting and Harvesting Wild Foods xvii
How Much Wild Food Is Out There, Anyway? xix
Are Wild Foods Nutritious? xxi
Ferns 1
Bracken Family (Dennstaedtiacea) 2
Bracken (Pteridium aquilinuim) 2
Gymnosperms 5
Ephedra Family (Ephedraceae) 6
Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.) 6
Pine Family (Pinaceae) 9
Pine (Pinus spp.) 9
Juniper (Juniperus californica) 12
Eudicots 17
Muskroot Family (Adoxaceae) 18
Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) 18
Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae) 22
Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) 22
Carrot Family (Apiaceae) 27
Biscuit-Root (Lomatium spp.) 27
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) 30
Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) 33
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) 33
Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola and others) 36
Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus and S. asper) 39
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 43
Thistle (Cirsium spp.) 46
Salsify (Tragopogon spp.) 49
Barberry Family (Berberidaceae) 53
Oregon Grape (Berberis sp.) 53
Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) 56
Mustard (Brassica spp.) 56
Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) 60
Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) 62
Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium irio and S. officinale) 66
Tansy Mustard (Descurainia pinnata and/or californica) 69
Cactus Family (Cactaceae) 72
Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) 72
Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus spp.) 76
Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.) 80
Organ Pipe Cactus, Pitahaya Dulce, or Pitaya (Stenocereus thurberi) 87
Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae) 91
Chickweed (Stellaria media) 91
Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) 95
Saltbush (Atriplex patula, A. elegans, A. wrightii) 95
Lamb's-Quarter, White and Green (Chenopodium album and C. murale) 97
Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus) 100
Heath Family (Ericaceae) 104
Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) 104
Legume Family (Fabaceae) 108
Acacia (Acacia spp.) 108
Paloverde (Parkinsonia microphylla and P. florida) 111
Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Screwbean (P. pubescens) 114
Carob (Ceratonia siliqud) 117
Oak Family (Fagaceae) 119
Oak Tree (Quercus spp.) 119
Geranium Family (Geraniaceae) 124
Filaree (Erodium spp.) 124
Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae) 126
Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.) 126
Walnut Family (Juglandaceae) 129
Arizona Walnut (Juglans major) 129
Mint Family (Lamiaceae) 132
Mint (Mentha spp.) 132
Chia (Salvia columbariae) 134
Mallow Family (Malvaceae) 137
Mallow (Malva neglecta) 137
Miner's Lettuce Family (Montiaceae) 140
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliate) 140
Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae) 143
Yellow Monkey Flower, Common Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus) 143
Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae) 146
Plantain (Plantago major, P. lanceolata) 146
Veronica (aka Speedwell) (Veronica americana) 150
Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) 152
Flat-top Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) 152
Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) 155
Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) 158
Wild Rhubarb (Rumex hymenosepalus) 161
Purslane Family (Portulacaceae) 163
Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) 163
Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceae) 166
California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica and F. betulifolia) 166
Rose Family (Rosaceae) 169
Common Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) 169
Wild Rose (Rosa spp.) 171
Raspberry, Thimbleberry, Blackberry (Rubus spp.) 173
Serviceberry (Amelanchier utahensis) 175
Strawberry (Fragaria spp.) 177
Willow Family (Salicaceae) 180
Willow (Salix spp.) 180
Jojoba Family (Simmondsiaceae) 186
Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) 186
Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) 189
White Nightshade and Purple Nightshade (Solanum americanum and S. xanti) 189
Wolfberry (Lycium spp.) 193
Husk tomato (Physalis spp.) 195
Nettle Family (Urticaceae) 198
Stinging Nettle, Hortiga (Urtica dioicd) 198
Grape Family (Vitaceae) 202
Canyon Grape (Vitis arizonica) 202
Caltrop Family (Zygophyllaceae) 205
Creosote (Larrea tridentata) 205
Monocots 211
Century Plant Family (Agavaceae) 212
Agave (Agave spp.) 212
Yucca (Yucca baccata, Y. brevifolia, and others) 220
Onion or Garlic Family (Alliaceae) 227
Wild Onions (Allium spp.) 227
Palm Family (Arecaceae) 230
Desert Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) 230
Rush Family (Juncaceae) 233
Rush (Juncus spp.) 233
Lily Family (Liliaceae) 235
Desert Mariposa/Sego Lily (Calochortus spp.) 235
Wild Hyacinth, aka Blue Dick (Dichelostemma pulchellum) 237
Desert Lily (Hesperocallis undulata) 240
Grass Family (Poaceae) 242
Cattail Family (Typhaceae) 245
Cattail (Typha spp.) 245
Other Edibles 249
Getting Started 250
Test Your Knowledge of Plants 252
The Dozen Easiest-to-Recognize, Most Widespread, Most Versatile Wild Foods of Arizona 256
Staff of Life: Best Wild-Food Bread Sources 259
Sweet Tooth: Best Wild-Food Sugars and Desserts 262
Useful References 265
Recipe Index 268
Index 269
About the Author 272
