Plants Burdock 1 Arctium is a very common plant in Vermont that is more well known as burdock. Burdock is a plant that grows about three to four feet tall. It has purple flowers that bloom between the months of June and October. It has wavy, heart-shaped leaves that are green on top and whitish on the bottom. The most prominent feature would be the burrs that stick to clothing and animal fur. Burdock grows on the roadsides, in fields, and on the edge of forests. They also have dark brownish-green roots that are similar to carrots. In order to harvest the roots, you need to dig two to three feet deep. Consuming burdock root can be used as a blood purifier, it’s good for the liver, can increase urine flow, reduce fever, and can be used to alleviate high blood pressure.  Burdock has been reported to also treat colds, help with cancer, anorexia nervosa, gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, joint pain (rheumatism), gout, bladder infections, complications of syphilis, and skin conditions including acne and psoriasis. Some people even use burdock to increase sex drive. Hazards: Can damage a fetus if you consume while pregnant, can make dehydration worse, and can potentially interact negatively with diabetes medication. Other species that might be mistaken as: roots look very similar to those of deadly nightshade, so be careful. The biggest difference is that the burdock has burrs. Environmental impact (amount to take, plants to avoid): Very common so you can take a decent amount, just make sure to leave plenty in the area. Cattail 2 Typha is a very common plant, and is generally found near water sources. They grow very densely in marshes, swamps, and ditches. In its early stage it’s easily confused for non-poisonous calamus(Acorus calamus), poisonous daffodil (Amaryllidaceae) and iris(Iris species) shoots, all of which have similar leaves. Fortunately, by mid-spring cattails grow much taller than all of these look-alikes, therefore making them unmistakable, even to a beginner. Harvesting these is best by late spring, when stalks grow tall, and become inedibly fibrous with developing flowers. Roots and young shoots can be used as a starch. Young cattail plants reach about two feet tall, but when fully matured they reach about ten feet tall. Their stems are olive to dark green and one to two centimeters thick. The flowering spike at the end is a brown, cylindrical, sausage-like shape. Cattails provide a valuable cleaning service by filtering out toxins from murky streams. So harvesting the roots, for example, not only impairs Mother Nature's filtering system, but also means that these toxins will end up in your filtering system instead. Be careful what water source your cattails are accessing! Wetlands are an endangered habitat. Cattails help prevent erosion and also provide nesting grounds for many species of waterfowl. Choosing a proper area is key to maintaining a healthy environment. Native Americans also used cattails medicinally: They applied the jelly from between the young leaves to wounds, sores, boils, carbuncles, external inflammations, and boils, to soothe pain. Cattail is said to have a certain emmenogogue action and should therefore be avoided during pregnancy. Chicory 3 Cichorium intybus is very common and somewhat woody, perennial, herbaceous plant.  Chicories usually have bright blue flowers. The roots are white and carrot-like. They live as a wild plant on roadsides. Chicory root is one of the more valuable parts of the plant, so harvest the entire thing.  The leaves can be great in salads, especially the smaller upper leaves. They’re similar in taste to dandelion but not as bitter. The root can be roasted and is delicious. Gather up several of these roots, wash them well, and dice them up.  Place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet and roast in an oven at 325º for 30 minutes or so, flipping every ten to fifteen minutes. If ground up in a coffee grinder it can be used as a tea or a mellow coffee substitute.   Chicory contains inulin, which can help humans with weight loss, constipation, improving bowel function, and general health. Do not taking chicory root with other prescribed medications, herbs or supplements and consult with a physician prior to using it. Chicory has demonstrated anti-hepatotoxic potential in animal studies. Chicory is well known for its toxicity to internal parasites. Chicory (especially the flower), used as a folk medicine in Germany. Common Plantain 4 The common plantain, Plantago Major, has broad, very oval leaves, one to six inches in length. The leaves have smooth, wavy, or toothed edges.  A tall spike of flowers, and  tiny seeds cover the central flower stalk, which stands straight from the center of the basal rosette and can be three inches tall.  This spike of a stalk and flower easily identifies common plantain. It can be found in early spring until first frost. Plantain is so common in grassy areas that it is likely to be overlooked. It is extremely common. An infusion tea can be used for treating asthma, bronchitis, coughs, diarrhoea, haemorrhages, hay fever, and toothaches. To create infusion pour near-boiling water over the leaves and let steep for five to ten minutes. Use approximately 75g fresh or 30g dried herb to 500ml of water. It can be sweetened, but do not add milk. A poultice paste can be spread between two layers of gauze and applied as hot as possible externally to the affected area can be used to haemorrhoids, shingles, and varicose ulcers. You can crush fresh leaves and apply externally to an affected area to treat inflammation, insect bites, infections, toothaches, haemorrhages, and wounds. Also avoid use on anyone with intestinal obstruction or abdominal discomfort. Common Plantain can be found in gardens as weeds, as well as scattered in lawns or fields. Three to eleven parallel veins run their length and are large and noticeable. You should be careful of how much you consume because high doses may cause a fall in blood pressure and diarrhoea. As always make sure you are not allergic to any plant before use. Also avoid use on anyone with intestinal obstruction or abdominal discomfort. The infusion must be taken on the same day. Dandelion 5 Taraxacum officinale, has a thick fleshy taproot with many-branched crowns and milky juice. Stem is very short, producing leaves at the ground surface. Leaves are simple, three to ten inches long, and contain a milky juice. Flowerheads are golden-yellow and one to two inches in diameter, with yellow ray flowers, borne on a long, hollow stalk. Seeds are tannish, about 3/16 of an inch long, elongated, with a slender tip bearing a tuft of hairs that are easily broken off. Dandelion is used for loss of appetite, upset stomach, intestinal gas, gallstones, joint pain, muscle aches, eczema, and bruises. Dandelion is also used to increase urine production and as a laxative to increase bowel movements. Skin toner, blood tonic, and digestive tonic are other uses for dandelions. It can be found from early spring to early fall Dandelion is extremely common To harvest the plants simply dig up, clean and use the parts of the plant you would like. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of dandelion during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use. Ragweed allergy: Dandelion can cause allergic reactions when taken by mouth or applied to the skin of sensitive people. People who are allergic to ragweed and related plants (daisies, chrysanthemums, marigolds) are likely to be allergic to dandelion. If you have allergies, be sure to check with a doctor before taking dandelion. The common dandelion is the most common broadleaf weed in many lawns. It is found in virtually every kind of habitat, from openings in deep woods to cultivated fields, from rocky hillsides to fertile gardens and lawns. False Tinder Fungus 6 Fomes fomentarius; False Tinder Fungus is a fungi that grows off trees. The trees mainly affected by this type of fungi are birch, sugar maple and beech trees or generally any trees that produce drinkable sap in the spring. It is typically light brown, dark brown or white. The top gives the appearance of waves of colors, where the under part of the fungus is a smooth, semi-sticky texture. The fungus can be used as tinder for fires or as wicks for candles. You can harvest this fungus by hitting upwards from the base of the fungus. Preparing False Tinder Fungus: Make a fire and harvest the ashes. Put a mixture of 50/50 (half ash and half water) and drop in all of the harvested amadou and stir the mixture. This is the quickest method of preparation being letting the mixture of amadou sit for approximately one hour, then boil for an hour and let it cool down. You can also let the mixture sit for 7-12 days and it will have the same effect. Remove the amadou and let it dry. To speed up the process, you can press on the amadou gently, removing excess water. After dried, pound on the individual pieces of amadou The fibrous part and the part of the bark left from extraction are not as useful. In order to get the most out of the fungi, you remove the wood pieces from the outer shell, removing as much as possible. You can then cut the amadou away from the fibrous pieces on the inside and use as directed. Jewelweed 7 Balsams is a very common plant that is more commonly known as Jewelweed. It is very hard to miss with it’s beautiful orange flowers and springing seeds that children can be fascinated with for hours, hence the name touch-me-nots.  Jewelweed is generally found growing in very moist, rich soil, such as a roadside ditch or a riverbank. Most people don’t know this, but jewelweed is a very useful plant and can be used for medicinal reasons such as to prevent poison ivy, heal rashes or bites, or can even be used as beauty products such as nail polish.  It is often found near stinging nettle or poison ivy, so be careful where you step. Brew chopped jewelweed in boiling water until you get a dark orange liquid. Yellow Jewelweed will not yield orange color and may not be effective. Strain the liquid and pour into ice cube trays. When you have a skin rash, rub it with a jewelweed cube and you will be amazed with its healing properties. It will keep in freezer up to a year. You can also preserve the infusion by canning it in a pressure cooker. It has yellow/orange flowers with red dots and shiny thick leaves, that can be used as a repellant It grows to be about two meters tall in rich, moist soil Blooms mainly May through October Jewelweed contains four naphthoquinone, which is a main dye found in Henna, used for hair and skin coloring Contains two methoxy-1, an anti-inflammatory and fungicide that is an active ingredient in some formulations of Preparation H. If mixed with rose and or orchid petals it can be a nail polish, this method and recipe was used by the ancient chinese. Lamb’s Quarters 8 Chenopodium album or Lamb’s Quarters is a broadleaf plant. It may also be referred to as Goosefoot, Fat Hen or Pigweed. A mature plant can grow up to six feet tall while a new plant is lower to the ground. Lamb’s Quarters are often mealy with a white dusting and obstetric, triangular or diamond shaped leaves with no teeth and come to a “V” shaped point. The stem can be red as it ages. It does not have a strong odor; therefore if you come across a plant that appears similar, but has a strong scent, you can tell the difference. The seeds tend to be very minuscule. This plant is edible, with the exception of the seeds. The shoots and young leaves can be eaten raw, typically in salad. Older leaves should be cooked wet or steamed. Water-Resistant due to white “film” on the bottom of the leaf (Album meaning “white”) Slightly similar to the black nightshade and spiny amaranth. However, spiny amaranth is edible, where black nightshade is not; black nightshade rarely grows higher than a foot and grows in clusters of bushy-looking mass and has dull green foliage. It’s leaves are egg-shaped and stalked and bluntly notched or waved. The stem is green and hollow. They also have small, white flowers that grow in clusters from the main stem. The size of the plant reduces a bit when cooked; much like spinach Harvesting: For seeds: place a paper bag over the top of the plant and shake the plant, having the seeds fall into the bag. In a very large amount of plants, feel free to take the entire plant, pick off the leaves and use as directed Environment: Often in disturbed ground, gardens, sidewalk cracks/spacing Time of Year: Shoots in the spring, leaves in the summer, reproduction in the fall; varies based on climate Little Hogweed 9 Portulaca Oleracea is a plant that sprouts green with a reddish hue. It looks like little red pipes along the ground, the four leaves look like a fan, surrounding a tip.The leaves have no tips and are completely round. As Little Hogweed matures it can form “seed nests”. Hogweed also sprouts flowers that look similar to buttercups. Little Hogweed can be consumed by chickens, and can raise omega-3 in their eggs. Use tips for easy fresh salads, and can be made it into pesto. The older stems can be dipped into fondue, boiled, sauteed, stir-fried, and baked. You may also eat the flowers and seeds as well (commonly with the stems). Little Hogweed is very common. To harvest Little Hogweed you pick the biggest leaves,  and collect the tips of the stems. You can use all parts of the plant, but make sure to get all the roots when pulling the plant. Keep cool after collecting. Little Hogweed thrives in hot weather climates, and will not sprout until the ground temperature is from 76-90 degrees. Best harvested in the four hottest months of the year, they are very drought resistant because they hold a lot of the moisture. Any other plants that block the sunlight can kill (most) of the plant (not the parts that reach that find sun). Milkweed 10 Asclepias syriaca, is thick-stemmed and upright.  It grows to be three to five feet tall.  Its leaves are elliptical, and opposite; they are velvety on their upper surface, and downy underneath.  They are four to nine inches long and three to five inches wide They have pinkish-purple flowers. The flowers are large and made up of individual florets gathered in an umbrella shape and drooping from the stem. The stem is hairy. The seed pods are the most recognizable feature of the common milkweed; they are green, elliptical and about one to four inches in length with a pointed tip; inside, they contain myriad seeds with silky parachute-like attachments. Another easily recognizable characteristic of the common milkweed is the milky white sap that flows from any broken part. Until they are about eight inches tall, milkweed shoots make a delicious boiled vegetable. As the plant grows taller, the bottom of the shoot becomes tough. Until it attains a height of about two feet, however, you can break off the top few inches (remove any large leaves) and use this portion like the shoot. Milkweed pods are delicious in stew or just served as a boiled vegetable, perhaps with cheese or mixed with other veggies. It is a perennial, the plant is around from late spring until frost. The seed pods grow from late summer until mid fall. If the pods are immature the silk and seeds inside will be soft and white without any hint of browning. It is good to occasionally use this test to verify that you are only choosing immature pods. If the pods are mature they will be extremely tough. To harvest milkweed, dig the milkweed shoots up in early summer or harvest the seed pods by simply pulling them off of the plants gently. Be aware that all parts of the plant are somewhat poisonous until boiled. Dogbane shoots can be mistaken as milkweed shoots pretty easily. Milkweed leaves are much larger than Dogbane leaves, and Dogbane stems are usually reddish-purple on the upper part, and become thin before the top leaves, while milkweed stems are green and remain thick even up to the last set of leaves. Milkweed stems have minute fuzz, while those of dogbane lack fuzz and are almost shiny. Dogbane also branches out where as Milkweed does not. Both Milkweed and Dogbane have a milky sap though. Milkweed can be found in and around old fields, roadsides, small clearings, streamsides, fencerows and marshes. To use the plants sustainably, when harvesting seed pods only take approximately ⅓ of the pods and when harvesting for sprouts only take up to ¼ of the plants. Mullein 11 Genus verbascum is a plant on the ground that grows in a rosette style. There should be a noticeable rib on the back of the leaves. There are two types of Mullein, one is hairy and the other is not. The type that has hairs will feel soft to the touch, think of it as peach fuzz but more hairy. There are many great uses for mullein. You can smoke it to relieve asthma attacks and as medicinal purposes. Mullein grows biennially over the summer during two years. This means it grows out in a rosette style during the first year. Then during the second year it grows as a tall stock. Mullein is most common in places with disturbed soil that drains well such as dry river beds. To harvest mullein first you must cut the plant off where the plant meets the soil. Next tie a string to the root end and hang it in a dark and dry room. Let the plant stay hanging to dry out until the leaves crumble easily. This could take as short as one week or it could take three or more weeks. With mullein there are no hazards to worry about and the plants that look similar to mullein do not have any hazards either. Oak 12 Quercus is a shrub or tree of which about 600 different species exist. Oaks have a wide range of leaves styles from serrated, to smooth, an oak that does not lose it’s leaves in winter or spring months is considered an evergreen. Evergreens are not considered a species of oak since multiple species do not lose their leaves throughout the year. Oak is also considered a very good building material because it’s high tannin content repels both fungal growth and insect outbreaks. Oak leaves and nuts are poisonous in large doses to many animals including goats, sheep, and cows. Oak nuts are consumable after a process of boiling the nuts to to help remove some of the tannin content Phragmite 13 Phragmite australis is a large grass like plant. The stems are hollow, wooden-like tubes and they grow in clumps. The ‘leaves’ somewhat resemble hair, long and feathery. The leaves are purple but start to turn tan as they grown throughout the season. If you want to eat phragmite you can eat the it raw or cooked, but you must prepare it correctly. You can eat the shoots raw, or you can steam or boil until tender; and serve as a vegetable. You can extract the sap and create a gum that you can eat raw or roast. Phragmite can be used as shafts for arrows, instruments,and cigarettes. You can find phragmite near lakes and ponds and ideal seasons are Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Harvesting method is gather new shoots (at base of old stalks) and leaves early in growing season. Collect harden sap from wounded stems. Cut whole stems before blooming. Gather seed heads in late summer and autumn. Failure to produce seeds is common. Dig roots and underground stems all year. For gruel (which is a kind of oatmeal), remove seeds, crush seeds into powder and you can mix it with spicy berries. Add boiling water and cook until the gruel is red, for about 30 min; and add sweetener. Pokeweed 14 The Pokeweed has several different names such as Phytolacca, pokebush, pokeberry, poke root, and poke sallet. The pokeweed plant can be found during the summer months.  The plant itself has berries that look like blueberries but are slightly flattened, and they cluster like grapes causing the plant to sag. In the early months, the berries are green but as the berries mature they turn into the purple/blue that they are known for.  This plant can be very toxic if eaten raw or undercooked, so eat with caution. To cook pokeweed properly you must first cut from the stem to avoid the root. Boil the pokeweed leaves until the water is rapidly boiling and then strain the water.  Take a different pot and boil the leaves a second time. Then drain and reboil the plant more, after the last drain take a spoon and try to take out as much of the water as possible.   If smashed, the berries will produce a red ink good for writing with.  The ink of Pokeberries was used to help write the United States Constitution Pokeweed has been known to prevent tumors, herpes and HIV, but it has not yet been tested on humans. Stinging nettle 15 Urtica dioica is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant that grows all around the world. The plant generally has a long stocky body anywhere from three to seven feet tall, has fury leaves, bright yellow flowers, and most importantly hypodermic needles that release chemicals causing a stinging sensation. The stinging nettle tends to die down to a stub in the winter months which also bursts the hypodermic needles stopping it from stinging. How to harvest/prepare: Harvest:Typically for harvest you will want to wait until after first frost so the needles burst from the liquid expansion. It is possible to harvest before hand but you either want to use gloves or grab from the bottom upwards. Cooking:. First you will want to wash any debris off the nettle such as dirt and dust you may also remove the leaves from the plant, but it is safe to eat whole. Next is to prepare a pot with a steamer basket basket by filling it up with water, and bringing the heat up to high and covering the pot until the water boils. After the water boils place the plant into the water recommend using gloves or tongs so not to be stung, and leave the plant plant in water for about 5 minutes until it has a soggy consistency like spinach and consume plain or with parmesan cheese. Two types of hair reside on the plant one that stings one that does not. If you touch the stinging one the tip of the hair comes off forming a needle that injects a host of non lethal chemicals into the body that cause stinging Is anywhere from 1 - 2 meters tall (3 - 7 ft) with a very fury thin green stalk and fury leaves. Also has very bright yellow flowers or white seed pods in early stages of life. Stinging nettles only grow in the spring and summer months dying down in the fall and winter months to a stub Solomon’s Seal 16 Polygonatum refers to the perennial plant Solomon’s Seal. They have an underground stem that is thick, white, twisted and full of knots. It sprouts up stems that attain a height of from 18 inches to three feet. The stock then grows out and bends over. They are round, pale-green in color, and bare half-way up. The flowers are in little drooping clusters of approximately two to seven flowers, springing from the axils of the leaves, but hanging in an opposite direction of the leaves. They are tubular in shape. They are creamy or waxy white in color, topped with a yellowish-green. They are also sweet-scented, and reproduce by small berries about the size of a pea, varying in colors between a blackish-blue color to a purpleish-red color. The berries contain about three or four seeds each. Solomon’s Seal is a fairly hardy plant that prefers light soil and a shady situation. If in a suitable soil and situation and not crowded by shrubs, it will thrive and multiply very rapidly. The root is a part of the plant that can be used for medicinal uses; in particular joint injuries/pain. Very often the roots are quite close to the surface. If this is the case, and there's not a lot of clay to deal with, you can harvest the planet with your fingers, but if needed use shovel. Combining Solomon’s Seal with Saint John's Wort, Arnica and Yarrow will create an oil infusion. Simply grind them all together with solomon’s seal being the base Star Chickweed 17 Stellaria Pubera is often found in the woods on the east coast of North America. The Star Chickweed can grow to be about six through sixteen inches tall, with a long hairy green stem and five white petals at the top (shaped like a star), and can be found in wooded areas or on rocky slopes. It is best harvested between the months of April and June. It is great for medicinal purposes. If chopped up and mushed, it can be used to treat sores in the skin. It can also be used to cure fevers, cramps, and Arthritis.   If cooked it can also be used as a tasty treat just by simply eating it as a green.   The plant has become endangered in New Jersey, but it otherwise a very common plant. Tinder Fungus 18 Inonotus obliquus is also known as chaga, or ice man fungus and can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North america.  Tinder fungus grows off of trees, the outside is very hard and fibrous but on the inside it is cinnamon brown. It is not to be confused with False Tinder fungus which grows off of dead birch wood trees, it has a stripe like exterior and in the inside has vertical rows.  Tinder Fungus has many great qualities, it is mostly used to start fires because it can hold heat for a long period of time. But only the soft inside of the tinder fungus can be used to start a fire.  Once a spark or flame, gets on the tinder fungus it will start to smoke and grow a tiny flame.  If you put it on a couple of twigs and then start to blow on it gently flames will start to rise and more wood can be added to the fire.  Tinder Fungus can also be used as a substitute for Non-caffeinated coffee, all you have to do is simply let the Tinder Fungus sit in the water for a bit, using only a small portion of it and then boil the water for 10 minutes.   If burned, Tinder Fungus will give off a deep “woodsy” scent that can help to relieve headaches If boiled for two hours Tinder Fungus can turn to tea Violet 19 Viola, also known as wild violet is a very common plant and can most likely be found in damp shady areas in almost any soil. They have dark green leaves that are shaped like hearts, have slightly serrated edges and a soft, downy underside that grow in a rosette at the base of the plant. Flower color can be deep purple, blue, pinkish, yellowish-white and all have 5 petals, two of which may have yellow fur on the inside. Violets can be used for a wide variety of things from scents to medicine and even a food additive. Every part of the plant is usable and the flowers bloom from March to June. To harvest, you should collect flowers in full bloom, leaves anytime, and roots in the fall which should be dried for later use. Violets can be used for a wide variety of things such as making syrup to help with congestion, coughing, and sore throat, jelly that can be candied for decoration, dried root can be used as a laxative, can be used as a sedative, crushed leaves can help reduce swelling and irritation and can be made into an ointment for skin. Violets also smell very nice so they can be used to make perfumes, dried leaves can be put in potpourri, and fresh crushed flowers put in a bath is very relaxing and good for the skin. They are also edible so they can be used as food additives in dishes such as salad or the whole plant can be made into a tea to help treat digestive disorders. Violets are also considered to be “Natural Aspirin” and can be used to help cure headaches and body aches and some oils and chemicals in lilacs have shown promise in helping to treat many kinds of cancer, AIDS, arthritis, gum disease and more. Hazards Eating a large amount of the root can cause vomiting Other species that might be mistaken as African Violets Environmental impact (amount to take, plants to avoid) Very common, amount doesn’t matter, but as always, leave some. Ethical considerations General harvesting rule (1 for every 10) Recipes: Syrup: Pour 1 pint of boiling water over 1 cup packed, of fresh crushed flowers and leaves cover and let stand for 12 hours. Strain and squeeze through cloth, add 2 lb. of sugar and boil for 1 hour or until syrupy. Store in glass jar. Give 1 tbs. -1 tsp. for children 2 or 3 times a day. Tea: Steep ¼ cup dried or fresh herb in 1 cup of water for 10 min. stain, flavor to taste. Take in ½ cup doses twice a day. Wild Carrot 20  ( a.k.a Daucus Carota, Birds Nest, Bishop's Lace, and Queen’s Anne’s Lace ) The Wild Carrot is a very common plant that grows just about everywhere, from the side of the highway to wide open fields. Most people know the Wild Carrot as a flower, called Queen’s Anne’s Lace, a pretty round white flower. The flower has no need for rich soil, and is good for medical, edible, and decor uses. The Wild Carrot blooms from June to August and lives for two years, the first growing and the second blooming. As with all herbal remedies and wild food gathering, extra caution should be used, especially since the wild carrot bears close resemblance to a dangerous species, poison hemlock. The leaves of the wild carrot can cause phytophotodermatitis, so caution should also be used when handling the plant. around 1 meter tall umbels are claret-coloured or pale pink before they open, then bright white and rounded when in full bloom grows near highways, roads, bike paths, places where the earth has been disturbed dig up the root and you can eat the carrot, if its too late in the season it will become too woody to consume the seeds were used by ancient Chinese as a form of birth control boosts tomato plant growth and provides a moister, cooler air for lettuce Wild Daylily 21 The wild daylily (Hemerocallis) generally blooms in February or at times even earlier when the weather is warm. Around June the plant will produce bright funnel shaped orange flowers (with six petals, generally facing upward), with light green stalks, that are sword like with pointed tips. Mistaking this plant is incredibly difficult due to its uniqueness. From late fall to spring the roots and tubers of this plant are prime to harvest, that being said, the work is strenuous and not always worth it. Blossoms begin to form around the first of June, they can be dried and used as About one in fifty people experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after eating the daylily raw, but when cooked that issue seems to be resolved. When trying daylily for additive strengtheners in soups ect. or even eaten all by itself (peel away the acrid green pieces before doing so though.) the first time do it in moderation, and cautiously. (Stay away from the large and uncooked leaves!) Daylily can be made into cordage with the larger fibrous leaves, the best time to harvest them is toward the end of summer. Wild Leek 22 Wild leek(Allium tricoccum, ramp): Also known as ramp is a very common vegetable. A perennial wild onion with a strong garlic-like odor and a pronounced onion flavor. They grow in groups, strongly rooted just beneath the surface of the soil, ramps also have a growing popularity in upscale restaurants throughout North America. Leeks grow during the spring, they usually have two or three bright green leaves with the small white bulb attached by a purplish stem. When looking for ramps, look for the ones that are as fresh as possible. Yellowing or withering in the leaves is a sign that these particular leeks have been in the ground too long. Ideally the leaves should be around six inches long and two inches wide, for the mildest flavor. Be careful on the amount of leeks you intend on harvesting in one area. Ramps can be used pickled or used in soups and other foods as a substitute for onions and garlic. In Canada, ramps are considered rare delicacies. Since the growth of ramps is not as widespread as in Appalachia and because of destructive human practices, ramps are a threatened species in Quebec. Ramps are considered a species of "special concern" for conservation in Maine, Rhode Island, and Tennessee. They are also considered "commercially exploited" in Tennessee. Ramp festivals may encourage harvest in unsustainable quantities. Wood Sorrel 23 Oxalis, also known as wood sorrel, is a plant that has heart shaped leaves that fold in the middle and are in groups of three on a red-ish brown stock. With wood sorrel, some great uses would be a tea or seasoning with game or other meats, fish, and raw or cooked wild greens. Early native American tribes such as the Cherokee, Algonquin, and Kiowa to name a few, chewed it to alleviate thirst on long trips, cooked it with sugar to make a dessert, to treat mouth sores and throat pain, and it was considered to be an aphrodisiac. When wood sorrel grows, it flowers for a few months during the spring, with small white flowers with pink streaks. Red or violet flowers also occur rarely. During the night or when it rains both flowers and leaves contract. Non-showy self-pollinating flowers are produced during the summer. To find wood sorrel you should check medium to heavy wooded areas (forests), along the eastern coast of the U.S. To harvest wood sorrel for use pick off the leaves, flowers and seed pods. Some of the wispy leaf stems are delicate enough to use but tough stems should be discarded. Wood sorrel should be used fresh. There are no hazards other than to not eat tough stems, they could make you sick. However, if the stems are very delicate then they should be fine but you must use the plant when it is fresh. Clovers are often mistaken for wood sorrel, but clovers have no hazards. Yellow Lotus 24 Nelumbo lutea is a flower part of the nelumbonaceae family that is native to North America, and has even be spotted in Central America. The American lotus tends to grow in fresh bodies of water such as lakes, swamps, and areas prone to flooding. While the plants roots and stem are underwater and in the ground the flower blooms above water with leaves that extend out to at least 2 meters and in in the fall starts to die down leaving edible seeds in a seed pod. The yellow in the name of the lotus is referred to it’s flowers which may actually be white and light yellow in some cases. Eating: Lotus seeds can be eaten raw as long as they are peeled and make a good snack although they may be bitter. Lotus is a very stocky plant, with most of the body submerged, keep an eye out for the palish yellow flower in watery area’s has around 22 - 25 petals and leaves (lily pads) that can extend about 2.2m (6ft 4in). Lotus seeds are edible and simple to harvest and are commonly called alligator corn. The Lotus flower dies down around after the first frost but the leaves can for weeks after the flowers death. Bibliography "Asclepias L." USDA Natural Recourses Conservation Service. United States Department of Agriculture, 5 May 2012. 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Lokatys, Amber N. Chickory. 2011. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, Burlington, Vermont. 5. Lokatys, Amber N. Common Plantain. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, South Burlington, Vermont. 6. Lokatys, Amber N. Common Plantain Leaf. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, South Burlington, Vermont. 7. Lokatys, Amber N. Dandelion. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, South Burlington, Vermont. 8. Lokatys, Amber N. Dandelion. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, South Burlington, Vermont. 9. Lokatys, Amber N. False Tinder Fungus. 2011. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, Elmore, Vermont. 10. Lokatys, Amber N. Jewelweed. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, South Burlington, Vermont. 11. Lokatys, Amber N. Jewelweed Seeds. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, South Burlington, Vermont. 12. Cheryl. It's Lamb Quarters.... It's a Weed. 2009. Photograph. CrankyCakes. 06 June 2009. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. 13. Little Hog Weed. N.d. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 14. Lokatys, Amber N. Milkweed. 2010. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, Hyde Park, Vermont. 15. Keohane, Sonja K. Mullein. 2008. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 16. Oak. N.d. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 17. B. Bill. Phragmite. 2007. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, New Mexico. 18. Pokeweed. N.d. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 19. Stinging Nettle. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 20. McDonald, Jim. Solomon's Seal. N.d. Photograph. Manataka. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. . 21. Star Chickweed. N.d. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 22. Lockwood, Taylor F. Tinder Fungus. 2009. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 23. Violet. N.d. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 24. Lokatys, Amber N. Wild Carrot. 2012. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, Burlington, Vermont. 25. Day Lily. N.d. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 26. Wild Leek. N.d. Photograph. Common Vermont Plant, n.p. 27. Lokatys, Amber N. Wood Sorrel. 2012. Photograph. 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