Outdoor Edibles » Alternate Leaf Arrangement

Blueberry

Wild Edible — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:51:34 +0000

Blueberries

Most people who live in Canada or the United States are very familiar with wild Blueberries. They often grow in open, sunny areas, and variations are found in many north temperate climates around the world. Among other common names, Blueberries are also known at Huckleberries, Bilberries, and Deerberries.

The Blueberry is a shrub which can vary from one to several feet in height. They have elliptical, alternate, simple leaves, and in the spring, their flowers are typically white, bell-shaped, and are said to be edible as well. The berries are typically harvested in summer or early fall, and go from green to dark blue, black, or red as they ripen.

Blueberry Bush

Leaf of the Blueberry Bush

Black Eyed Susan

Wild Edible — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:49:36 +0000

Black Eyed Susan

The Black Eyed Susan is an easily recognizable plant native to most of North America. It most often grows in moist thickets or fields. It can reach a height of around 3 feet, and has alternate, mostly basal leaves 4 to 8 inches long, covered by coarse hair. The Black Eyed Susan flowers from June to October. The familiar yellow ray florets circling a brown or black, domed center, makes it a plant that is easily distinguished.

The roots but not seedheads of the Black Eyed Susan can be used much like the related Purple Coneflower. It is an astringent used as in a warm infusion as a wash for sores and swellings.

Black Eyed Susan

The Ojibwa used it as a poultice for snake bites and to make an infusion for treating colds and worms in children. The plant is diuretic and was used by the Menominee and Potawatomi. Juice from the roots had been used as drops for earaches. The spring greens can be cooked and eaten.

Black Birch

Wild Edible — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 18:58:31 +0000

Black Birch Stem And Leaves

Black Birch is a tree that grows in forests throughout temperate regions in eastern North America. This common tree’s cambium (the green layer under the bark) contains the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory oil of wintergreen, which you can smell if you scratch-and-sniff the twigs or bark.
The Black Birch is most easily distinguished by the alternate (unpaired), elliptical, short-stalked, finely toothed leaves, the pointed, prominent, evenly spaced veins forming the letter “V” on the leaves, the slender twigs, and short, pointed leaf buds. The male catkins appear during the winter, before the leaves develop, and release pollen into the wind in early spring.

Black Birch Bark

The bark of the Black Birch is smooth, grey and puncuated by horizontal lenticels, which let the tree breathe. Unlike cherry trees, the bark isn’t riddled with cracks. The female flowers typically resemble green catapillars and appear in early spring.

Black Birch Catskins

There are several ways to make use of the Black Birch, including simply chewing on the delicious, wintergreen flavored twigs like chewing gum, or steeping the twigs for tea. A strong cup of Black Birch tea is said to be the equivalent of 1/4 to 1/2 of an aspirin.

Persimmon

Wild Edible — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:39:07 +0000

Persimmon Fruit

Persimmons are a fruit that grows from trees that vary greatly in appearance, and grow wild in some states. They can be used to make jam, jelly, vinegar, beer, tea, a coffee substance and breadstuff. They should be gathered after the first frost when they are completely ripe and very soft. Persimmons can be eaten raw, seeds can be roasted and used for coffee, and dried fruits can be ground into meal to make bread.

Persimmon Leaf

The fruit also can make a delicious syrup. To make the syrup, mix the persimmons with wheat bran, baked in pones. Put the mix in a container and pour water into it and let stand for 12 hours. Lastly, strain then boil to a thicker consistency.

Persimmon Flower

Persimmon in Fall

Persimmon Tree