Author | Lightnews

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · 1d

Yesterday I saw this lovely plant in San Jose CA. It's Kangaroo paw (Anigozanthos flavidus in the Haemodoraceae family), native to Australia. The Noongar people ate the tubers. Plant extracts are used in personal care products. #foraging #noongar #Australia #photography

Kangaroo Paw with red fuzzy stems and green flowers growing in San Jose California. This is a plant native to Australia.

Kangaroo Paw, an Auatralian plant, I found growing in San Jose, California. It has red fuzzy stems and green flowers.

2

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · 2d

The female cone of Cedrus deodara, or Himalayan Cedar, is a wonder to behold. The oil rendered from the wood of these tall stately trees has antifungal properties, & can also be used to repel insects. #foraging #plantmedicine #photography

1 5

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · 27d

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus) can be found in fields & empty lots. In the Scrophulariaceae family, it is native to Europe & Asia. Europeans & Native Americans used the plant for lung & skin problems. Filter out fine hairs on leaves before ingesting. #foraging #photography #wildplantmedicine

5

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Sep 19

Amanita muscaria, or fly agaric, is a much-loved mushroom in the Amanita family. In Europe the cap is red while in US it is orange (A. Muscaria var. guessowii). Fly agaric is toxic & hallucinogenic. These little beauties are growing along Lake Superior. #woodlandforaging #fungifriends #photography

8

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Sep 11

Knapweed, or Centaurea nigra, is an invasive species in the US. It tends to spread prolifically & crowd out native plants. It is in the Asteraceae family. Knapweed roots were traditionally used to make a diuretic drink or a salve to help heal wounds. #naturalmedicine #foraging #wildplantmedicine

3

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Aug 4

Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota in Apiaceae family) is the wild version of carrot. Eat root while it's young or be disappointed. The seeds can be used for birth control. Make sure the stem is hairy; a poisonous cousin has smooth stem & purple blotches. #foraging #ediblewildplants #wildplantmedicine

Queen Anne's Lace flowers, white and lacy

5

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jul 15

Canadian germander, Teucrium canadense in the mint family, is a lovely native plant with pink flowers growing in wetlands & ditches. Tea from this plant promotes sweating, reduces fever & acts as an emmenagogue. Use green leaves on cuts as an antiseptic. #foraging #wildmedicinalplants #emmenagogue

3

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jul 13

At least someone had luck in foraging today! Seems a bit cannibalistic but who am I to judge? When you're hungry, you're hungry! #foraging #spiders #photography.

8

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jul 11

Tall hairy acrimony (Agrimonia gryposepala) in the rose family is a native east coast plant. It has compound toothed leaves & tiny yellow flowers, and is useful medicinally -- Native Americans used it to treat diarrhea, fever, anemia & urinary problems. #foraging #wildmedicinalplants #photography

13

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jul 10

Wild yam, Dioscorea villosa in the Dioscoreaceae family, is a native vine with heart-shaped leaves growing in a whorl. Wild yams contain diosgenin, used to make progesterone for birth control. Dried root can treat arthritis, asthma, & painful menstruation. #foraging #wildmedicinalplant #photography

10

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jul 3

Thanks! I have boneset everywhere - to the point of being annoying except I like it. My blue vervain grows in a pot and also I see it along a lake where I hike. My pot needs to be kept moist. One day of dry soil and the poor things wilt. Its really one of my favorite potted flowers.

1 1

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jul 3

Not really foraging topic, but I hate lantern flies so much, I wanted to celebrate the death of one and its contribution to my Venus Fly trap's nutritional well-being. #carnivorousplants #lanternflies #photography

5

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jul 2

Blue vervain (Verbena hastata in Verbeneceae family) is a lovely perennial native found on edges of wetlands & can get as high as 5 ft tall. Seeds can be roasted/eaten. Use infusion of roots & leaves to treat fever, gravel, scrofula, and fevers. #foraging #wildmedicinalplants #scrofula #photography

2 1 22

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jun 29

I saw some Amanita jacksonii mushrooms today. The Amanitaceae family is known for members which if eaten can cause severe regret. A. jacksonii is actually edible, but because it can be mistaken for other toxic mushrooms, I suggest just enjoying how it looks. #foraging #photography #fungifriends

The underside of Amanita jacksonii mushrooms.

1 1 50

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jun 23

Heal-all, aka Prunella vulgaris, is one of my favorite mint family members. A tiny herb with a square stem, heal-all is a powerful medicinal plant. Tea can treat fevers, bacterial infections, diarrhea, & internal bleeding. You can also eat leaves as food. #foraging #photography #medicinalwildplants

7

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jun 18

Fuligo septica, aka dog vomit slime mold, often grows on mulch. It is in the Physaraceae family & found worldwide. Scandinavian countries call troll cat vomit & Netherlands call it witch's butter. Not edible, but can be used to pull toxic metals from the soil. #fungifriends #slimemold #foraging

9

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jun 13

Yucca filamentosa, in the agave family, is blooming! The plant has saponins, so use pounded roots for soap. Flower petals, flower stem & fruit can be eaten. Use root poultice on skin sores. Pounded/scraped leaves yield fibers for cordage. #foraging #photography #ediblewildplants #wildmedicinalplants

1 27

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jun 9

Common comfrey, symphytum officinale in the borage family, is a lovely garden plant, with larger flowers than its wild cousin (A. virginianum). Young shoots & roots are edible raw or cooked. Make a poultice or tea with leaves or roots to promote healing. #foraging #wildmedicinalplants #photography

10

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jun 5

The lovely camellia tree puts on a flashy show for bees & people. Camellia sasanqua in the Theaceae family. Leaves of a related tree, C. sinensis, are the source of all green, black & white tea. Use leaves of camellia for tea & nuts for edible tea oil. # foraging #tea #photography #bees

White Camellia flower with yellow center and a bee right in the middle.

15

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · Jun 1

Scarlett pimpernell is a tiny orange-flowered weed. Anagallis arvensis in the Primulaceae family. I see conflicting information on edibility. Animals avoid this plant - so should you. Medicinally, the leaves have been applied to ulcers to promote healing. #foraging #wildflowers #photography

11

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · May 31

Pycnoporus may be inedible, but it's very bright & fun to spot on rotting logs & branches. Either Pycnoporus cinnabarinus or Pycnoporus coccineus, in the Polyporaceae family, found in the mountains of West Virginia. Colorful fungi always bring a smile to my face. #foraging #photography #fungifriends

Orange fungus and green shield fungus on a log.

31

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · May 27

Wild indian cucumbers grow in the Appalachian & Blue Ridge mountains. Medeola virginiana in the Lilaceae family, the small root tastes like a cucumber. It grows in shaded, woodlands near creeks. It will produce another whorl of leaves & then seeds later in the season. #foraging #wildediblefood

A wild indian cucumber, on a log showing its root.

Wild indian cucumbers growing in the West Virginia mountains.

1 6

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · May 22

White clover (Trifolium repens in the pwa family) is beloved by bees & makes the best honey. Dry and shred flowers to make flour for crackers & bread. Add boiled flowers & leaves to salad, soup, or stew. Clovers also eliminate tapeworms if you have that problem. #foraging #wildediblefood #tapeworms

1 3

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · May 20

Yellow mellilot, aka sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis in the pea family) grows in sunny fields. Wilted leaves produce a dangerous anti-coagulant, so eat only fresh leaves, seedpods, & shoots after cooking. Also, hang plant indoors to repel insects. #foraging #wildflowers #naturalinsectrepellent

4

Woodland Forager @karhunaiti.bsky.social · May 16

Ah, nettle - it hurts so good! Urtica dioica, in the Urticaceae family, deliberately stinging arthritic hands, feet, or knees only hurts for a moment, but brings sweet relief for days. It takes a strong will to reach out, but it's worth it. #foraging #wildplantmedicine #arthritis #hurtssogood

Stinging mettle with the beginnings of flowers.

4