EAT SOMETHING WILD EVERY DAY EATWEEDS PHOTO GUIDE
ROBIN HARFORD
EATWEEDS.CO.UK Copyright © 2020 by Robin Harford
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Eatweeds 47 Old Abbey Court, Salmon Pool Lane Exeter, EX1 2DS, United Kingdom
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1 Table of Contents
Alexanders 4 Black Mustard 7 Bramble 9 Brooklime 11 Burdock 13 Charlock 16 Chickweed 18 Chicory 20 Cleavers 22 Cow Parsley 24 Daisy 26 Dandelion 28 Dock 30 Fat Hen 32 Garlic Mustard 34 Glasswort or Samphire 36 Ground Elder 38 Ground Ivy 40 Himalayan Balsam 42 Hogweed 44 Horseradish 48 Lady's Smock 50 Lesser Celandine 52 Mallow 54 Meadowsweet 56 Mugwort 58
2 Navelwort 60 Oxeye Daisy 62 Plantain, Ribwort 64 Plantain, Greater 66 Primrose 68 Red Clover 70 Rosebay Willowherb 72 Saxifrage 74 Scurvygrass 76 Sea Aster 78 Sea Beet 80 Sea Purslane 82 Selfheal 84 Sorrel 86 Sowthistle 88 Stinging Nettle 90 Three Cornered Leek 92 Violet 94 White Dead Nettle 96 Wild Angelica 98 Wild Garlic 100 Wood Avens 102 Yarrow 104
3 Alexanders
Scientific Name Smyrnium olusatrum
Family Apiaceae
Botanical Description Height: up to 1.5 m. Flowers: greenish-yellow flowers in umbrella-like clusters carry a pungent, myrrh-like scent. Leaves: glossy, bright-green leaves, toothed and formed in groups of three at the end of the leaf stalk; similar in appearance to celery. Fruit: two globular halves form a fruit with prominent ridges. Ripen to a black colour. Foliage: leaves and flowers are similar to wild angelica, for which the plant is sometimes mistaken. Root: thick, black roots with white flesh.
Flowers April to June.
Status Biennial. Mediterranean native.
Habitat Sea cliffs, hedgerows, roadsides, wasteland.
4 5 6 Black Mustard
Scientific Name Brassica nigra
Family Brassicaceae
Botanical Description Height: up to 1 m. Flowers: four yellow petals in the shape of a cross; lightly scented and pollinated by flies; the flowering tops are similar to broccoli when in bud. Leaves: stalked, bluish-green to grass-green leaves; long, spear-shaped and dandelion-like with clasping stems. Fruit: fruit pods yield three to five seeds, appearing from mid-July to September.
Flowers May to September.
Status Annual. Native.
Habitat Sea cliffs, river banks, wasteland.
7 8 Bramble
Scientific Name Rubus fruticosus
Family Rosaceae
Botanical Description Height: Up to 4 metres. Flowers: Five-petalled flowers of varying size and colour. Stems: Thorny tangled, trailing stems. Leaves: are green, prickly and toothed, turning reddish-purple in autumn. Fruits: Both green and ripe can be seen on the bush at the same time. Typically, the fruits turn from green to red to deep-purple black. They can be picked from August to October.
Flowers May to October.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Dunes & dune slacks, grassland, roadsides, wasteland.
9 10 Brooklime
Scientific Name Veronica beccabunga
Family Plantaginaceae
Botanical Description Flowers: tiny dark blue flowers; occasionally a pink form is found. The petals open wide in the sun and partially in shade. Fruit: a flat, round capsule containing winged seeds. Leaves: stalked, oval, glossy-green leaves that are leathery to the touch. Stems: succulent, hollow stems that creep in mud and root at the nodes.
Flowers May to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Ditches, meadow, ponds & pond edges, river banks.
11 12 Burdock
Scientific Name Arctium lappa and Arctium minus
Family Compositae
Botanical Description Greater burdock grows up to 1–2 m bearing large, heart-shaped, dull green leaves with fine hairs. The flowers are globe-shaped and thistle- like, becoming bur-like seed heads.
Lesser burdock grows up to 1–1.5 m tall with longer heart-shaped, dark green leaves and prickly flowers varying from pink to lavender in colour.
Flowers July to September.
Status Biennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, cultivated land, hedgerows, roadsides, wasteland.
13 Greater Burdock
14 Lesser Burdock
15 Charlock
Scientific Name Sinapis arvensis
Family Brassicaceae
Botanical Description Height: 0.3–0.6 m (1–2 ft) high. Flowers: large yellow flowers. Foliage: branched and spreading upper foliage. Leaves: rough, serrated, hairy leaves. Seeds: seeds appear angular, knotty pods with conical beak.
Flowers March to November.
Status Annual. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, wasteland.
16 17 Chickweed
Scientific Name Stellaria media
Family Caryophyllaceae
Botanical Description Height: up to 0.1m. Leaves: bright green, egg-shaped with pointed tips and smooth edges. Flowers: small, star-like white flowers. Stems: leafy and hairy; unique ‘Mohawk-like’ hairs running along the length of the stem. Fruit: eggshaped, pod-bearing seeds. Foliage: fast-growing annual forming lush clumps of ground cover.
Flowers All year.
Status Annual. Native.
Habitat Bare ground, cultivated land, wasteland.
18 19 Chicory
Scientific Name Cichorium intybus
Family Asteraceae
Botanical Description Height: 30–12O cm (11–47 in). Flowers: bright blue flowers (rarely pink or white) similar in size and shape to dandelion. The flowerheads open at dawn and remain open till late morning, or longer if it is cloudy. Each flower also opens for one day only. Stem: wiry, branching stem which bleeds milky juice when damaged. Leaves: lance shaped, slightly variable leaves, usually 8–25 cm (3– 10 in) long, and forming a basal rosette similar to dandelion. The leaves have long erect hairs (bristles) on their midrib. Seeds: tiny black or brown nutlets. Root: large, deep taproot.
Flowers June to October.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Grassland, roadsides, wasteland.
20 21 Cleavers
Scientific Name Galium aparine
Family Rubiaceae
Botanical Description Height: up to 0.9–1m. Stems: long with tiny hooks that stick to clothing and fur. Flowers: clusters of small white flowers. Leaves: whorled, willow-shaped leaves around 2–7cm long and 0.5–1cm wide, with tiny hooks and sometimes with hairy margins. Fruit: globe-shaped, greenish brown to black nutlike fruits. Foliage: vine-like growth.
Flowers April to September.
Status Annual. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, hedgerows, scrub.
22 23 Cow Parsley
Scientific Name Anthriscus sylvestris
Family Apiaceae
Botanical Description Height: up to 2–4 ft. Flowers: small-petalled, white flowers appearing in umbels. Stems: tall, hollow stems, slightly hairy. Fruit: unripe fruits are green and turn brown to reddish as they ripen. Leaves: large, pinnate, pale green to reddish leaves, slightly downy. Roots: thick roots with a reach of up to 2 m.
Flowers April to June.
Status Biennial. Native.
Habitat Grassland, hedgerows, meadow, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
24 25 Daisy
Scientific Name Bellis perennis
Family Compositae
Botanical Description Height: up to 3–15cm. Flowers: small flower with white ray of petals, sometimes tinged pink at the tips, and a bright yellow centre; different cultivars yield various flowers from pink, red or white. Leaves: spoon- shaped, green leaves. Foliage: the leaves flatten out against the grass, which shades and prevents the growth of competing plants, thus creating daisy lawns. Root: stout root stock.
Flowers March to October.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, downs, grassland, meadow, roadsides, short turf, wasteland.
26 27 Dandelion
Scientific Name Taraxacum officinale
Family Compositae
Botanical Description Height: various from 1–30 cm depending on the maturity of the plant and environmental conditions. Flowers: composite bright yellow flowers. Leaves: a rosette of large tapering jagged green leaves; the leaves are sometimes compared to a lion’s tooth or jaw. Root: long tapering white root in older established plants, thinner roots and rhizomes in younger plants.
Flowers March to October.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, grassland, hedgerows, meadow, river banks, roadsides, short turf, wasteland, dunes & dune slacks.
28 29 Dock, Curled
Scientific Name Rumex crispus
Family Polygonaceae
Botanical Description Height: 0.3–0.9 m (1–3 ft). Flowers: small, greenish white flowers on tall spikes. Leaves: wavy, curled leaf edges with wedge-shaped leaves. Root: deep, yellow taproot.
Flowers May to October
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Seashore, cultivated land, dunes & dune slacks, marsh, roadsides, saltmarsh, wasteland, coastal mud flats.
30 31 Fat Hen
Scientific Name Chenopodium album.
Family Amaranthaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 10–120 cm. Flowers: densely clustered spikes of tiny greenish flowers. Leaves: the triangular leaves resemble a goose’s foot. Stem: reaching, upright stem. Root: long, tapering roots.
Flowers June to October.
Status Annual. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, roadsides, wasteland.
32 33 Garlic Mustard
Scientific Name Alliaria petiolata.
Family Brassicaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 120cm. Flowers: small, bright-white flowers with cross- shaped petals. Leaves: large green and slightly toothed leaves, sometimes described as heart-shaped. Stalk: grows straight and is smoothed, rounded with scattered hairs.
Flowers April to June.
Status Biennial. Native.
Habitat Hedgerows, woodland, waste places.
34 35 Glasswort
Scientific Name Salicornia europaea.
Family Amaranthaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 2–3 cm. Flowers: tiny green flowers with protruding white or red stamens. Leaves: the marsh plant has no leaves. Stem: plump, shiny and jointed. Foliage: consists of cylindrical, light-green, jointed ‘branches’, forming low-lying, stubbly bushes.
Flowers August to September.
Status Annual. Native.
Habitat Saltmarsh, salt water, coastal mud flats.
36 37 Ground Elder
Scientific Name Aegopodium podagraria.
Family Apiaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 30 cms to 90 cms. Flowers: small flowers in numerous umbels, or clusters, turning from light-pink to white as they mature. Stems: erect, round, furrowed and hollow. Fruit/seeds: flat seed vessels developing from mature flower heads; wind pollinated. Leaves: large, long, hairless leaves in groups of three at the end of leaf stems; oval-shaped and finely toothed. Roots: a creeping root stock that spreads rapidly; planting buckwheat may drive out ground elder.
Flowers May to July.
Status Perennial. Not Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, grassland, hedgerows, river banks, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
38 39 Ground Ivy
Scientific Name Glechoma hederacea.
Family Lamiaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 0.2–1m; low-growing prostrate plant. Flowers: bluish, purplish flowers with four-sided stems. Leaves: trailing-evergreen, kidney-shaped leaves that resemble true ivy. Root: creeping root structure that deters other plants growing closely.
Flowers March to June.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, grassland, hedgerows, wasteland.
40 41 Himalayan Balsam
Scientific Name Impatiens glandulifera.
Family Balsaminaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 3 metres tall. Flowers: pink-purplish flower on thick fleshy and red stems with fruits appearing later as a capsule. Leaves: dark- green, lance-shaped leaves around 15 cm in length.
Flowers July to October.
Status Annual. Not Native.
Habitat River banks, wasteland.
42 43 Hogweed
Scientific Name Heracleum sphondylium.
Family Apiaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 3 m. Flowers: umbel-clusters of dirty white or sometimes pink flowers. From a distance the plant is said to be often confused for angelica. Seeds: aromatic, flat and oval. Leaves: bright green leaves with three to seven blunt-toothed leaflets. The hairy covering of the leaves are said to be a defence against insects. Stem: hairy, hollow and deeply grooved stems. Roots: reddish rhizome with aromatic scent.
Flowers June to September.
Status Biennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, ditches, grassland, hedgerows, meadow, river banks, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
44 45 46 47 Horseradish
Scientific Name Armoracia rusticana.
Family Brassicaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 60–130 cm. Flowers: numerous white, sweetly scented flowers on a spike. Stems: ribbed and hairless. Fruit: does not produce mature fruits. Leaves: large, dock-like leaves that are shiny green and slightly toothed; on long stalks. Stem: stout, hardy and erect. Roots: deep fleshy, brown-coloured, knobbly taproot, and with a pungent odour.
Flowers May to June.
Status Perennial. Not Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, grassland, wasteland.
48 49 Lady’s Smock
Scientific Name Cardamine pratensis.
Family Brassicaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 30 cm. Flowers: dainty pink, mauve or white flowers with four overlapping petals. Leaves: long, narrow leaflets; the leaves can root where they touch the earth to produce new plantlets. Roots: a rootstock with small fleshy tubers and small white threads.
Flowers March to June.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Ditches, marsh, meadow, ponds, river banks.
50 51 Lesser Celandine
Scientific Name Ficaria verna.
Family Ranunculaceae.
Botanical Description Flowers: nine to twelve golden-yellow petals with a green underside. Leaves: younger leaves are heart-shaped, becoming ivy-like in appearance with dark markings. Fruit: globular and whitish, like a grain of corn in appearance with few fertile seeds. Foliage: the stem, leaves and all parts of the plant are a brightly coloured green.
Flowers February to May.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, coniferous woodland, grassland, hedgerows, meadow, scrub, short turf, wasteland.
52 53 Mallow
Scientific Name Malva sylvestris.
Family Malvaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 40–120 cm. Stems: coarse, hairy stem. Leaves: resemble ivy, being lobed and crinkly. Flowers: purplish pink flowers. Seeds: edible flat discs.
Flowers June to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, grassland, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
54 55 Meadowsweet
Scientific Name Filipendula ulmaria.
Family Rosaceae.
Botanical Description Height: tall erect, furrowed, and sometimes purple, stems reach up to 0.6 metres to 1.25 metres. Flowers: fern-like foliage with tufty, creamy- white clusters of flowers. Leaves: leaves are dark green on the upper side and downy whitish underneath. Fruit: clusters of tiny, dry capsules.
Flowers June to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, fens, marsh, meadow, riverbanks, roadsides.
56 57 Mugwort
Scientific Name Artemisia vulgaris.
Family Compositae.
Botanical Description Height: 1.5 metres. Flowers: small reddish or pale yellow wooly flowers on short stems. Stems: angular, reddish or purplish stems. Leaves: shiny green, pointed leaf segments with white underside. Roots: long, tough brown roots with inner white flesh.
Flowers July to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, hedgerows, roadsides, wasteland.
58 59 Navelwort
Scientific Name Umbilicus rupestris.
Family Crassulaceae.
Botanical Description Flowers: a cluster of whitish green bell-like flowers around a spike. Fruit: small brownish seeds, self-pollinating. Leaves: fleshy, rounded, bright green leaves with a dimple at the point the leaf joins the stalk. Roots: round, smooth and grey skin with white flesh.
Flowers May to August.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Hedgerows, walls, rocks.
60 61 Oxeye Daisy
Scientific Name Leucanthemum vulgare.
Family Compositae.
Botanical Description Height: reaches 75 cm high. Flowers: yellow-centred, white-petalled flowers. Leaves: dark green in an irregular lobed shape; some say ‘spoon shaped’ with rounded teeth at the margins. Stem: hard and wiry, slightly furrowed and branched. Root: a creeping, perennial root structure.
Flowers May to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Grassland, hedgerows, meadow, roadsides.
62 63 Plantain, Ribwort
Scientific Name Plantago lanceolata.
Family Plantaginaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 5–70 cm. Fruit: small seed-bearing capsule. Flowers: long stalks bear cylindrical, brownish flowering spikes with yellow anthers. Leaves: long and green, lance-shaped, ribbed leaves. Roots: short taproot with fibrous roots.
Flowers April to October.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, grassland, roadsides, wasteland.
64 65 Plantain, Greater
Scientific Name Plantago major.
Family Plantaginaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 10–60 cm. Fruit: small seed-bearing capsule. Flowers: long, cylindrical spikes covered in tiny yellow-green flowers with yellow anthers. Leaves: long, ribbed, green leaves. Roots: short rootstock with long and fibrous roots.
Flowers June to October.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, roadsides, wasteland.
66 67 Primrose
Scientific Name Primula vulgaris.
Family Primulaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 10–25 cm. Flowers: large, yellow-green flowers appearing to grow out of a rosette. Leaves: lance-shaped, rosette of leaves tapering to the stalk. Root: knotty root stock with long, shaggy stalks rising up.
Flowers March to May.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, hedgerows, scrub.
68 69 Red Clover
Scientific Name Trifolium pratense.
Family Fabaceae.
Botanical Description Height: red clover is the largest species of clover, reaching 10–60 cm tall. Flowers: red, globe-shaped flowers. Leaves: typically three-lobed green leaves. Stem: soft, hairy stems. Root: unlike many clovers which have rhizomes, red clover has a tap root.
Flowers May to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Grassland, hedgerows, meadow, roadsides, wasteland.
70 71 Rosebay Willowherb
Scientific Name Epilobium angustifolium.
Family Onagraceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 2m. Flowers: tall, spikes of purple-red flowers. Leaves: elongated spear-shaped green leaves. Seeds: small pods open to reveal an abundance of seeds attached to white, fluffy puffs dispersed by the wind. Root: creeping rhizome aids the plant to spread over large patches.
Flowers June to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, coniferous woodland, cultivated land, dunes, heath, moor, mountain rocks, mountains, river banks, roadsides, scrub, walls.
72 73 Saxifrage
Scientific Name Chrysosplenium oppositifolium.
Family Saxifragaceae.
Botanical Description Flowers: small yellow flowers without petals. Leaves: round, yellowish- green glossy leaves. Root: shallow stringy roots.
Flowers February to June.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, marsh, mountain rocks, mountains, river banks.
74 75 Scurvygrass
Scientific Name Cochlearia officinalis.
Family Brassicaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 7–23 cm. Flowers: small, white or lilac-tinted flowers with four petals. Leaves: juicy, bright green leaves of varying shapes often rounded or oval. Seeds: globular pods.
Flowers April to August.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Seashore, sea cliffs, mountain streams, saltmarsh.
76 77 Sea Aster
Scientific Name Aster tripolium.
Family Compositae.
Botanical Description Flowers: blue-purple, daisy-like flowers with bright yellow stamens. Leaves: long, slender green leaves.
Flowers July to October.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Sea cliffs, saltmarsh, salt water, coastal mud flats.
78 79 Sea Beet
Scientific Name Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima.
Family Amaranthaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 60 cms. Flowers: numerous spikes of bright, emerald green flowers. Leaves: large, fleshy, glossy deep-green leaves; triangular to egg-shaped. Some leaves turn purple and crimson in autumn. Root: thick fleshy root.
Flowers June to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Seashore, wasteland.
80 81 Sea Purslane
Scientific Name Atriplex portulacoides.
Family Amaranthaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 45 cm. Flowers: tiny flowers growing in clusters of yellowish-green spikes; some flowers have stamens and others have styles. Stems: purplish coloured stem. Leaves: downy oval-pointed leaves
Flowers July to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Saltmarsh.
82 83 Selfheal
Scientific Name Prunella vulgaris.
Family Lamiaceae.
Botanical Description Height: about 25 cm. Flowers: purple, sometimes pinkish, in cylindrical spikes. The flowers distinguish the plant from others in the mint family by their tight, sausage-shaped whorl. Leaves: long, wide and ovalish stalked leaves. Stems: four sided and weak, which can cause the plant to grow sideways before reaching up to the sky. Seeds: the fruit is an oblong, purplish (when ripe) drupe.
Flowers June to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, grassland, heath, meadow, short turf, wasteland.
84 85 Sorrel
Scientific Name Rumex acetosa.
Family Polygonaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 10–120 cm. Flowers: several stalks bearing clusters of small reddish-green to brown flowers. Leaves: long, oblong, spear-shaped leaves and bright green. Root: fibrous.
Flowers May to July.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, cultivated land, grassland, hedgerows, meadow, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
86 87 Sowthistle, Smooth
Scientific Name Sonchus oleraceus.
Family Compositae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 150 cm. Flowers: pale yellow flowers similar to dandelion heads; wither to form a conical with tufty seeds. Stem: thick-branched, hollow stem; yields a white milky juice. Leaves: thin, oblong leaves with prickly-teeth edges. Fruit: appear like a small ribbed nutlet.
Flowers April to December.
Status Annual. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, wasteland.
88 89 Stinging Nettle
Scientific Name Urtica dioica.
Family Urticaceae.
Botanical Description Height: around 1–2.5 m. Growth: spread up to 850 m. Flowers: small, green, catkin-like flowers with no petals. Leaves and stem: dull green, serrated and covered all over in stinging hairs; toothy, heart-shaped leaves. Fruit: flowers ripen into tiny, flat, seed-like nuts.
Flowers May to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, coniferous woodland, cultivated land, grassland, hedgerows, meadow, mountains, river banks, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
90 91 Three Cornered Leek
Scientific Name Allium triquetrum.
Family Amaryllidaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 45 cm. Flowers: drooping white bells marked with green. Leaves: leaves are long and triangular with a ridge that resembles the keel of a ship. Each plant has around three to four leaves that do not surround the flower stalk. Stem: flower stem when cross-sectioned appears triangular – a characteristic that has led to the common name ‘three cornered’.
Flowers March to May.
Status Perennial. Not Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, hedgerows, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
92 93 Violet, Sweet
Scientific Name Viola odorata.
Family Violaceae.
Botanical Description Flowers: Five free petals, the lower one with a backward-pointing spur. Leaves: heart-shaped and serrated in varying sizes. Stems: Long, straggling stems.
Flowers February to May.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, hedgerows, scrub.
94 95 White Dead Nettle
Scientific Name Lamium album.
Family Lamiaceae.
Botanical Description Height: 50–100 cm tall. Flowers: white-green flowers lying between the green calyx. Four stamens lie in pairs along the back of the flower. Fruit: tiny nutlets held in the calyx after the flower fades. Leaves: heart- shaped, hairy, green leaves with saw-like margins. Stems: square and hollow – distinguishing the plant in appearance to the true nettle. Also covered in hairs.
Flowers March to December.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, hedgerows, roadsides, wasteland.
96 97 Wild Angelica
Scientific Name Archangelica sylvestris.
Family Apiaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 2 metres. Flowers: umbels of white flowers tinged with pink or purple. Stems: hairy stalk and stem with purple furrows on the stem; inner stem is spongy. Leaves: Usually hairless, long, toothed and pointed. Fruit/seeds: reddish and hard. Roots: short, thick root filled with milky juice.
Flowers June to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Ditches, river banks, sea cliffs, streams, wasteland.
98 99 Wild Garlic
Scientific Name Allium ursinum.
Family Amaryllidaceae.
Botanical Description Height: up to 2 metres. Flowers: umbels of white flowers tinged with pink or purple. Stems: hairy stalk and stem with purple furrows on the stem; inner stem is spongy. Leaves: Usually hairless, long, toothed and pointed. Fruit/seeds: reddish and hard. Roots: short, thick root filled with milky juice.
Flowers April to June.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, hedgerows, riverbanks.
100 101 Wood Avens
Scientific Name Geum urbanum.
Family Rosaceae.
Botanical Description Flowers: small, five-petalled, yellow flowers. Stems: erect, slightly hairy, branching stems. Leaves: three-lobed, greyish leaves. Seeds: spherical, spiky, brown balls. Roots and rhizomes: aromatic, spicy-smelling.
Flowers May to November.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Deciduous woodland, coniferous woodland, hedgerows, wasteland.
102 103 Yarrow
Scientific Name Achillea millefolium.
Family Compositae.
Botanical Description Flowers: white or pale lilac similar to daisies. Leaves: long dark-green feathery leaves around 7–10 cms long and 2 cms wide clasping a rough, angular stem.
Flowers June to September.
Status Perennial. Native.
Habitat Cultivated land, grassland, heath, hedgerows, meadow, roadsides, scrub, wasteland.
104 105 About The Author
Robin Harford is a plant-based forager, ethnobotanical researcher and wild food educator. He has published over 50 foraging guide books. Visit his bookstore at eatweeds.co.uk/books
He established his wild food foraging school in 2008, and his foraging courses were recently voted #1 in the country by BBC Countryfile.
Robin is the creator of eatweeds.co.uk, which is listed in The Times Top 50 websites for food and drink.
He has travelled extensively documenting and recording the traditional and local uses of wild food plants in indigenous cultures, and his work has taken him to Africa, India, SE Asia, Europe and the USA.
Robin regularly appears on national and local radio and television. He has been recommended in BBC Good Food magazine, Sainsbury’s magazine as well as in The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph etc.
Stay in touch here: eatweeds.co.uk facebook.com/foragingcourses twitter.com/robinharford instagram.com/robinjharford
106 Image Credits
Alexanders - Wikimedia Tato Grasso Black Mustard - Wikimedia Pancrat Cow parsley - Wikimedia Fabelfroh Cow parsley - Wikimedia Fornax Hogweed - Wikimedia Ies Hogweed - Rasbak Lesser Celandine - Wikimedia Stefan Lefnaer Sorrel - Wikimedia Llez
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