EAT SOMETHING WILD EVERY DAY EATWEEDS PHOTO GUIDE ROBIN HARFORD EATWEEDS.CO.UK Copyright © 2020 by Robin Harford All rights reserved. This publication or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this document, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Eatweeds 47 Old Abbey Court, Salmon Pool Lane Exeter, EX1 2DS, United Kingdom Web: eatweeds.co.uk Instagram: instagram.com/robinjharford 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