The first three parts of Foraging presented a few easy to identify, widespread, edible plant species. In this part we will look at how one integrates foraging as a regular part of their lifestyle. One begins by simply "paying attention" to plants their differences and similarities. Once one begins this simple exercise, one will see a diverse community of competing and interdependent organisms where many, less observant individuals, see an homogeneous background.
A little education on the basics of botany goes a long way to making one's observations of the natural world more rewarding. There are many online resources that offer information on botany. A good primer on Basic Botany from, The University of Arizona: College of Agriculture & Life Sciences is available online. Many foragers and naturalists keep a journal where they make sketches of plants and collect leaves to identify later. If you like to take quizzes to with your course another very good primer on Botany Basics is available from Oregon State University Extension Service.
A little understanding of Basic Botany makes plant identification go a lot easier. The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service has pictures of over 40,000+ plants online, along with profiles. A great resource they offer are downloadable, and online identification keys. The downloadable keys are great for laptops for in the field use.
A basic understanding of taxonomy is also very helpful in plant identification for one's foraging endeavors. For example when one sees a reference angiosperms one will know that it is referring to the large diverse group of plants that produce flowers. Should the reference be to Gymnosperms, with some taxonomic education, one would know that the reference is to a group of plants that produce ovules (eggs) on scales. The scales are usually arranged in cone-like structures. The largest group of Gymnosperms are the Conifers.
Since Darwin, taxonomy has attempted to organize organisms in relation to their evolutionary history. This organization scheme is known as Biological Systematics. Plants belonging to the same family will have similar characteristics. Once one knows the characteristics of an order or family understanding the plants contained therein becomes easier.
A good tool to explore the taxonomy of the plants you identify can be found here.
http://plants.usda.gov/classification.html
A basic overview of taxonomy can be found here.
http://faculty.fmcc.suny.edu/mcdarby/majors101book/Chapter_02-A_Bit_of_History/02-Explaining-Life-Classification.htm#PLANTAE
Tree of life website has an interactive tool to explore the relationships of organisms.
http://tolweb.org/tree/phylogeny.html
Drill down through a plant evolutionary tree from a site at Berkeley.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/plants/plantaesy.html
A good site on foraging.
http://www.wildcrafting.net/
Another good foraging site.
http://www.naturessecretlarder.co.uk/
Oklahoma Wildcrafting
http://www.okwildcrafting.com/
"Just twenty plants provide the majority of food eaten, yet there are thousands of other useful plants which have not reached mainstream attention. You can find details of many of them here."
Plants for a Future
http://www.pfaf.org/index.php
"The website of the Wild Man of food, Fergus Drennan; forager extraordinaire!"
http://www.wildmanwildfood.com/
We will end this post with a video featuring Steve Brill. He has been giving "wild food and ecology tours" in New York city since April, 1982. His website is at:
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/
Plants for a Future site is loaded with information! Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this four part series very much!
Plants for a Future is a great site.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you enjoyed the posts on foraging.