5 most common edible plants in Kentucky and Indiana
Depending on where you’re going and how long you are going to be gone it is a good to know what plants are safe to eat when on a hike or in a emergency.
This list of plants is only a fraction of the edible plants you can find in the woodlands of Kentucy and Indiana. Do your research then get out and discover all the edible and medicinal plants in your back yard!
Dandelion
Dandelions can be found in almost all locations and contain a whole lot of vitamins and minerals. They pack more vitamins than even kale or spinach. Dandelion greens are a great source of vitamins and minerals such as: Vitamins A, C and K. You can eat every single part of this plant. Dandelion greens have a very distinct, assertive flavor, often tangy and bitter. The younger leaves with short stems are tender and mild, while larger leaves become fibrous and overtly bitter. Once the plants produce flowers, their strong flavor increases and the greens are past the point of optimal culinary value.
Broadleaf Plantain
This plant you can also find in almost any location. It has antimicrobial and antioxidant abilities you can chew this plant into a pulpous for bee/wasp stings. Broadleaf plantain has been documented to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. It also has been shown to boost the immune system and to help treat ulcers, diarrhea and fatigue. Broadleaf plantain leaves have an oval shape with deeply ribbed veins. The entire plant, including seeds, leaves and blossoms are edible. Broadleaf plantain produces flower stalks once mature. The young leaves are tender and succulent. Older leaves become chewy and eventually fibrous. The flavor of Broadleaf plantain leaves is earthy and slightly grassy with undertones of pepper, that pepper nuance is intensified with warmer climates and dry soil. The roots and flowers have milder and sweeter notes of the same flavors.
Pine Trees
Every part of the pine tree is useful, bark, needles, nuts, cones and sap! Pine bark contains healthy polyphenols like procyanidins, catechins, and phenolic acids. This part of the plant has antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects on the human body. Pine needles can be eaten or made into tea. It can help with depression, obesity, allergies and high blood pressure. Pine nuts can increase your energy levels due to their protein, iron, and magnesium levels. Pine cones are a good source of fiber and vitamin C, you should make this into a tea because they’re not particularly easy to digest and are not recommended as a long-term dietary option. Boiling pine cones will soften them and make them easier to eat. Pine sap is a natural antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and astringent that treats and bandages wounds like a two-for-one. The softer sap can even be chewed like gum for colds and sore throats. Pine sap can also serve as a waterproofing for seams and great fire starter.
Wood Sorrel
Wood Sorrel is an edible weed. They can be identified by a bright green color or dark green color. The dark green wood sorrel when mature will have small hairs on the leaves. They have delicate, reddish-green stems and bright green, heart-shaped leaves that cluster in groups of three on a single stem. The flowers range from white to yellow, or even violet purple, depending on the variety. The flowers, stems, and leaves are all edible, offering a refreshing and mild tart flavor comparable to lemons or apple. As a medicinal, wood sorrel has been used topically to cool skin, soothe the stomach, as a diuretic, and astringent. The plant is also useful in treating fever, urinary tract infections, sore throats, nausea, and mouth sores. It supposedly helps cleanse blood. It should not be eaten in large amounts due to a high content in oxalic acid. Though this is not a problem when you follow a diverse diet, people with gout, rheumatism and kidney stones should avoid it in quantities.
Clover
Clovers look a lot like wood sorrel. Both safe to eat and easy to identify. Clovers are rich in health-promoting isoflavones and polysaccharides, and they are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and iron. All parts of the clover plant are edible. Clover blossoms are used to make teas and jellies, while the leaves can be eaten cooked or raw.
“The plant on the left is clover and the plant on the right is wood sorrel”