Estimated 380,000 classified plants grow on the earth’s surface. Of these, 120,000 are edible. < 50 % !!!! Identification is very important

Early humans were probably vegetarians - until they learned how to hunt.

As native plants were domesticated, they lost there nutritional value.

Half of the world’s food today comes from only three plant species: Corn, Wheat, and Rice.

Why should we study Wild Edible Plants?

1. Cleaner: No insecticides and Herbicides

Why should we study Wild Edible Plants? 2. Nutrition: Foods lose nutritional value quickly after being picked. (1/3 after one hour)

Why should we study Wild Edible Plants? 3. Value: It’s FREE $$

Why should we study Wild Edible Plants? 4. Survival: It can keep you alive and provides energy to travel if lost. (You can live for three weeks without food.)

Why should we study Wild Edible Plants? 5. Freedom & Self Reliance: Confidence to challenge wilderness conditions.

Why should we study Wild Edible Plants? 6. Interesting: Recognizing plants allows you to appreciate our natural environment.

Why should we study Wild Edible Plants? 7. Medical uses: Some have useful chemicals while others work as a placebo.

General Rules:

1. Avoid bitter tasting plants.

General Rules: 2. Positively I.D. all plants. (Are leaves alternate or opposite? Is leaf venation palmate, whorled, parallel?) Use a guide book to I.D.

General Rules: 3. Know which parts are edible: roots, leaves, fruit, stem. (Ex. rhubarb stems are tasty, but the leaves are poisonous.)

General Rules: 4. Avoid plants with a milky sap.

General Rules: 5. Collect only the part you will use. If you must harvest the entire plant, apply the “rules of ten”. (For every plant you harvest, leave ten behind.)

General Rules: 6. Recognize poisonous plants. Poison IvyDogwood

General Rules: 7. Collect only common and abundant edibles. (conservation)

General Rules: 8. Plants that resemble edibles may not be edible! Positive ID !!!!!!!! Morel: Awesome!!! False Morel: Deadly!!!!

General Rules: 9. Animals are unreliable indicators of edible plants.

General Rules: 10. Avoid white berries and fungi.

General Rules: 11. Eat small amounts. Your body is not acclimated to these types of plants.

Nutritional Facts: Three types of food nutrition:.

Nutritional Facts: Three types of food nutrition: 1.CARBOHYDRATES: Sugar & starch (cellulose). Can be found in leaves, stem, roots, flowers and fruits. Contains 4 calories per gram.

Nutritional Facts: Three types of food nutrition: 2. PROTEIN: Amino acids. Usually protein is obtained from meat sources, but some plants contain protein: ex. Legumes (peanuts, clovers, alfalfa). (4 calories /gram).

Nutritional Facts: Three types of food nutrition: 3. Fat: Fats and oils. Seeds are a good source. Vegetable fat is healthier than animal fat. (9 cal. / gram).

PARTS OF PLANTS THAT HAVE THE MOST ENERGY: 1. SEEDS: Most energy. High in fats and oils. Energy for the new plant to grow. 2. FRUITS: High carbohydrates. Seeds in fruit also high energy. 3. ROOTS: Roots and stems store carbohydrates (starch). 4. LEAVES: Least energy. The leaves make the food, but the food is stored in other parts of the plant. That’s why people on diets eat lettuce leaves.

How do plants eat????

Photosynthesis: light 6C02 + 6H2O ---  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 (glucose)

Photosynthesis: Light and Dark Reaction !!

What do Plants do with Glucose??

RESPIRATION!!! C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP

What do Plants do with Glucose?? ATP = Energy for the cell

What do Plants do with Glucose??

Leaf parts

Plants aren’t the only wild thing you can eat!!!