A Survival Guide for Edible Plants

Fruit

Many plants produce fruit as a means to entice animals to help spread the plants seeds. A very common example is the apple but also such things as the prickly pear on cacti and various berries are prime examples. Identifying the fruits isn't enough, however. Many fruits are still poisonous. Take a page from The Swiss Family Robinson and watch what the local wildlife eats. If they avoid certain fruits, it's probably best that you do too.

Many of our favorite plant products in supermarkets are roots. The carrot, onion and potato are all popular examples of food found below the surface. Their very nature as roots, however, makes them difficult to identify and locate. Unless there are some root-eating animals in the area, your best bet is to identify the leafy parts. Wild onions smell like, well, onions and are fairly easy to locate. Wild carrots on the other hand can be a mixed bag. Many poisonous plants share a similar foliage.

Many plants that we regularly eat are simply leaves, the most recognizable of which is lettuce, but this group also includes broccoli and spinach. Leaves are, however, the most potentially harmful part of a plant and also the more commonly unpalatable part. Unless you are truly desperate, it is probably best to steer clear of leafy greens altogether.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution. The average human can survive for a fairly long time without food, so there is no need to take unnecessary risks. However, if you find a particularly abundant plant and are in dire straits, you can test the plant. This involves gradually increasing exposure, starting with rubbing the plant on your skin and eventually eating small portions and waiting to see if you experience any ill effects.

A good number of plants can be eaten raw after just a good washing; however, many plants that are edible can also be incredibly bitter or otherwise off putting without a little preparation. Boiling plants is usually the best and most efficient way to reduce bitterness in the wild, and it also softens what would otherwise be rather tough plant parts, such as stems and skins. You can also dry plants, which removes what would be bitter saps and residues.