Canada Fleabane (Conyza canadensisor Erigeron canadensis)

Varieties found in Western Canada also include Eastern daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus ) and Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus). Canada Fleabane is a winter or summer annual with a short taproot, and a rosette of dark green , sparsely hairy leaves with smooth, or slightly toothed margins. It produces one or more erect flowering stems, with numerous, narrow leaves crowded together on the stem. The daisy-like flower heads are very small (about 1/8 inch in diameter), and numerous, on short branches, near the top of the main stem. The seeds are almost transparent, and have an attached pappus, or parachute; which carries the seed for long distances on the wind; (much like a dandelion seed). Other common names of this wild vegetable are horseweed, or mares-tail (both used in the USA), and vergerette du Canada, in French speaking Canada.

1. Young plants are edible when boiled
2. Young plants are suitable as a potherb.
3. Grows in fields, disturbed areas, open woods, thickets, and along roadsides. With the reduction of tillage on many farm, it  now increasingly occurs as a weed of arable fields; where there is no soil disturbance to interrupt its life cycle.
4. It can be found in all soil types, including organic soils; but is most common in course textured soils.
5. May cause miscarriages and should not be consumed by pregnant women.

Common Orache (Atriplex patula)

Plant tends to concentrate harmful nitrates in the leaves;

avoid harvesting plants which have been exposed to artificial fertilizers.

• Leaves are edible raw.
• Leaves are suitable as a potherb, in moderate amounts.
• Grows in open disturbed areas, deserts, and on ground with high salt content including the seaside.

Yellowcress (Rorippa palustris)

Image released into the public domain by holder of original copyright.

Yellowcress (Rorippa palustris) is a flowering plant of the mustard family; also known as bog yellowcress and marsh cress. It is native to many parts of Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America. It is an adaptable plant which grows in many types of damp, wet, and aquatic habitat. It is variable in appearance as well. It may be annual or perennial, producing an erect stem, sometimes with branches attaining a maximum height of just over three feet. The leaves are up to a foot long and have toothed to deep lobed edges.

1.    Plants are edible raw.

2.    Tastes like peppery lettuce or radish.

3.    Can be dried for storage

Arum-leaved Arrowhead(Sagittaria cuneata and Wapato (Sagittaria latifolia)

Sagittaria cuneata is a species of the water plantain family known by the common name arumleaf arrowhead. Like some other Sagittaria species, it may be called wapato.
It is native to much of North America, including most of Canada and the western and northeastern United States. It is an aquatic plant growing in slow-moving and stagnant water bodies such as ponds and small streams. It is quite variable in appearance across individuals, and submerged parts of the plant look different from those growing above the surface or on land. In general it is a perennial herb growing from a white or blue tinged tuber. The leaves are variable in shape, many of them sagittate, or shaped like arrowheads with two smaller, pointed lobes opposite the tip. Grows in calm pond water in the plains, foothills and in mountain regions.

1. The entire rhizome is edible.
2. The underwater tuber can be easily dislodged from main roots will float to top.
3. Tubers are edible raw.
4. Raw unwashed tubers can be stored for several months, like potatoes.
5. Tubers can also be cooked, sliced, dried for storage, and later boiled, to reconstitute them.
6. Tubers are usually several feet from parent plant;which can make them a little hard to find.
7. Stems can be cooked and eaten.

Dock (rumex crispus, Rumex occidentalis, rumex triangulivalvis.

Varieties found in Western Canada are: Curled dock (Rumex crispus), Western dock (Rumex occidentalis), and Willow dock (Rumex triangulivalvis). Grows in moist and disturbed sites in the plains, foothils, and mountain regions.

1. Fruit can be winnowed to separate outer hull for collecting seeds.
2. Seeds may be boiled, or ground for flour.
3. Seeds may be leeched in cold water, before using as food.
4.  

Yellow Cow lily (Nuphar lutea)

Grows in shallow, calm water, in plains, mountains, and sub-alpine regions.

Western Canadian variety is the Yellow cow-lily

1.    Seeds are edible after drying, popping, or frying.

2.    Seeds can be taken from dried capsules can be used as flour.

3.    Rhizome is edible after prolonged boiling, with several changes of water. Can be roasted , or boiled; then peeled, and either eaten or thinly sliced for drying; and then either stored or ground into flour

Chicory (Chichorium intybus)

The image above is in the public domain, because it's copyright has long expired.

Warning: DO NOT to add Chicory to Your Mourning Coffee.
Excessive or prolonged use may damage the retinas causing macular degeneration.
Macular Degeneration a gradual, chronic (incurable), progressive, painless deterioration of the macula, which is the small area in the centre of the retina that gives us our detailed vision. This is why someone with vision loss from macular degeneration may have trouble reading mail or newspapers but have no trouble spotting an object off to the side or while walking around, even in unfamiliar places. May also cause sluggish digestion.

1. Root can be split, dried, and roasted to make a coffee filler or substitute. Chickory is commonly found in United States of the Americas brands of coffee.
2. Leaves can be eaten raw.
3.  Chicory is a type of lettuce; so naturally, leaves are best when young and growing in areas protected from direct sunlight.
4. Many people find older leaves are best when cooked in several changes of water.
5. Young plants, including flower heads, can be cooked.
6. Roots, when young, can be eaten raw.
7. Look for chicory on disturbed ground, ranging from plains and foothills to mountain slopes.

©Al (Alex-Alexander) D. Girvan. All rights reserved.