Information on wild plants

[david_c]

These are just a few resources I have used when trying to learn about wild plants. I noticed that 2 of the links are already mentioned on the foraging page in the environment section, but didn't think there was any harm in re-mentioning them.

http://www.pfaf.org/ - Plants for a future databasee
http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/
http://www.prodigalgardens.info/ - "Medicinal Herbs and Wild Foods"
http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/ - I've used this for identifying plants when they are flowering (it categorises plants by the color of the flowers). focused on Ireland, but relevant to other regions as well.

And also :
http://images.google.com/ - associating pictures with latin/common names

[Andy Alexis-Baker]

Nothing beats an actual field guide.

[david_c]

I guess not. They might not be as easy to come by is the only thing.

I just came across http://www.fieldguide.co.uk/ . Not sure if there's an easily-printable format available though.

[Andy Alexis-Baker]

Field guides are easy to get. Check amazon for titles. Search for wild edibles. Field guides should come up. I own one, but I know of several more. I bought mine at Barnes and Nobles in the actual bookstore. So they are common.

What is good about it is that yo can have it with you when you go. The internet is not really portable in quite that way.

But I have found some of the sites on edibles also helpful, so don't get me wrong. But when actually learning and looking, the field guide has been invaluable.

[Patrick]

I have a Peterson field guide, that I got from Borders. It is extremely practical and comprehensive. I use it quite often and have identified much with it. However, it may not always contain some variations. For instance, as seen my thread on ramps, I had found some and was not entirely sure about the width of the leaves. My field guide told the don't grow as well in the shade, but the internet told me that thinner leaves could be a direct result of more shade, but still not enough to stop their growth. So where as internet dependence should not become habit, it can be helpful in a culture where the exchange of such information is not always easy-to-access.

[Andy Alexis-Baker]

Yeah that is my experience to Patrick. I hope you share your learnings here. I learned a lot last year from this section, especially One Accord whose website is full of information. I think I even linked her site in the forgaging section of the main site: http://www.jesusradicals.com/creatio...ment/foraging/

Regarding that page, if you have ways to update it, make it better, feel free to let me know. Hell, if you have other ideas for that section, maybe you could write it. Just throwing it out as an idea.

That goes for you too David.

[david_c]

ok, thanks Andy.

I'll probably have a look for one of those field guides the next time I'm near a book store. It sounds like they're worth the investment.

[mikespringer]

Most camping supply stores have at least a small library. You can usually find an area specific field guide. I have " Wild Edible plants, Eastern/ Central North america" - Peterson Field Guides

look around. Buying local has a higher chance of being about your own area.

[BackAlleyRadio]

Do you all just take field guides out to an area and start identifying plants without prior knowledge of what grows? I am having a hard time identifying plants in Florida. I feel like I need to have an idea of what I might be looking at for a field guide to work. Have you all had similar troubles?

Are there any good sources that folks know about that tell you where plants are common? There's mention of where herbs grow in almost any herbal, but the problem is that they are more and less common in some specific areas. Plus florida is just weird.

[nabsy]

^^^ Dude, you've got plants in Florida? And here I was thinking the whole dang place was paved! : ) You might want to PM Andy to see how he got his start...

[Bison]

Here are a few that look pretty good for Florida.

Guide to the Vascular Plants of Central Florida

Guide to the Vascular Plants of the Florida Panhandle


Neither of these include, of course, macrolichens or mycological species. Both of which
have a welth of edible and medicinal species!

For finding edible/medicinal mycological species you can use any of David Arora's book.

Mushrooms Demystified


All That the Rain Promises and More: A Hip Pocket Guide to Western Mushrooms

As far as macrolichens go there is a book called

The macrolichen flora of Florida

but it is out of prints so might be hard to find.