I’ve “known” forager Leda Meredith since 1999 on the Edible Wild email list run by Melana Hiatt! I was very happy when I was passing through New York headed for Vermont and Ottawa early in September 2014 that she agreed to meet me early on a Friday morning in Central Park to show me her foraging grounds!
I sadly only had about an hour in Leda’s company, but we managed to cram in a lot of edible plants in a short time….here’s some of them :) This album was earlier shown on Facebook and was re-erected more permanently here for two reasons – my Norwegian FB friend Stein Tofte showed a picture of pokeweed, Phytolacca americana, growing in his garden at Randaberg near Stavanger – his plant came from seed collected in Central Park :) It’s also Leda’s birthday today….so this is for you, HAPPY FORAGING BIRTHDAY!!
Phytolacca americana is spread by birds….
My guide Leda Meredith published a great guide to foraging the North East earlier in the year – http://www.timberpress.com/books/northeast_foraging/meredith/9781604694178 Here pointing out one of the best wild edibles, Chenopodium album / Lamb’s Quarters / Meldestokk
Chenopodium album / Lamb’s Quarters / Meldestokk is particularly valuable as the leaves can be picked even at this stage, late in the season.
Artemisia vulgaris, more a flavouring and tea plant than vegetable..
Mulberry / Morbær
Rhus aromatica
Redshank, Lady’s thumb / Persicaria maculosa
A wild Eupatorium species is a good butterfly plant; not edible
Rumex spp. become milder later in the year
Lepidium virginicum, still available, thanks to park mowers!
Red form of Perilla…the green is apparently more common but didn’t see it…strange to see this growing as a weed…
Japanese Knotweed / Japanslirekne
Japanese Knotweed / Japanslirekne also invades with seeds in this area..
The young seed racemes are attractive too…
Tradescantia or Commelina?
Deertongue, Dichanthelium clandestinum, not edible..
The fruit of Prunus serotina had fallen recently
Lettuce family, not sure what and the white flowers of probably Aster macrophylla…
Probably Sambucus coerulea. Has blue berries.
Commelina communis, Day Flower
These wild plants of Jerusalem Artichoke / Jordskokk – much smaller than I had expected
Jerusalem Artichoke / Jordskokk
Plant app IDs are on the way, but not quite yet….would far rather have live human IDing
Artemisia vulgaris, Mugwort
Jerusalem Artichoke / Jordskokk
Rhus typhina / Sumac / Hjortesumak — not as tasty after heavy rain apparently…
Rhus typhina / Sumac / Hjortesumak
A slime fungus? Sadly, didn’t see any fungi other than this…not edible…
Ginkgo triloba
WOWWW! Look at this Ginkgo fruit – the park will stink when the fruit is ripe and falling, collected by the asiatic communities
Commelina spp
Rubus phoenicolasius / Japanese Wineberry is invasive in the park and is outcompeting Black Raspberry / Svartbringebær, Rubus occidentalis. Leda would rather have the latter
Rubus occidentalis / Black Raspberry / Svartbringebær
