Erythronium americanum – Trout Lily
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) is a native, edible ephemeral that blooms in April in Connecticut. Trout lily has purple mottled leaves and a flower with 6 petals. The color of the flower varies depending on the species of trout lily. Trout lily leaves and flowers can be added raw to a salad. Only a […]
Thlaspi arvense – Field Pennycress
Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) is a non-native, edible mustard. Field pennycress has alternate, hairless leaves with wavy margins. It produces clusters of white flowers with four petals at the top of the stems. Young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. After the plant flowers, the leaves will be more bitter. The seeds can be […]
Uvularia sessilifolia – Wild Oats
Wild Oats (Uvularia sessilifolia) is a native woodland plant in the lily family. Wild Oats have alternate leaves that attach directly to the stem. In late April-early May the plant produces a yellow-cream colored flower. Wild Oat shoots can be eaten raw after the leaves are stripped away. Flowers can be added raw to salads. […]
Houstonia caerulea – Quaker Lady Bluet
Quaker Lady Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) are native edible flowers that can be found blooming April-July. Quaker ladies can be distinguished from other bluets by the patch of yellow at their center. Quaker ladies are in the coffee family. They have a taste similar to alfalfa sprouts. An infusion of Quaker lady roots was used by […]
Veronica serpyllifolia – Thyme-leaved Speedwell
Thyme-leaved Speedwell (Veronica serpyllifolia) is an edible plant in the plantain family. It was introduced to North America from Europe. Thyme-leaved speedwell can be added raw to salads. The leaves, flowers, and stems are all edible. It has a flavor that is reminiscent of watercress. The plant has also been used medicinally to treat issues […]
Arenaria serpyllifolia – Thyme-leaved Sandwort
Thyme-leaved Sandwort (Arenaria serpyllifolia) is an edible plant from Eurasia. The plant is common, but difficult to find due to its small size. Thyme-leaved sandwort is often confused for chickweeds. Chickweeds have notched petals, while Thyme-leaved sandwort petals are unnotched. The plant can be used as an herb. It has also been used medicinally to […]
Plantago lanceolata – Narrowleaf Plantain
Narrowleaf Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) is an edible and medicinal plant that was introduced to North America from Eurasia. Narrowleaf plantain, also known as “ribwort plantain”, has long leaves with 5-7 protruding veins growing in a rosette. Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. The youngest leaves are the most tender and tastiest. Leaves become […]
Arctium lappa – Greater Burdock
Greater burdock (Arctium lappa) is an invasive plant with edible and medicinal uses. Burdock is often found in disturbed soil and along edges of fields and walking paths. Burdock is a biennial, producing a basal rosette its first year and sending up a flower stalk its second year. Burdock can be identified by its fuzzy leaves […]
Lactarius camphoratus – Eastern Candy caps
Eastern candy caps (Lactarius camphoratus) are edible milkcaps found in Europe and Eastern North America. The species found in Eastern North America may or may not be the same species as the one found in Europe, but they are currently both classified as Lactarius camphoratus. There are multiple species of mushrooms referred to by the […]
Meripilus sumstinei – Black-staining Polypore
The Black-staining polypore (Meripilus sumstinei) is an edible mushroom that is often confused for Hen-of-the-woods. It can be found growing at the base of deciduous trees, usually oaks, from July-September. The Black-staining polypore has grayish-white caps that stain black when touched or cut. When young, the pore surface is white. The smell is reminiscent […]
Hypsizygus ulmarius – Elm Oysters
Elm oysters (Hypsizygus ulmarius) are an edible and easy-to-identify mushroom. Elm oysters are in a different genus than the “true” oyster mushrooms. They are named after their appearance which resembles true oyster mushrooms in the Pleurotus genus. Elm oysters are usually found on elm trees from August-December. They can be differentiated from true oysters by […]
Dacrymyces chrysospermus – Orange Jelly Fungus
Orange Jelly Fungus (Dacrymyces chrysospermus) is an edible mushroom that can be found year-round after heavy rains. Orange jelly fungus is found on conifers, often where bark is peeling off. It has a white base where the cap attaches to the wood. Orange jelly fungus is most often confused with Witches butter (Tremella mesenterica) which […]
Auricularia spp. – Wood Ears
Wood ears (Auricularia spp.) are edible jelly fungi that are commonly eaten in Asia. It is best to search for them the day after a large rainfall. Wood ears prefer cooler weather but could appear any time of the year. There are two wood ear species that grow in Connecticut. Auricularia americana grows on conifers, […]
Cryptoporus volvatus – Veiled Polypore
The Veiled Polypore (Cryptoporus volvatus) is a rare mushroom that grows on conifer trees. The pored surface is “veiled” by a thin, rounded layer of tissue. This allows the spores to pile up in the mushroom. When beetles enter the space, they are dusted with the spores and will therefore carry the spores into the […]
Stropharia rugosoannulata – Wine Caps
Wine Caps (Stropharia rugosoannulata) are a commonly cultivated mushroom that can be found throughout North America. Wine caps can be identified by their red cap which fades to brown as they age. Gills will be pale gray when the mushrooms are young, becoming purple-black as they age. They have a white veil which will be […]
Morchella americana – Yellow Morel
Yellow Morels (Morchella americana) are the most widely distributed morel in North America. There are over 20 species of morels in North America. Look for morels 1-3 days after spring rains, when soil temperatures are between 50-60 degrees F. Morels are mycorrhizal, often growing in old apple orchards, under ash, standing dead elms, tulip trees, […]
Cerioporus squamosus – Dryad’s Saddle
Dryad’s Saddle (Cerioporus squamosus) is a choice edible mushroom when found young. Dryad’s saddle, or Pheasant back, can be found in the spring and fall, fruiting on dead or dying hardwood trees. Look for the fungus 1-2 days after a heavy rain. The mushroom is parasitic, causing white rot disease to the tree. Dryad’s saddle […]
Larix laricina – Tamarack
Tamarack (Larix laricina) is a native deciduous conifer in the pine family. Tamarack, also known as “American larch”, is usually the first tree to grow on filled lake bogs. It has 1-inch needles that grow in clusters of 10-20. The needles turn bright yellow in late autumn and then fell off. Tender spring shoots […]
Lepidium campestre – Field Pepperwort
Field Pepperwort (Lepidium campestre) is an edible plant in the Brassicaceae family that was introduced to the U.S. from Europe. Field pepperwort has alternate toothed leaves. It produces small white flowers with four petals at the top which are followed by flat, circular seed pods. Field pepperwort is most often found in disturbed land, waste […]
Lactuca canadensis – Canada Wild Lettuce
Canada Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis) is a native edible and medicinal plant in the Daisy family. Wild lettuces can be identified by the hairs on the bottom of the leaf’s central vein. In Lactuca canadensis, the hairs are less consistent than in other species of Wild Lettuce. The young leaves and stems are edible but […]