Physalis spp. – Ground cherry
Ground cherry (Physalis spp.) is a native perennial in the nightshade family that produces edible berries in late summer-fall. It can be found in sunny fields or disturbed ground with sandy soil. There are about 30 species of ground cherry that grow in the United States. Ground cherry has toothed, wavy, or smooth leaves. Flowers […]
Solanum nigrum complex – Black nightshade
Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum complex) is an edible member of the nightshade family. It is an annual or occasionally a perennial that grows throughout the United States. It can be found in gardens, fields, and disturbed areas. Black nightshade leaves are alternate and can be smooth or slightly toothed. In the summer, the plant produces […]
Hericium americanum – Bear’s Head Tooth
Bear’s head tooth (Hericium americanum) is an edible and medicinal mushroom that is closely related to lion’s mane (Hericium erinceus). It fruits from late August to early November. Bear’s head tooth can be found as a parasite or saprobe on hardwood trees, especially beech, oak, and maple. It is often found in damaged parts of […]
Malva neglecta – Common Mallow
Common Mallow (Malva neglecta) is a non-native plant that is edible from root to tip. It can be found in disturbed areas that receive sun. Mallow leaves are ruffled and hairy. Flowers are lavender-colored and have five petals. The fruits look like miniature, flattened wheels of cheese. Mallow leaves, fruits, flowers, and taproots are edible. […]
Apioperdon pyriforme – Pear-shaped Puffball
The Pear-shaped puffball (Apioperdon pyriforme) is an edible mushroom that can be found as a decomposer of both coniferous and deciduous trees. It often fruits in large, dense clusters. The pear-shaped puffball can be either pear shaped or spherical. The color ranges from cream to yellowish-brown. This inside is white and marshmallow-like at first, becoming […]
Galinsoga quadriradiata – Common Quickweed
Common quickweed (Galinsoga quadriradiata) is an edible annual that is native to Central America. The plant is named for its quick growth habit. A single plant can produce 7,000 seeds and the plant can go through several generations per year. Due to the invasive growth habit of this non-native plant, it should not be cultivated […]
Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is a native plant with edible and medicinal uses. It can be found in meadows and open woodlands with partial to full sun. The plant can be easily identified by its daisy-like flowers with purple petals. Leaves are narrow and toothed. When mature, the plant can reach up to 2 feet […]
Rubus spp. – Dewberries
Dewberries (Rubus spp.) are a native relative of blackberries. They can be found along the side of trails in central and eastern North America. Dewberries stay low to the ground, whereas blackberries have upright canes. Leaves are alternate and compound, usually in groups of three or five. The fruits form a compact aggregate berry, unlike […]
Laccaria ochropurpurea – Purple Laccaria
Purple laccaria (Laccaria ochropurpurea) is an edible mushroom that fruits late summer-fall. It can be found in association with hardwood trees, particularly oak and beech, or white pine. Purple laccaria has a cream to violet-gray colored cap. The cap is convex at first, flattening with age. The gills are purple, lightening with age. The fibrous […]
Armillaria mellea – Honey Mushrooms
Honey mushrooms (Armillaria mellea) are an edible and medicinal mushroom that fruits late August-November. Honey mushrooms can be parasitic or saprobic. They can grow with a wide variety of tree species, but are commonly found with oak, beech, and fruit trees. They often grow in dense clusters at the base of stumps and trees. The […]
Pleurotus levis
Pleurotus levis is a non-toxic look alike to the choice edible Veiled oyster (Pleurotus dryinus) mushroom. Pleurotus levis can grow on wounds of living trees as a parasite or it can grow on dead wood as a saprobe. The cap is white to cream when young, yellowing with age. Gills are decurrent. The stem can […]
Xanthoconium affine
Xanthoconium affine is an edible mushroom that can be found July-October. It is mycorrhizal with hardwood trees, especially beech and oak. The cap is dark brown or reddish-brown, turning yellowish-brown. Pores are white, becoming pale yellow. The mushroom does not stain blue. The stem is streaked with a color that is paler than the cap. […]
Strobilomyces sp. – Old Man of the Woods
The Old Man of the Woods (Strobilomyces sp.) is an edible mushroom that fruits June-October. It can be found growing singularly or clustered in mixed hardwood or conifer forests. The cap and stem are gray to black and shaggy. Pores start off white, then turn gray and eventually black with age. Flesh turns reddish when […]
Suillus spraguei – Painted Suillus
The Painted Suillus (Suillus spraguei) is an edible mushroom that can be found in conifer forests from June-October. The mushroom grows scattered or clustered in the ground. It is a mycorrhizal mushroom that often associates with pine. The Painted Suillus has a unique scaly red cap and stem. The yellow pores are covered by a […]
Tylopilus ferrugineus
Tylopilus ferrugineus is an edible mushroom that is native to eastern North America. It fruits July-September. The mushroom is often found in grassy areas in association with oak or beech. The cap and stem are brown. The pores are white and stain brown. Young mushrooms have club-shaped stems and very firm flesh. Spore print is […]
Prunus maritima – Beach Plum
Beach plum (Prunus maritima) is a native plant with edible fruit. It is often found in dunes. It prefers full sun and has a high salt tolerance. Beach plums are shrubs that typically grow 4-8 feet tall. They produce five-petaled white flowers in spring. The leaves are alternate and finely toothed. The fruits are much […]
Xerocomus illudens
Xerocomus illudens is an edible bolete that fruits July-October. It forms mycorrhizal relationships with oaks and possibly other hardwoods. The cap is cinnamon-brown or pinkish-cinnamon colored. The pores are lemon yellow and angular. The flesh is pale yellow and does not stain blue. The stem is mustard-yellow and has a course net. Spore print is […]
Asparagus officinalis – Wild Asparagus
Wild Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is the same species as cultivated asparagus. The plant has escaped cultivation and can now be found growing in riverbanks and seashores that receive full to partial sun. Being a perennial, the plant will re-grow in the same spot year after year. Shoots that look like store-bought asparagus appear in early […]
Macrolepiota procera – Parasol Mushroom
The Parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera) is an edible mushroom that fruits August-October. It can be found in open woodlands near conifers or hardwoods or on lawns. The parasol mushroom is saprobic. The cap has scattered brown scales and develops a rounded bump on the center. The stem is slender, tall, and bulbous at the base. […]
Rosa rugosa – Beach Rose
Beach rose (Rosa rugosa) is an invasive plant from Asia that was brought to the U.S. as an ornamental. It is salt tolerant so is often found near beaches. Beach roses have wrinkled, compound leaves with 5-9 leaflets. The canes have short, straight prickles. In late summer, flowers turn into rose hips that resemble tomatoes. […]