Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

EDIBLE PLANTS 375They areof this plant, which are acrid when raw.taken up in spring when the leaves come forth, areextremely well washed, and then dried. The fibrousparts are removed, and the remainder driedin an oven. This is then bruised and chopped intopieces as small as peas or oatmeal, and then ground.The meal is boiled slowly, and continually stirredlike mush. It is then left standing for three or fourdays, when the acridity disappears." (Lankester.)Broom-Rape^ Louisiana. Orobanche Ludoviciana{Aphyllon L.). Sandy soil. 111. to Manitoba,south to Texas, Ariz., Cal. June-Aug."All the plant except the bloom grows underground, and consequently nearly all is very whiteand succulent. The Pah Utes consume great numbersof them in summer. . . .Being succulentthey answer for food and drink on these sandy plains,and, indeed, are often called sand-food." (Palmer.)Bulrush^ Great. Mat-rush. Tule-root. Scirpuslacustris. Ponds and swamps. ThroughoutNorth America: also in Old World. June-Sep.Roots resemble artichokes, but are much larger.Eaten raw, they prevent thirst and afford nourishment.Flour made from the dried root is w^hite,sweet and nutritious. A great favorite withthe western Indians, who pound the roots and makebread of them. When the fresh roots are bruised,mixed with water, and boiled, they afford a goodsirup.Camass^ Eastern. Wild Hyacinth. Quamasiahyacyiithia {Camassia Fraseri). In meadows andalong streams. Pa. to Minn., south to Ala. andTexas. Apr.-May.Root is very 'nutritious, wath an agreeable mucilaginoustaste.Golden Club. Orontium aquatkum. Swampsand ponds. Mass. to Pa., south to Fla. and La.,mostlv near coast. Apr.-May.The Taw-kee of coast Indians who liked thedried seeds when cooked like peas. The_ raw rootis acrid, but becomes edible when cooked like arrowarum