Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

EDIBLE PLANTS 379swamps. Locally east from Ontario to Fla., abundantwest to Mich., Okla., La. J uly-Aug.Tubers of root somewhat resemble sweet potatoes,and are little inferior to them when well boiled.A highly prized food of the Indians. The greenand succulent half-ripe seed-pods are delicate andnutritious. From the sweet, mealy seeds, whichresemble hazel nuts, the Indians made bread, soups,etc. The *'nuts" were first steeped in water, andthen parched in sand to easily extricate the kernels.These were mixed with fat and made into a palatablesoup, or w^ere ground into flour and baked.Frequently they were parched without steeping, andthe kernels eaten thus.Orchis^ Showy. Orchis spectabilis. Richwoods. New Brunsw. to Minn,, south to Ga.,Ky., Neb. Apr.-June."One of the orchids that springs from a tuberousroot, and as such finds favor with the countrypeople [of the South] in the preparation of a highlynourishing food for children." (Lounsberry.)Peanut^ Hog. Wild peanut. Falcata comosa(Glycine comosa). Moist thickets. New Brunsw.to Fla., west to Lake Superior, Neb., La. Aug-Sep."The underground pod has been cultivated as avegetable." (Porcher.)Potato^ Prairibi. Prairie turnip. Indian orMissouri Breadroot. The pomme blanche of thevoyageurs. Psoralea Esculenta. Prairies. Manitobaand N. Dak. to Texas. June,The farinaceous tuber, generally the size of ahen's egg, has a thick, leathery envelope, easily^separable from the smooth internal parts, which becomefriable when dry and are readily pulverized, affordinga light, starchy flour, with sweetish, turnipliketaste. Often sliced and dried by the Indiansfor winter use. Palatable in any form.Rice, Wild. Zizania aquatica. Swamps. NewBrunsw. to Manitoba, south to Fla., La., Texas.June-Oct.The chief farinaceous food of probably 30,000 of