All Botany Photo’s of the Day courtesy of:
Daniel Mosquin & team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Streptopus amplexifolius
According to an article from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, the tender young shoots of clasping twistedstalk are prized in Alaska for their tasty cucumber-like flavour. These shoots make a great addition to salads or cooked with other fresh greens. Do note, however, that at early stages of growth, this species is readily confused with some of its poisonous relatives–positive identification is essential! The berries are also edible. When ripe, they take on a watermelon-like flavour and can be used to make jelly, syrup, or juice. These berries can also be eaten raw, but the seeds are known to have a laxative effect, so caution is again advised. The article from UAF also gives a comprehensive guide on how to process and preserve the fruits, along with recipes for extracting juice and making jelly & syrup! Preparing foods with native plants is a small venture I’d love to start one day, now that I’ve learned more about the many traditional edible uses of various plants native to British Columbia.
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Cassytha melantha
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Prunus yedoensis ‘Akebono’
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Archytaea triflora
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Aristolochia ridicula
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Nothofagus antarctica
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Mesanthemum africanum 1
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
Mesanthemum africanum 2
Daniel Mosquin and team on behalf of UBC Botanical Garden
