Foraging for Food- The weed identification thread.

Anyone know this one? It bushes and vines out. Looks a bit like the mallow with the rounded leaves, but it has a different growing habit and I don't think it has flowers. This has a fragrance that is fresh and a bit spicy, I guess. The leaves all stand out straight along the vine toward the sun in a line in the same direction. I have a lot of this stuff. (Update: now that I see pictures online, I remember that it will get purple flowers.)


And this one is pretty with its pink flowers and shiny leaves. Seems like I may have seen a use for it, but I can't recall. This grows in the cool north shade of my propane tank.


Verdict: #1 is "creeping charlie" or ground ivy (not to be confused with English ivy). Leaves can be used in salad.
#2 is called Swamp Smartweed or Knotweed.
Both have medicinal properties.

DM, I'll have to find a "green flower" one growing all by itself for a picture.

I really would like to identify foxglove at this stage because I'd like to LEAVE those in that area, the other things I know are ugly weeds but I was hoping they could prove useful in some way. I realize of course foxglove is NOT edible but I enjoy the flowers. I know they are invasive but there is one month when our mountain is just glorious with them.

I think I can explain the "funny shape" on the alder now that I think about it, I uncovered that plant from under a bunch of weeds, it was probably being deformed in shape and that is why it isn't as upright as normal. That taught me a good plant identification thing to remember however, that plants won't have their normal shape if not allowed to grow that way, that alder was a bit smushed (and is also growing immediately under a mature alder). Course on our property it is hard to not be under a mature alder, lol, that is why it is stupid of me to not recognize that one. But the prior owner MARKED only good plants usually. But that is about two feet from my firepit, it cannot stay.

I only became familiar with mullien this year when I started reading this thread, but the photos of the plants online look like what we have had here. However I could not say for sure that those particular plants were the ones.

I'm not a very good plant identifier, I guess, I have trouble with remembering what looks like what.
Anyone care to share some tips about how to keep things straight in your head? I'm sure there used to be lore and verse to help us remember centuries ago, you know, like "leaves of three, let it be?"

Becca, I have those two plants as well but don't know what they are.

Becca, I've seen the top one, but can't remember what it is. I believe the bottom one is some type of knot weed.

And this seems like what Rebecca posted as her first picture in #77.

I don't know what it is. Not a good picture. Actually the left side should be the top, and the plant is tall, but it was leaning out from the building toward me. I see it a lot, and I wonder if the grain-like flower/seed stalk is useful.


Verdict: Curly dock (said to be highly nutritious when using young leaves raw or boil)

Have you noticed when you Google the name of one of these plants (weeds) you get words like "evasive" and the need to "control" or "eradicate" them?

I just want to know if I can eat it and how to use it. Makes me feel like a rebel.

And Google led me to this good site (especially helpful to Californians). http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/weeds_intro.html

That's curly dock.

Becca, if that top one gets small bluish purple flowers, it's 'creeping charlie' or ground ivy, not to be confused with English ivy.
The second plant is called Smartweed.
Both are medicinal.

Blackbird said:

Becca, if that top one gets small bluish purple flowers, it's 'creeping charlie' or ground ivy, not to be confused with English ivy.
The second plant is called Smartweed.
Both are medicinal.

Click to expand...

Just a FYI, smart weed and knot weed are the same. I'm not sure how many different types of knot weed or smart weed there is, but there are several, some aquatic, some that grow on dry land.

I have both of the same ones BeccaOH posted. It's good to know they aren't toxic at least. One of these days I will get pictures of a couple of mine that have been bugging me for a long time to post!

Blackbird said:

Becca, if that top one gets small bluish purple flowers, it's 'creeping charlie' or ground ivy, not to be confused with English ivy.
The second plant is called Smartweed.
Both are medicinal.

Click to expand...

"Creeping charlie" is what the prior owner called that plant when she showed me around the garden, you prompted me to remember that. I have a plant very similar to that picture growing very invasively however, I'd be careful where you plant it.

It is nice to see you here Blackbird!