Edible and Useful Plants of the Southwest

Delena Tull is an environmental science educator and naturalist. A twenty-year resident of central Texas, she holds a Ph.D. in science education from the University of Texas at Austin.

"When it comes to native plants in the area, there are just a few ways to be sure you're not ingesting a poisonous berry. Take Edible and Useful Plants with you on your next ranch visit...the latest revised edition of Edible delves into plant-based recipes, teas, spices and medicinals. An environmental science educator and naturalist, Tull spends 300 pages on the family varieties of plants, and also includes several pages of color photography that point out toxic greens and edible bits. Part-field guide, part-textbook, this book is meant for hands-on use. Recipe buffs can partake in jelly-making (she points out edible fruits while breaking down the jelly process for each). Look for recipes for pesto, dyes and walnut-tofu "meatballs." Chapter 3 on teas and spices would be useful for any tea fanactic aching to try new, local flavors. Tull also gives plenty of warnings against excessive use of any plant. Remember, moderation is key." - Jessica Elizarraras, San Antonio Current

• List of PhotographsList of IllustrationsPreface to the Revised EditionAcknowledgmentsIntroduction What's in This BookVegetation RegionsWhy Use Botanical Terminology?1. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the Southwest Cautions and Notes on Using Wild Edibles Why Bother with Wild Foods?Native Plants for AgricultureGrazing from the Wild: Tips and PrecautionsEdible and Useful Wild Plants by Family, Including Recipes Alismataceae-Water-plantain Family Arrowhead-Sagittaria SpeciesAmaranthaceae-Amaranth Family Amaranth-Amaranthus SpeciesLamb's-quarters-Chenopodium SpeciesOrach, Four-wing Saltbush-Atriplex SpeciesTumbleweed-Salsola SpeciesAmaryllidaceae-Amaryllis Family Onion, Garlic, Chives-Allium SpeciesAnacardiaceae-Sumac Family Sumac-Rhus SpeciesAsparagaceae-Asparagus Family Agave, Lechuguilla, Mescal-Agave SpeciesBeargrass-Nolina SpeciesBlue Camass-Camassia scilloidesSotol-Dasylirion SpeciesYucca-Yucca SpeciesAsteraceae-Composite Family, Sunflower Family Chicory-Cichorium intybusDandelion-Taraxacum officinaleGoldenrod-Solidago odoraLettuce-Lactuca SpeciesRagweed-Ambrosia trifidaSow Thistle-Sonchus SpeciesSunflower-Helianthus SpeciesMaximilian Sunflower-Helianthus maximilianiThistle-Cirsium SpeciesBixaceae-Lipsticktree Family Yellow Show, Saiya-Amoreuxia SpeciesBoraginaceae-Borage Family Sandfood-Pholisma SpeciesCactaceae-Cactus Family Cholla-Cylindropuntia SpeciesTasajillo-Cylindropuntia leptocaulisPrickly Pear-Opuntia SpeciesSaguaro Cactus-Carnegiea giganteaStrawberry Cactus-Echinocereus stramineus, Echinocereus enneacanthusCaryophyllaceae-Pink Family Chickweed-Stellaria mediaCleomaceae-Caper Family Bee Plant-Cleome SpeciesClammyweed-Polanisia dodecandraCommelinaceae-Spiderwort Family Dayflower-Commelina SpeciesSpiderwort-Tradescantia SpeciesCrassulaceae-Orpine Family Sedum, Stonecrop-Sedum SpeciesCucurbitaceae-Gourd Family Buffalo Gourd-Cucurbita foetidissimaCyperaceae-Sedge Family Nut-grass-Cyperus SpeciesEuphorbiaceae-Spurge Family Bull Nettle-Cnidoscolus texanusCassava-Manihot SpeciesNoseburn-Tragia SpeciesFabaceae-Legume Family Acacia, Huisache, Catclaw-Acacia SpeciesAlfalfa-Medicago sativaBlack Locust-Robinia pseudoacaciaDesert Ironwood-Olneya tesotaGroundnut-Apios americanaHog Peanut-Amphicarpaea bracteataHoney Locust-Gleditsia triacanthosIndian Breadroot, Scurf Pea-Pediomelum SpeciesKudzu-Pueraria SpeciesMesquite, Tornillo-Prosopis SpeciesRedbud-Cercis canadensisRetama-Parkinsonia aculeataTepary Bean-Phaseolus acutifoliusFagaceae-Beech Family Oak-Quercus SpeciesFouquieriaceae-Ocotillo Family Ocotillo-Fouquieria splendensJuglandaceae-Walnut Family Hickory-Carya SpeciesPecan-Carya illinoinensisWalnut-Juglans SpeciesLamiaceae-Mint Family Henbit-Lamium amplexicauleLiliaceae-Lily Family Lily-Lilium SpeciesGolden Mariposa Lily, Sego Lily-Calochortus SpeciesSpanish Bayonet-Hesperoyucca whippleiLoasaceae-Eveningstar Family Blazing Star-Mentzelia SpeciesMalvaceae-Mallow Family Turk's Cap-Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondiiMartyniaceae-Unicorn Plant Family Devil's Claw-Proboscidea SpeciesNelumbonaceae-Lotus Family Lotus-Nelumbo luteaNymphaeaceae-Water-lily Family Spatterdock-Nuphar luteaWater-lily-Nymphaea odorataOnagraceae-Evening Primrose Family Showy Evening Primrose-Oenothera speciosaOrobanchaceae-Broom-rape Family Broom-rape-Orobanche SpeciesOxalidaceae-Wood Sorrel Family Wood Sorrel-Oxalis SpeciesPinaceae-Pine Family PiÑon-Pinus SpeciesPlantaginaceae-Plantain Family Plantain-Plantago SpeciesPoaceae-Grass Family Carrizo-Arundo donaxGiant Cane-Arundinaria giganteaReed-Phragmites australisPolygonaceae-Knotweed Family Dock, Canaigre-Rumex SpeciesPontederiaceae-Pickerelweed Family Pickerelweed-Pontederia cordataWater Hyacinth-Eichhornia crassipesPortulacaceae-Purslane Family Purslane-Portulaca SpeciesRubiaceae-Madder Family Bedstraw-Galium aparineSmilacaceae-Greenbriar Family Greenbriar-Smilax bona-noxTyphaceae-Cattail Family Cattail-Typha SpeciesUrticaceae-Nettle Family Pellitory-Parietaria SpeciesStinging Nettle-Urtica SpeciesViolaceae-Violet Family Violet-Viola SpeciesXanthorrhoeaceae-Grass Tree Family Day Lily-Hemerocallis fulva2. Plants as Medicine3. Teas and Spices Teas Alfalfa-Medicago sativa-FabaceaeBasswood-Tilia Species-MalvaceaeBee Balm-Monarda Species-LamiaceaeBee Brush-Aloysia gratissima-VerbenaceaeBlackberry, Dewberry-Rubus Species-RosaceaeCatnip-Nepeta cataria-LamiaceaeClover-Trifolium Species-FabaceaeGoldenrod-Solidago odora-AsteraceaeGreenthread-Thelesperma Species-AsteraceaeHorehound-Marrubium vulgare-LamiaceaeLimoncillo-Pectis Species-AsteraceaeLimoncillo-Hedeoma Species-LamiaceaeMormon Tea-Ephedra antisyphilitica-EphedraceaeMullein-Verbascum thapsus-ScrophulariaceaePeppermint-Mentha piperita-LamiaceaePersimmon-Diospyros virginiana-EbenaceaePrairie Tea-Croton monanthogynus-EuphorbiaceaeRedroot-Ceanothus americanus-RhamnaceaeRose-Rosa Species-RosaceaeSage-Salvia Species-LamiaceaeSassafras-Sassafras albidum-LauraceaeSpearmint-Mentha spicata-LamiaceaeStrawberry-Fragaria Species-RosaceaeYarrow-Achillea millefolium-AsteraceaeYaupon-Ilex vomitoria-AquifoliaceaeSpices Chile PequÍn-Capsicum annuum-SolanaceaeEpazote-Chenopodium ambrosioides-AmaranthaceaeJuniper, Cedar-Juniperus Species-CupressaceaeKnotweed-Polygonum aviculare-PolygonaceaeMintweed-Lippia graveolens-VerbenaceaeMustard-Brassica Species-BrassicaceaeOnion, Garlic-Allium Species-AmaryllidaceaePeppergrass-Lepidium Species-BrassicaceaeRed Bay-Persea borbonia-LauraceaeShepherd's Purse-Capsella bursa-pastoris-BrassicaceaeSpicebush-Lindera benzoin-LauraceaeSweet Bay-Magnolia virginiana-MagnoliaceaeWatercress-Nasturtium officinale-BrassicaceaeWax Myrtle-Myrica cerifera-MyricaceaeWormwood-Artemisia ludoviciana-Asteraceae4. Edible and Poisonous Berries and Other Fleshy Fruits Key to Southwestern Plants with Edible or Poisonous FruitsPoisonous Fruit Blue, Purple, or Black Fruit: Toxic Cherry-Prunus Species-RosaceaeCoyotillo-Karwinskia humboldtiana-RhamnaceaeEve's Necklace-Styphnolobium affine-FabaceaeJuniper, Cedar-Juniperus Species-CupressaceaeLantana-Lantana Species-VerbenaceaeLigustrum-Ligustrum Species-OleaceaeNightshade-Solanum americanum-SolanaceaePoke-Phytolacca americana-PhytolaccaceaeVirginia Creeper-Parthenocissus quinquefolia-VitaceaeRed Fruit: Toxic Coralito-Rivina humilis-PhytolaccaceaeHolly, Yaupon-Ilex Species-AquifoliaceaeJerusalem-cherry-Solanum pseudocapsicum-SolanaceaeSnailseed-Cocculus carolinus-MenispermaceaeWahoo-Euonymus Species-CelastraceaeYellow, Cream, or White Fruit: Toxic Chinaberry-Melia azederach-MeliaceaeMistletoe-Phoradendron Species-SantalaceaeNightshade, Silverleaf Nightshade-Solanum elaeagnifolium-SolanaceaePoison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac-Toxicodendron Species-AnacardiaceaeSoapberry-Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii-SapindaceaeTallow Tree-Triadica sebifera-EuphorbiaceaeFruits with Unknown Toxicity: Avoid Eating Them American Beauty-berry-Callicarpa americana-LamiaceaeAmpelopsis, Heartleaf-Ampelopsis cordata-VitaceaeCarolina Buckthorn-Frangula caroliniana-RhamnaceaeDogwood-Cornus Species-CornaceaeElbow-bush-Forestiera pubescens-OleaceaeGreenbriar-Smilax Species-SmilacaceaeHercules' Club-Aralia spinosa-AraliaceaeHoneysuckle-Lonicera Species-CaprifoliaceaeIndian Strawberry-Duchesnea indica-RosaceaePeppervine-Ampelopsis arborea-VitaceaeEdible Fruit Standard Jelly and Jam RecipesBlue, Purple, or Black Fruit: Edible Blackberry, Dewberry-Rubus Species-RosaceaeBlackhaw, Rusty Blackhaw, Withe Rod-Viburnum Species-AdoxaceaeBlueberry, Whortleberry, Farkleberry-Vaccinium Species-EricaceaeBrasil-Condalia hookeri-RhamnaceaeCherry, Black Cherry, Chokecherry-Prunus Species-RosaceaeComa, Gum Bumelia-Sideroxylon lanuginosum-SapotaceaeCurrant-Ribes Species-GrossulariaceaeElderberry-Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis-AdoxaceaeGrape-Vitis Species-VitaceaeMulberry-Morus Species-MoraceaePalms-ArecaceaeCalifornia Fan Palm-Washingtonia filiferaSabal Palm, Texas Palmetto-Sabal mexicanaPersimmon, Texas Persimmon-Diospyros texana-EbenaceaePrickly Pear Cactus-Opuntia Species-CactaceaeServiceberry-Amelanchier Species-RosaceaeBrown Fruit: Edible Pawpaw-Asimina triloba-AnnonaceaeGreen Fruit: Edible Crab Apple-Malus Species-RosaceaeRed, Orange, or Yellow Fruit: Edible Agarita, Barberry-Mahonia Species-BerberidaceaeAnacua-Ehretia anacua-BoraginaceaeBuffaloberry-Shepherdia argentea-ElaeagnaceaeChile PequÍn-Capsicum annuum-SolanaceaeDesert Yaupon-Schaefferia cuneifolia-CelastraceaeHackberry-Celtis Species-CannabaceaeHawthorn-Crataegus Species-RosaceaeJujube-Ziziphus jujuba-RhamnaceaeMadrone-Arbutus xalapensis-EricaceaeMayapple-Podophyllum peltatum-BerberidaceaePassionflower-Passiflora incarnata-PassifloraceaePersimmon-Diospyros virginiana-EbenaceaePlum-Prunus Species-RosaceaePyracantha-Pyracantha coccinea-RosaceaeRose-Rosa Species-RosaceaeStrawberry-Fragaria Species-RosaceaeSumac-Rhus Species-AnacardiaceaeTomatillo-Physalis Species-SolanaceaeTurk's Cap-Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii-MalvaceaeWolfberry, Desert-thorn, Matrimony Vine-Lycium Species-SolanaceaeWhite Fruit: Edible White Mulberry-Morus alba-Moraceae5. Poisonous and Harmful Plants First Aid for Toxic Plant IngestionPlant Poisoning: Dispelling Some Myths about Poisonous PlantsWho Is Affected by Plant Poisonings?Livestock PoisoningThe Toxins in PlantsToxic Wild Plants by Family Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae-Amaryllis, Iris, and Lily FamiliesApiaceae-Carrot Family Poison Hemlock-Conium maculatumWater Hemlock-Cicuta maculataApocynaceae-Dogbane Family Dogbane, Indian Hemp-Apocynum SpeciesMilkweed-Asclepias SpeciesAraceae-Arum FamilyAsteraceae-Composite Family, Sunflower FamilyFabaceae-Legume Family Black Locust-Robinia pseudoacadiaBluebonnet, Lupine-Lupinus SpeciesCoral Bean-Erythrina herbaceaDevil's Shoestring-Tephrosia virginianaLocoweed, Milk Vetch-Astragalus SpeciesMescal Bean-Sophora secundifloraRattlebush-Sesbania SpeciesSingletary Pea, Sweetpea-Lathyrus SpeciesWisteria-Wisteria SpeciesGelsemiaceae-Jessamine Family Jasmine-Gelsemium sempervirensMelanthiaceae Death Camus-Zigadenus SpeciesPhytolaccaceae-Pokeweed Family Coralito-Rivina humilisPoke-Phytolacca americanaRosaceae-Rose FamilySapindaceae-Soapberry Family Buckeye, Horse-chestnut-Aesculus SpeciesMexican Buckeye-Ungnadia speciosaSolanaceae-Nightshade Family Jerusalem-cherry-Solanum pseudocapsicumJessamine-Cestrum SpeciesJimsonweed-Datura SpeciesNightshade, Silverleaf-Solanum elaeagnifoliumTobacco-Nicotiana SpeciesToxic Ornamental Houseplants and Yard Plants: The Enemy WithinPoisons in the Garden and the KitchenRashes, Itches, and Stings Contact Dermatitis Allergic Contact Dermatitis Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac-Toxicodendron SpeciesPollen DermatitisPhotodermatitisIrritant Dermatitis Chemical IrritantsMechanical IrritantsStinging NettlesHay Fever Plants-Pollen Allergies FallWinterSpring and Summer6. Mushrooms: To Eat or Not to Eat7. Colorful Dyes with Southwestern Plants Vegetable Dyes: A Historical PerspectiveDyes Today: Synthetic versus Vegetable DyesFibers for DyeingFactors that Influence Dye ColorsPigments from PlantsColorfastnessWaterDyeing TechniquesPlants for Dyes How Much Should I Collect?What Plant Parts Should I Use?Kitchen and Garden DyesMordantsProcedures for Dyeing Wool and Other Fibers EquipmentPreparing the Plant Material for the Dye PotPreparing the WoolDyeing the Wool Simmer DyeingSolar DyeingCold-water FermentationFinal Tips on Dyeing with PlantsVegetable Dye Recipes Symbol KeyPlant Species Used for Dyes8. Fibers and Baskets from Southwestern Plants Plants for BasketmakingPreparation of PlantsTextile Fibers Extracting Fibers: Retting and ScutchingFibers Attached to SeedsDyeing Plant FibersPapermaking9. Rubber, Wax, Oil, and Soap: Industrial ResourcesAppendix: Fifty Important PlantsGlossaryBibliographyIndex