Foraging California: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods in California

by Christopher Nyerges

Overview

From acacia to wild grape, Foraging California guides the reader to the edible wild foods and healthful herbs of the Golden State. Helpfully organized by plant families, with detailed information on locations, the book is an authoritative guide for nature lovers, outdoorsmen, and gastronomes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493084203
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/06/2025
Series:	Foraging Series
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Christopher Nyerges, co-founder of the School of Self-reliance, has led wild food walks for thousands of students since 1974. He has authored 10 books on wild foods, survival, and self-reliance, and thousands of newspaper and magazine articles. He’s most recently written Foraging California, Nuts and Berries of California, and Wild Greens and Salads, all FalconGuides, the latter two are slated as 2015 titles. He continues to teach where he lives in Los Angeles County, California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

Plants Listed by Environment Type 3

Collecting and Harvesting Wild Foods 8

How Much Wild Food Is Out There, Anyway? 10

Are Wild Foods Nutritious? 12

Seaweeds 15

Marine Green Algae (Chlorophyta); Brown Algae (Phaeophyta); Red Algac (Rhodophyta) 16

Ferns 19

Bracken Family (Dennstaedtiacea) 20

Bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) 20

Gymnosperms 23

Ephedra Family (Ephedraccae) 24

Mormon Tea (Ephedra spp.) 24

Pine Family (Pinaceae) 27

Pine (Pinus spp.) 27

Magnoliids 29

Laurel Family (Lauraceae) 30

California Bay (Umbellularia californica) 30

Eudicots 33

Muskroot Family (Adoxaceae) 34

Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) 34

Fig Marigold Family (Aizoaceae) 38

New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) 38

Amaranth Family (Amaranthaceae) 41

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) 41

Carrot Family (Apiaceae) 44

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) 44

Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) 47

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) 47

Prickly Lettuce (Lactuca serriola and others) 50

Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus and others) 53

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) 56

Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) 59

Mustard (Brassica spp.) 59

Sea Rocket (Cakile edentula and C. maritima) 62

Indian Cabbage (Calanthus inflatus) 65

Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) 68

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) 70

Radish, Wild (Raphanus sativus and R. raphanistrum) 73

Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium irio and S. officinale) 76

Cactus Family (Cactaceae) 79

Prickly Pear (Opuntia spp.) 79

Pink Family (Caryophyllaceae) 83

Chickweed (Stellaria media) 83

Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae) 87

Orach (Atriplex californica) 87

Lamb's Quarter, White and Green (Chenopodium album and C. murale) 90

Glasswort or Pickleweed (Salicornia spp.) 93

Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus) 96

Stonecrop Family (Crassulaceae) 99

Live-Forever (Dudleya spp.) 99

Heath Family (Ericaceae) 101

Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.) 101

Legume Family (Fabaceae) 101

Acacia (Acacia spp.) 104

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) 107

Palo Verde (Parkinsonia microphylla and P. florida) 110

Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and Screwbean (P. pubescens) 113

Oak Family (Fagaceae) 116

Oak Tree (Quercus spp.) 166

Geranium Family (Geraniaceae) 120

Filaree (Erodium spp.) 120

Gooseberry Family (Grossulariaceae) 122

Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes spp.) 122

Walnut Family (Juglandaceae) 125

Black Walnut (Juglans californica and J. hindsii) 125

Mint Family (Lamiaceae) 128

Mint (Mentha spp.) 128

Chia (Salvia columbariae) 130

Mallow Family (Malvaceae) 133

Mallow (Malva neglecta) 133

Miner's Lettuce Family (Montiaceae) 136

Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata) 136

Oxalis Family (Oxalidaceae) 139

Sour Grass/Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.) 139

Passionflower Family (Passifloraceae) 142

Passionflower (Passiflora caerulea and P. tarminiana) 142

Lopseed Family (Phrymaceae) 145

Common Mimulus (Mimulus guttatus) 145

Plantain Family (Plantaginaceae) 147

Veronica (aka Speedwell) (Veronica americana) 147

Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) 149

California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum) 149

Curly Dock (Rumex crispus) 151

Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella) 154

Wild Rhubarb (Rumex hymenosepalus) 156

Purslane Family (Portulacaceae) 158

Purslane (Portulaca oleraceae) and Desert Portulaca (P. halimoides) 158

Buckthorn Family (Rhamnaceac) 161

California Coffee Berry (Frangula californica and F. purshiana) 161

Rose Family (Rosaccae) 163

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) 163

Wild Cherries (Prunus spp.) 165

Wild Rose (Rosa spp.) 168

Blackberry (Rubus spp.) 171

Jojoba Family (Simmondsiaceae) 173

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) 173

Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) 175

Western Nightshade, Black Nightshade (Solanum americanum [aka S. nodiflorum], S. douglasii, S. nigrum, and S. xanti) 175

Nasturtium Family (Tropaeolaceae) 178

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) 178

Nettle Family (Urticaccae) 181

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) 181

Grape Family (Vitaceae) 184

Wild Grape (Vitis spp.) 184

Monocots 187

Century Plant Family (Agavaceae) 188

Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) 188

Onion or Garlic Family (Alliaceae) 192

Wild Onions et al. (Allium spp.) 192

Palm Family (Arecaceae) 196

California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) 197

Spiderwort Family (Commelinaceae) 200

Wandering Jew (Tradescantia fluminensis) 200

Tropical Spiderwort (Commelina benghalensis) 202

Rush Family (Juncaceae) 204

Rush (Juncus textilis et al.) 204

Grass Family (Poaceae) 206

Cattail Family (Typhaceae) 209

Cattail (Typha spp.) 209

Other Edibles 213

Getting Started 215

Test Your Knowledge of Plants 220

The Study of Mycology 224

The Dozen Easiest-to-Recognize, Most Widespread, Most Versatile Wild Foods of California 225

Staff of Life: Best Wild-Food Bread Sources 228

Sweet Tooth: Best Wild-Food Sugars and Desserts 232

Useful References 235

Index 237

Recipe Index 243

About the Author 244

Editorial Reviews

"This amazing book catalogues in clear, direct language the full range of wild edible plants found in California. Organized by ecological region and latest scientific family, it teaches not only a plant's place on the land but its essential botanical attributes. More than that, Christopher's lifetime of dirt time experience makes him expert on the edible and nutritional properties of this wonderful flora, so easily overlooked but at our disposal everywhere. I have followed Christopher on endless plant walks and never failed to learn something new and important. Now at last it's all in one brilliant guide! " —Paul Campbell, author of "Survival Skills of Native California"

From the Publisher