Edible and Useful Plants of Texas and the Southwest: A Practical Guide

by Delena Tull

Overview

All around us there are wild plants good for food, medicine, clothing, and shelter, but most of us don't know how to identify or use them. Delena Tull amply supplies that knowledge in this book, one of the first focused specifically on plants that grow in Texas and surrounding regions of the South and Southwest. Extensively illustrated with black-and-white drawings and color photos, this book includes the following special features:• Recipes for foods made from edible wild plants.• Wild teas and spices.• Wild plant dyes, with instructions for preparing the plants and dying wool, cotton, and other materials.• Instructions for preparing fibers for use in making baskets, textiles, and paper.• Information on wild plants used for making rubber, wax, oil, and soap. • Information on medicinal uses of plants.• An identification guide to hay fever plants and plants that cause rashes.• Instructions for distinguishing edible from poisonous berries.• Detailed information on poisonous plants, including poison ivy, oak, and sumac, as well as herbal treatments for their rashes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780292793286
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	9 MB

Table of Contents

List of Photographs
List of Illustrations
Preface to the Paperback Edition
Acknowledgments

Introduction
What's in This Book
Vegetation Regions in the State
Why Use Botanical Terminology?
Plants as Medicine: A Commentary
Mushrooms: To Eat or Not to Eat

1. Edible and Useful Wild Plants
Caution and Notes on Using Wild Edibles
Why Bother with Wild Foods?
Native Plants for Agriculture
Grazing from the Wild: Tips and Precautions

Edible and Useful Wild Plants by Family, Including Recipes
Agavaceae--Agave Family
Agave, Lechuguilla, Mescal--Agave Species
Sotol--Dasylirion Species
Yucca--Yucca Species
Alismataceae--Water-plantain Family
Arrowhead--Sagittaria Species
Amaranthaceae--Amaranth Family
Amaranth--Amaranthus Species
Anacardiaceae--Sumac Family
Sumac--Rhus Species
Asteraceae--Composite Family, Sunflower Family
Chicory--Cichorium intybus
Dandelion--Taraxacum officinale
Goldenrod--Solidago odora
Lettuce--Lactuca Species
Ragweed--Ambrosia trifida
Sow Thistle--Sonchus oleraceus, Sonchus asper
Sunflower--Helianthus Species
Thistle---Cirsium Species
Cactaceae--Cactus Family
Opuntia--Opuntia Species
Strawberry Cactus--Echinocereus stramineus, Echinocereus enneacanthus
Caryophyllaceae--Pink Family
Chickweed--Stellaria media
Chenopodiaceae--Goosefoot Family
Lamb's-quarters--Chenopodium album
Orach, Four-Wing Saltbush--Atriplex Species
Tumbleweed--Salsola kali
Commelinaceae--Spiderwort Family
Dayflower--Commelina Species
Spiderwort--Tradescantia Species
Crassulaceae--Orpine Family
Sedum, Stonecrop--Sedum Species
Cucurbitaceae--Gourd Family
Buffalo Gourd--Cucurbita foetidissima
Cyperaceae--Sedge Family
Nut-grass--Cyperus Species
Euphorbiaceae--Spurge Family
Bull Nettle--Cnidoscolus texanus
Noseburn--Tragia Species
Fabaceae--Legume Family
Acacia, Huisache, Catclaw--Acacia Species
Alfalfa--Medicago sativa
Black Locust--Robinia pseudo-acacia
Groundnut--Apios americana
Hog Peanut--Amphicarpaea bracteata
Honey Locust--Gleditsia triacanthos
Indian Breadroot, Scurfy Pea--Psoralea Species
Kudzu--Pueraria lobata
Mesquite, Torn illo--Prosopis Species
Redbud--Cercis canadensis
Retama--Parkinsonia aculeata
Tepary Bean--Phaseolus acutifolius
Fagaceae--Beech Family
Oak--Quercus Species
Fouquieriaceae--Ocotillo Family
Ocotillo--Fouquieria splendens
Juglandaceae--Walnut Family
Hickory--Carya Species
Pecan--Carya illinoinensis
Walnut--Juglans Species
Lamiaceae--Mint Family
Henbit--Lamium amplexicaule
Liliaceae--Lily Family
Blue Camass--Camassia scilloides
Day Lily--Hemerocallis fulva
Greenbriar--Smilax bona-nox
Lily--Lilium Species
Onion, Garlic, Chives--Allium Species
Malvaceae--Mallow Family
Turk's Cap--Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Martyniaceae--Unicorn Plant Family
Devil's Claw--Proboscidea Species
Nymphaeaceae--Water-lily Family
Lotus--Nelumbo lutea
Spatterdock--Nuphar luteum
Water-lily--Nymphaea odorata
Onagraceae--Evening Primrose Family
Showy Evening Primrose--Oenothera speciosa
Oxalidaceae--Wood Sorrel Family
Wood Sorrel--Oxalis Species
Pinaceae--Pine Family
PiÒon--Pious edulis, Pinus cembroides
Plantaginaceae--Plantain Family
Plantain--Plantago major, Plantago lanceolata
Poaceae--Grass Family
Carrizo--Arundo donax
Giant Cane--Arundinaria gigantea
Reed--Phragmites communis
Polygonaceae--Knotweed Family
Dock, Canaigre--Rumex Species
Pontederiaceae--Pickerelweed Family
Pickerelweed--Pontederia cordata
Water Hyacinth--Eichhornia crassipes
Portulacaceae--Purslane Family
Purslane--Portulaca oleracea
Rubiaceae--Madder Family
Bedstraw--Galium aparine
Typhaceae--Cattail Family
Cattail--Typha Species
Urticaceae--Nettle Family
Pellitory--Parietaria Species
Stinging Nettle--Urtica Species
Violaceae--Violet Family
Violet--Viola Species

2. Teas and Spices

Teas
Alfalfa--Medicago sativa
Basswood--Tilia Species
Bee Balm--Monarda Species
Bee Brush--Aloysia gratissima
Blackberry, Dewberry--Rubus Species
Catnip--Nepeta cataria
Clover--Trifolium Species
Goldenrod--Solidago odora
Greenthread--Thelesperma Species
Horehound--Marrubium vulgare
Limoncillo--Pectis angustifolia, Pectis papposa
Limoncillo--Hedeoma Species
Mormon tea--Ephedra antisyphilitica
Mullein--Verbascum thapsus
Peppermint--Mentha piperita
Persimmon--Diospyros virginiana
Prairie Tea--Croton monanthogynus
Red root--Ceanothus americanus
Rose--Rosa Species
Sage--Salvia Species
Sassafras--Sassafras albidum
Spearmint--Mentha spicata
Strawberry--Fragaria Species
Yarrow--Achillea millefolium
Yaupon--Ilex vomitoria

Spices
Chile Pequín--Capsicum annuum
Epazote--Chenopodium ambrosioides
Juniper, Cedar--Juniperus Species
Knotweed--Polygonum aviculare
Mintweed--Lippia graveolens
Mustard--Brassica Species
Onion, Garlic--Allium Species
Peppergrass--Lepidium Species
Red Bay--Persea borbonia
Shepherd's Purse--Capsella bursa-pastoris
Spicebush--Lindera benzoin
Sweet Bay--Magnolia virginiana
Watercress--Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum
Wax Myrtle--Myrica cerifera
Wormwood--Artemisia ludoviciana

3. Edible and Poisonous Berries and Other Fleshy Fruits
Poisonous Fruit
Blue, Purple, or Black Fruit: Toxic
Cherry--Prunus Species
Coyotillo--Karwinskia humboldtiana
Eve's Necklace--Sophora affinis
Juniper, Cedar--Juniperus Species
Lantana--Lantana Species
Ligustrum--Ligustrum Species
Nightshade, Black Nightshade--Solanum americanum
Poke--Phytolacca americana
Virginia Creeper---Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Red Fruit: Toxic
Coralito--Rivina humilis
Holly, Yaupon--Ilex Species
Jerusalem-cherry--Solanum pseudocapsicum
Snailseed--Cocculus carolinus
Wahoo--Euonymus Species

Yellow, Cream, or White Fruit: Toxic
Chinaberry--Mella azedarach
Mistletoe--Phoradendron tomentosum
Nightshade, Silverleaf Nightshade--Solanum elaeagnifolium
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac--Toxicodendron Species
Soapberry--Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
Tallow Tree--Sapium sebiferum

Fruits with Unknown Toxicity: Avoid Eating Them
American Beauty-berry--Callicarpa americana
Ampelopsis, Heartleaf--Ampelopsis cordata
Carolina Buckthorn--Rhamnus caroliniana
Dogwood--Corpus Species
Elbow-bush--Forestiera pubescens
Greenbriar--Smilax Species
Hercules' Club--Aralia spinosa
Honeysuckle--Lonicera Species
Indian Strawberry--Duchesnea indica
Peppervine--Ampelopsis arborea

Edible Fruit
Standard Jelly and Jam Recipes
Blue, Purple, or Black Fruit: Edible
Blackberry, Dewberry--Rubus Species
Blackhaw, Rusty Blackhaw, Withe Rod--Viburnum Species
Blueberry, Whortleberry, Farkleberry--Vaccinium Species
Brasil--Condalia hookeri
Cherry, Black Cherry, Chokecherry--Prunus Species
Coma--Bumelia lanuginosa
Currant--Ribes Species
Elderberry--Sambucus canadensis
Grape--Vitis Species
Mulberry--Morus Species
Persimmon--Diospyros texana
Prickly Pear Cactus--Opuntia Species
Sabal Palm, Texas Palmetto, Palma de Micaros--Sabal texana
Service berry--Amelanchier Species

Brown Fruit: Edible
Pawpaw--Asimina triloba

Green Fruit: Edible
Crab Apple--Pyrus ioensis, Pyrus angustifolia

Red, Orange, or Yellow Fruit: Edible
Agarita, Barberry--Berberis Species
Anacua--Ehretia anacua
Chile Pequín--Capsicum annuum
Desert Yaupon--Schaefferia cuneifolia
Hackberry--Celtis Species
Hawthorn--Crataegus Species
Jujube--Ziziphus jujuba
Madrone--Arbutus xalapensis
Mayapple--Podophyllum peltatum
Passionflower--Passiflora incarnata
Persimmon--Diospyros virginiana
Plum--Prunus Species
Pyracantha--Pyracantha Species
Rose--Rosa Species
Strawberry--Fragaria Species
Sumac--Rhus Species
Tomatillo--Physalis Species
Turk's Cap--Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii

White Fruit: Edible
White Mulberry--Morus alba

4. Poisonous and Harmful Plants
First Aid for Toxic Plant Ingestion
Plant Poisoning: Dispelling Some Myths About Poisonous Plants
Who Is Affected by Plant Poisonings?
Livestock Poisoning
The Toxins in Plants
Toxic Wild Plants by Family
Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae--Amaryllis, Iris, and Lily Families
Apiaceae--Carrot Family
Poison Hemlock--Conium maculatum
Water Hemlock--Cicuta maculata
Apocynaceae--Dogbane Family
Dogbane, Indian Hemp--Apocynum Species
Araceae--Arum Family
Asclepiadaceae--Milkweed Family
Milkweed--Asclepias Species
Asteraceae--Composite Family, Sunflower Family
Fabaceae--Legume Family
Black Locust--Robinia pseudo-acadia
Bluebonnet, Lupine--Lupinus Species
Coral Bean--Erythrina herbacea
Devil's Shoestring--Tephrosia virginiana
Locoweed--Astragalus Species
Mescal Bean--Sophora secundiflora
Rattlebush, Bagpod, Bequilla--Sesbania Species
Singletary Pea, Sweetpea--Lathyrus Species
Wisteria--Wisteria Species
Hippocastanaceae--Buckeye Family
Buckeye, Horse-chestnut--Aesculus Species
Loganiaceae--Logania Family
Jasmine--Gelsemium sempervirens
Phytolaccaceae--Pokeweed Family
Coralito--Rivina humilis
Poke--Phytolacca americana
Sapindaceae--Soapberry Family
Mexican Buckeye--Ungnadia speciosa
Solanaceae--Nightshade Family
Jerusalem-cherry--Solanum pseudocapsicum
Jessamine--Cestrum Species
Jimsonweed--Datura Species
Nightshade, Silverleaf Nightshade--Solanum elaeagnifolium
Tobacco, Tree Tobacco, Desert Tobacco--Nicotiana Species

Toxic ornamental Houseplants and Yard Plants: The Enemy Within
Poisons in the Garden
Rashes and Sneezes
Contact Dermatitis
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac--Toxicodendron radicans and Other Species
Pollen Dermatitis
Photodermatitis
Irritant Dermatitis
Chemical Irritants
Mechanical Irritants
Stinging Nettles
Hay Fever Plants
Fall
Winter
Spring and Summer

5. Colorful Dyes with Texas Plants
Vegetable Dyes: A Historical Perspective
Dyes Today: Synthetic Versus Vegetable Dyes
Fibers for Dyeing
Factors That Influence Dye Colors
Pigments From Plants
Colorfastness
Testing for Lightfastness
Testing for Washfastness
Water
Dyeing Techniques
Plants for Dyes
How Much Should I Collect?
What Plant Parts Should I Use?
Kitchen and Garden Dyes
Mordants
Procedures for Dyeing Wool and Other Fibers
Equipment
Preparing the Plant Material for the Dye Pot
Preparing the Wool
Scouring Raw Wool
Mordanting the Wool
Dyeing the Wool
Simmer Dyeing
Solar Dyeing
Cold-Water Fermentation
Final Tips on Dyeing With Plants
Vegetable Dye Recipes
Symbol Code
Plant Species Used for Dyes

6. Fibers from Texas Plants
Plants for Basketmaking
Textile Fibers
Extracted Fibers: Retting and Scutching
Fibers Attached to Seeds
Dyeing Plant Fibers
Papermaking
How to Make Paper

7. Rubber, Wax, Oil, and Soap: Industrial Resources from Texas Plants

Glossary
Bibliography
Index