In Chippewa, one word for hazel is bagan‘, which means nuts, burs or wood. Beaked hazel or hazelnut is our local edible and medicinal filbert. And it can be used just the same as the store bought one! Like many related (and similarly leaved) trees and shrubs, you’ll find them most along the edges. If […]
Category Archives: Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
Hawthorn – Crataegus SPP.: Heart Herb of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
In Chippewa, thornapple is called mine’saga’wunj, meaning “having fruit and also spikes.” No other shrub in Canada has these awl like thorns. Hawthorn, despite its thorny appearance, is both an edible and strongly medicinal plant. Be very careful with the thorns – don’t poke your eye out! They are scary sharp! Northern shrikes have been […]
Lamb’s Quarters – Chenopodium Album: Quinoa of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
Does anyone have an Anishinaabemowin word for lamb’s quarters? A relation of quinoa, lamb’s quarters is another wild edible and medicinal plant that likes to take over disturbed soil, like the plot you just tilled for your garden! It was a toss up between quinoa and wild spinach for the subtitle. But there are so […]
Lady’s-Thumb – Polygonum Persicaria: Buckwheat of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
Does anyone have an Anishinaabemowin word for lady’s-thumb? A type of buckwheat, lady’s-thumb is a common garden “smartweed” here. It’s a smart beginner wild edible and medicinal green because of the distinguished triangular purple spot on the leaf making it easily identifiable. Syn. persicaria maculosa. Check out the nice, clearest “thumb”print, bottom-left: Edible Uses of […]
Queen Anne’s-lace – Daucus Carota: Carrot of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
In Ojibwe, okaadaak means carrot, and Queen Anne’s-lace is literally a carrot. It’s another likely garden escapee, naturalized to Haliburton, and a surprisingly edible and medicinal wild plant. (If you’re not possibly pregnant, anyway!) Edible Uses of Queen Anne’s-lace The whole plant smells distinctly of carrot. But the edible roots are white instead of orange. […]
Tamarack – Larix Laricina: Sweet Gum of Edible & Medicinal Wild Plants
In Chippewa, mu’ckigwa’tig, meaning “swamp tree”, tamarack is common in low, damp areas, treed bogs (especially fens) and shore banks. If you’ve read about other trees here on the Song of the Woods blog and you’re expecting a lot, you won’t be disappointed. When I moved up north I was surprised to see an “evergreen” (it’s […]