Tansy as well as feverfew (Tanacetum spp.) are primarily medicinal as far as human uses go. Both are nonnative to Ontario. I went back and forth about lumping them together or not, and chose to lump as they are similar. Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) and feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) are not an edible species by modern considerations, … [Read more…]
German chamomile alternately spelled camomile (Matricaria chamomilla syn. Matricaria recutita) is one of the few medicinal herbs that’s more of a household name. Although nonnative to Ontario, Canada, it’s an annual that isn’t much of a garden escapee. You’re unlikely to find it in the wild. And if you did find it, it’s likely near someone’s garden … [Read more…]
Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a widely recognizable edible and medicinal herb that is most common throughout the temperate regions of North America and Europe. Dandelion being easily identifiable is often the gateway plant to exploring foraging. It’s especially dandy for beginner foragers, being generally safe to eat and thanks to the entire plant being edible … [Read more…]
Most local knapweeds (Centaurea spp.) look similar to bull thistle or Canada thistle. However, you’re more likely to find your knapweed in patches instead of lone like bull thistles. Spotted knapweed (C. maculosa) is noted in Haliburton Flora on the edge of the highway, which is where I’ve seen it too. Another Centaurea is bachelor’s … [Read more…]
Asters are all-stars for pollinators and they’re also somewhat edible and medicinal. The American asters (Symphyotrichum spp. formerly included in Aster spp.) are native to the Americas. A single species, S. ciliatum, is also native to eastern Eurasia. We are fortunate to have many of these late summer and autumn blooming, wildlife supporting all-stars. Some are truly … [Read more…]
Beggarsticks (Bidens spp.) may look like flowers to choke on, but they are more edible and medicinal than they appear. We currently have around half a dozen species of beggarticks (Bidens spp.) in Haliburton county, Ontario. But the only one I’ve noticed is devil’s beggarticks (Bidens frondosa). It’s fairly common in waste areas, sand flats … [Read more…]