MONTGOMERY-Numerous plants in the woods of Alabama can be useful for medicinal purposes or for food. For many years, plants and trees were the sole basis for almost all medicines and they continue to influence the pharmaceutical field. Most of the plants in Alabama are harmless, but some can be irritating or dangerous, so make sure to identify the plant you are using. Wild edible plant guides are available from a variety of sources such as libraries, online retailers and book stores.
Two of the most used plants in Alabama by humans are blackberry and muscadine, which are plentiful during the summer and early fall throughout Alabama. They are tasty when ripe and often used for homemade jellies and jams.
The persimmon tree’s fruit is ripe during the fall, but it may be too bitter to use unless a few frosts have come through your part of the state in late October.
A plant many people overlook when it comes to edibles is the common cattail. A mostly aquatic plant, the root tastes similar to a raw potato and is filled with energy-producing starches.
Pecan and black walnut trees are easily found near old home sites throughout the Southeast and provide valuable sources of calories in a small package.
Cattails
The common dandelion is a well-known yard weed whose bright yellow flower is unmistakable and edible. The “greens,” or base, of this plant is also edible and the dandelion can probably be found right out your back door.
Pokeweed leaves (poke salad) can be eaten if picked when young and tender and boiled. After the berries form on the plant it becomes mildly toxic and must be washed and cooked thoroughly.
Many plants have useful properties beyond their edibility. The root of the yucca, or bear grass, plant can be mashed up to create a liquid that can be used as soap. The stalk can be used as a drill for making primitive fire sets. The white petals of the flower can be eaten alone or added to a salad to create color for of an otherwise dull green meal. The pointed sharp tip on the end of the yucca leaf has been called “Adam’s needle” and can be used to sew thin fabric for speedy repairs in the wilderness using shredded leaves as a type of cordage or “thread.”
Jewelweed
Jewelweed is a plant known for relieving the pain and itching associated with poison ivy. Fortunately, both plants are often found in the same vicinity. The bark of red oak trees can be boiled in water and used to soothe sore throats. Young red maple trees can be easily bent to form a rigid framing for primitive structures, and even makeshift boats or canoes because of its flexibility as a sapling. The willow tree has a substance similar to aspirin in its bark that can be chewed or boiled in water as a headache relief substitute.
There are many other types of plants within Alabama with useful properties. With a knowledge gained from an identification book or field guide, you can learn to recognize and use some of the free and natural resources surrounding you. The Foxfire series of books provides a wealth of knowledge on this subject.
Brandon Howell is Wildlife Biologist supervising the activities on Choccolocco and Little River Wildlife Management Areas
