Comestiveis silvestres hiding in plain sight

Cantharellus cibarius

Prized golden-orange mushroom with a fruity apricot aroma. Funnel-shaped with false gills.

Morchella esculenta

Distinctive honeycomb-patterned cap. One of the most sought-after wild mushrooms.

Taraxacum officinale

Common lawn weed that's entirely edible. Leaves, flowers, and roots all have uses.

Sambucus nigra

Clusters of small dark purple berries on large shrub. Used medicinally and culinarily.

Stellaria media

Low-growing, mat-forming plant with small white star-shaped flowers.

Morus spp.

Prolific fruiting tree found throughout American cities. Berries resemble elongated blackberries.

Oxalis spp.

Clover-like leaves with heart-shaped leaflets. Tart lemony flavor.

Pleurotus ostreatus

Fan-shaped shelf mushroom growing in overlapping clusters on wood.

Allium tricoccum

Broad-leaved wild onion with strong garlic aroma. Highly prized by chefs.

Tilia spp.

Large shade tree with heart-shaped leaves and fragrant yellow flowers in early summer.

Laetiporus sulphureus

Bright orange and yellow shelf fungus. Named for its chicken-like texture when cooked.

Plantago major

Extremely common weed with broad oval leaves and distinctive parallel veins.

Opuntia spp.

Flat-padded cactus with colorful fruits (tunas). Both pads and fruits are edible.

Rosa spp.

The fruit of wild roses. Small red-orange berry-like structures packed with vitamin C.

Quercus spp.

One of the most abundant wild foods. Every species of oak produces edible acorns after processing.

Chenopodium album

Extremely common and nutritious weed. More nutritious than spinach.

Grifola frondosa

Large cluster of gray-brown overlapping caps. Can grow to enormous sizes.

Portulaca oleracea

Succulent ground-hugging plant with thick reddish stems and small oval leaves.

Pinus edulis

Small edible seeds from pine cones. Commercially expensive but free to forage.

Viola sororia

Small heart-shaped leaves with purple (sometimes white) flowers. Grows in patches.