Lesser Stitchwort / Spring / Summer / Edible Lesser Stitchwort is a common, native wildflower. It belongs to the Carnation or Caryophyllaceae family and as this plant is one of the first to flower in the year; seeing it gets me excited about the coming warmer months. Common Names Lesser…
Category: Plant identification

Salsify / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Salsify is a true culinary delight, it’s a root vegetable with quite distinctive characteristics and is known for its delicate oyster-like flavour. It belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a species that originated in the Mediterranean but it has historical…

Sea Mallow / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Edible Sea Mallow, is a common coastal perennial with distinctive features. Native to coastal regions, it’s often grown as an ornamental inland and is loved by pollinators. Common Names Sea Mallow, Tree Mallow Botanical Name Malva arborea Scientific Classification Kingdom –…

Marsh Samphire / Summer / Edible Marsh samphire is a really exciting coastal plant growing around estuary marshlands, it has a brilliant salty pop. Common Names Samphire, Sea beans, salt fingers, glasswort Botanical Name Salicornia europaea Scientific Classification Kingdom – Plantae Order –Caryophyllales Family – Amaranthaceae Physical Characteristics of Marsh…

Lichens are fascinating symbiotic associations between a fungus (mycobiont) and a green alga or cyanobacterium (photobiont). Through this blog post we’re going to be looking at lichens as food. This relationship can range from mutualism to controlled parasitism. Although the Fungal element of the Lichen does no obvious harm to…

Wintercress / Spring / Winter / Edible Wintercress is a biennial member of the Cabbage family, it’s not overly common but it’s a great plant to find over winter when other greens have disappeared. Common Names Wintercress, Winter cress, Yellow rocket, Herb Barbara, Rocketcress, Winter rocket, Wound rocket Botanical Name…

Alternate-leaved Saxifrage / Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter / Edible There are a couple of types of Saxifrage, they all tend to grow in woodlands and provide good foraging through all seasons. Typically slightly dry but a nice addition to most dishes. Common Names Alternate-leaved Saxifrage Botanical Name…