Lambsquarters AKA Wild Spinach - Healthier Than Spinach? Wild Edible Identification and Description
Вставка
- Опубліковано 26 чер 2021
- Here's my Facebook page
/ okanagangardenerandfor...
Here is my Instagram page
/ okanagan_gardenerandfo...
Lambsquarters, Wild Spinach, Goosefoot, Lambs's Quarters, Lamb's-Quarters - Chenopodium album
Lambsquarters, sometimes spelled Lamb's-Quarters, or Wild Spinach is a Wild edible plant found throughout North America. It's scientific name is Chenopodium album. It is also sometimes known as goosefoot, fat hen, and pigweed.
What's so good about it?
Lambsquarters has more fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, calcium, zinc, copper, and manganese in it than spinach according to some sources. It is also a source of potassium, omega-3s, folic acid, and iron. It can be eaten raw or cooked. The seeds, leaves and stems are all edible. The seeds can also be used as a seasoning or a coffee substitute, and they can dried and ground and used as a flour substitute. It is said that Napoleon used the seed to make a black bread to feed his troops.
How do I identify it?
The leaves are highly variable. Typically they are triangular to lance shaped. One of the names goosefoot is apparently inspired by the goosefoot like shape the leaves sometimes take. I often think they are shaped like arrowheads. The leaves are somewhat firm or fleshy and are covered with small particles that give the plant some water resistance. The particles can be rubbed off which can help with identifying it. Typically they grow 30 cm to 1 metre tall but can get taller than that in good growing conditions.
Where can you find it?
It can be found all across North America and can be found at low to mid elevations, on disturbed sites, gardens, roadsides, and fields.
Anything else I should know?
The leaves have been applied topically as a wash or poultice for insect bites, sunburns, burns, and swollen feet. The leaves have also been used to prevent scurvy and to treat stomachaches.
Toxicity
Saponins in the seeds should not be consumed excessively. Also the plant contains oxalic acid which can block the absorption of certain nutrients. However, oxalic acid is mostly removed by cooking.
Please consume wild plants at your own risk! Consult multiple reliable sources before consuming any wild plants! This video is for information and entertainment only!
References
Kallas, John. Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate. Gibbs Smith. 2010.
MacKinnon, A. Edible and Medicinal Plants of Canada. Lone Pine Media Productions (BC) Ltd. 2014.
Parish, R.; Coupe, R.; and Lloyd, D. Plants of the Inland Northwest and Southern Interior British Columbia. BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. 2018 - Навчання та стиль
In the video I mention toxicity, but I think this is not a very serious concern for this plant. Saponins in the seeds should not be consumed excessively. Also the plant contains oxalic acid which can block the absorption of certain nutrients. However, oxalic acid is mostly removed by cooking. Make sure you do your own research and listen to your body when you try any wild edible!
Had 1 in my garden last year, and didn't know much about it. I just let it grow, experimented with recipes and the flavors of the plant through it's growing season. Often greens get very bitter once it's hot.
At the end of the season, i let it go to seed. It had reached about 6ft.! It was huge and looked more like a tree sappling or a shrub than a "weed".
This year I have literally thousands not just in that garden, but all over my property especially in my garden spaces. I'm assuming birds scattered the seeds for me. No bother. I see it more like a spring cover crop keeping the grass and other more nuance weeds at bay with their canopy.
This season, I've let them take off (to a reasonable harvest size, forearm length) and am using it for fodder for our hogs & some for our goats. They both really love this highly nutritious wild edible. And I am happy to feed it to them.
Since I know now that a few will keep my family and I in wild greens for a season, the majority will go to feed our animals.
This and lady's thumb are so prolific in my area, I will continue to allow self seeding, suppling me with a huge mid spring, 100% FREE, fodder option.
Loving this weed.
Wow! Thank you for sharing! I let one or two go as well, and now I should have lots!
On impulse, I picked up weed in the backyard and tasted some of it, and it was mild flavored; it reminded me of the stuff that my mom used to make. She called a pig weed or wild spinach and it was delectable. I put it in the fridge and boiled it with a little bit of butter and salt, put some dried onion flakes in there, a little Dash of milk; absolutely delectable. the dogs got some, they were impressed
That sounds pretty delicious! Thanks!
Very beautiful plants, and very educational video.
Thank you so much!
This is growing everywhere in my yard I think- it’s invasive, but also protects my other veggies bc the bugs eat these instead lol
U have very beautiful jungle.
Thank you!
Your friend is kinda cute.
Maybe a bit of a meathead, but I think he has a good heart!
I think the host is kinda cute.
❤❤❤❤❤ I just found some these are amazing 😊
Nice! They're great I think.
@@OkanaganGardenerandForager I just transplanted them hope they survive.. 👀🧚🏻♀️🌱🌝
I hope so, too!
I dry it for a super green powder for green drinks !
Nice! Good call!
Can you eat roots of wild spinach?
That's a big lambs quarter
Yeah, it got pretty healthy growing in our garden!
I’m surprised you didn’t take a hose to that prowler on your property….
Haha! Especially when he was trying to destroy the Lambsquarters, right?
Especially then. But, at least you helped feed that hobo for a day.
Sharing is caring!
I know it as fat hen
Yes, I think that's a common name for a lot of people.