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closeHumans owe our continued existence on Earth to the fact that we have adapted eat or use a wide variety of plants and that many others are benign in their effects. Still there is a lengthy list of vegetable type matter around the globe that are not nutritious, therapeutic or utilitarian and which should be neither handled nor ingested.
Given the potential for a broad range of reactions (from mildly irritating to fatal) to the biochemistry of plants means that each of us must become aware of our own potential reactions to them) as well as educated in what these plants look like to avoid mishaps with them. As always when outdoors, young children should be watched for what they get into and what they put into their mouths.
1. Leafy plants
Besides the common nettle, in northwest Washington, the only native woodland plant posing a significant risk of skin irritation is poison oak. But many other plants produce alkaloids that are carried in their saps. While the leaves and flowers cause no reaction, smearing the sap on skin could result in a rash or blisters. A good rule of thumb when there is the chance of coming in contact with them is to wear long sleeves, pants and gloves. Also beware of smoke from burn piles bearing these reactionary oils or saps as well as pets that could bring in these irritating substances home on their coats.
2. Berries
Fruits of native or introduced vines and shrubs offer the greatest variety of seasonal edible delights for the everyday gatherer in Northwest Washington. Whether red, blue, black or orange, many are inherently safe to pick and consume, though washing before eating is always a good rule. But avoid the pitfall of the hackneyed rule that suggests berry color is an absolute in judging either suitability or palatability. Poisonous fruits include the red or dark berries of nightshade plants, orange-colored mountain ash berries and the white baneberry fruits. Also, while fruit flesh is okay to eat, seeds or pits can contain toxic substances.
3. Mushrooms
Rational rules of thumb for mushrooms are to not eat any unless you’ve been trained to positively and absolutely identify them as edible and you have carefully test sampled them in the past. While morels, shaggy manes, chanterelles and pines (Matsutakes) found growing here all have distinctive shapes recognizable by relative novices, some other edible fungi occasionally have poisonous lookalike or mimicking opposites that can induce hallucinogenic or fatal reactions. Some field fungi are unlawful to harvest and possess. Check the knowledge of persons who offer you gathered mushrooms or a dish made with them to make certain they know their fungi. Wild-crafters and naturopathic specialists will tell you that there is a fine line between a medicinal use of plant or vegetable substance and a toxic response. Allergic reactions or idiosyncratic sensitivities should always be a concern when you are about to eat an acknowledged, but unusual edible plant for the first time. Take a reasoned approach, don’t launch into an exploration of wild plant, fruits or mushrooms based on folk tale or mystical wisdom. Learn first, then eat just a very small amount and monitor yourself for unusual sensations (tingling in fingers or cheeks, blurring vision, rapid heartbeat or something else) for several hours to a day before eating more. Keep in mind, too, that the ingesting of toxic plants is a frequent cause of pet or livestock maladies. Consult general guidebooks for various plant families, reputable wild crafter books or the poison control center for information on toxic plants and symptomology. Some plant chemicals if smeared on your skin can make you susceptible sunlight causing burns.
Helpful online sources:
www.piercecountycd.org/tip_toxicplnts_p.html
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