List of Wild Edible Seed-Plants
List of plants and the parts that can be used as food in emergency situations.
English names in alphabetical order.
Based on a survey by Stefan Källman
TEH 1997
GT - Seeds found in Grauballe- and Tolundman, Denmark, 300 BC.
R - Herbs used in Røseng’s Wild Herb Mixture
N - Plants grown in the Herb Garden of the Botanical Garden, University of Oslo
| Alnus sp. | Alder | Bark, bud, leaf | ||
| Bartsia alpina | Alpine Bistort | Leaf | ||
| Cardamine bellidifolia | Alpine Bitter-Cress | Leaf, juice | ||
| Ribes alpinum | Alpine Currant | Berries | N | |
| Arabis alpina | Alpine Rock-Cress | Fresh leaves and flowers | ||
| Angelica archangelica | Angelica | Stalk pith, root | N | |
| Malus sp. | Apple | Fruit | ||
| Rubus articus | Arctic Bramble | Berries | N | |
| Sagittaria sagittifolia | Arrowhead | Tubers (dried or cooked) | ||
| Asarum europaeum | Asarabacca | Root (to be cooked) | N | |
| Impatiens sp. | Balsam | Against insect bite | ||
| Berberis vulgaris | Barberry | Berries | ||
| Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Bearberry | Berries | N | |
| Fagus silvatica | Beech | Young leaves, Beech-nut (coffee substitute) | ||
| Campanula sp. | Bellflower | Leaf, root | GT, R | |
| Vaccinium myrtillus | Bilberry, Blaeberry, Wortleberry | Berries | N | |
| Betula sp. | Birch | Inner bark, sap, bud, leaf | ||
| Prunus padus | Bird-Cherry | Berries | ||
| Polygonum bistorta = Bistorta major | Bistort, Snakeweed | Leaves, sprouts, stalk, root | ||
| Lathyrus montanus | Bitter Vetch | Flower, tuber | ||
| Arctostaphylos alpina | Black Bearberry | Berries | ||
| Ribes nigrum | Black Currant | Beries | N | |
| Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn, Sloe | Berries | N | |
| Silene cucubalus | Bladder Campion | Root | ||
| Lactuca alpina= Cicerbita alpina | Blue Sow-Thistle | Leaves, stalk pith | ||
| Calla palustris | Bog Arum | Earth stem (to be cooked, dried) | ||
| Myrica gale | Bog Myrtle, Sweet gale | Leaves against insect bite | ||
| Vaccinium uliginosum | Bog Wortleberry | Berries | N | |
| Menyanthes trifoliata | Bogbean, Buckbean | Root (to be brined, diluted) | N | |
| Ranunculus bulbosus | Bolbous Buttercup | Tuber, stalk basis | ||
| Potamogeton natans | Broad Leaved Pond Weed | Root | ||
| Orobanche sp. | Bromrape | Earth stem, root | ||
| Scirpus lacustris | Bulrush | Root, root shoot | ||
| Sparganium sp. | Bur-Reed | Tuber | ||
| Arctium sp. | Burdock | Flowerstalk, root | N | |
| Vicia sepium | Bush Vetch | Seed | ||
| Petasites frigidus | Butterbur | Leaf | ||
| Cirsium oleraceum | Cabbage Thistle | Young leaves | ||
| Silene sp. | Campion | Root | ||
| Phalaris canariensis | Canary-Grass | Young plants, fruit (raw or cooked) | ||
| Carum carvi | Caraway | Leaf, seed, root | R, N | |
| Ranuncuus scleratus | Celery-Leaved Buttercup | Tuber ( must be cooked first) | ||
| Allium schoenoprasum | Chices | Onion, leaf | N | |
| Rubus chaemorus | Cloudberry | Berries | N | |
| Trifolium sp. | Clover | Young leaves, flowers | GT, N | |
| Vaccinium vitis-idaea | Coeberry | Berries | N | |
| Stellaria media | Common Chickweed | Leaves, whole plant | GT, R | |
| Eriophorum angustifolium | Common Cotton-grass | Young stalk basis and shoots, earth stem | ||
| Oenothera biennis | Common Evening Primrose | Young shoots, fruit, root (to be cooked) | ||
| Juniperus communis | Common Juniper | Leaves (herb tea), berries (food, medicine) | N | |
| Chenopodium album | Common Lambsquarter | Leaf, stalk, seed | GT | |
| Phragmites communis | Common Reed | Root, fruit | GT | |
| Drosera rotundifolia | Common Sundew | Leaf (medicine) | ||
| Potentilla erecta | Common Tormentil | Tannic acid (medicinal) | GT, N | |
| Agropyron repens = Elymus repens (L.) Gould | Couch-grass, Twitch | Root | ||
| Anthriscus silvestris | Cow Parsley | Leaf, root (to be cooked) | N | |
| Heracleum spondiphyllum | Cow Parsnip, Hogweed, Keck | Young shoot (can be cooked) | ||
| Primula veris | Cowslip | (medicinal) | R, N | |
| Campanula rapunculoides | Creeping Bellflower | Root | R, N | |
| Potentilla reptans | Creeping Cinquefoil | Root (raw or cooked) | ||
| Rumex crispus | Curled Dock | Young leaves, seed | ||
| Taraxacum sp. | Dandelion | Leaves, flower, root | N | |
| Rubus coryfolium = Rubus caesius | Dewberry | Berries | ||
| Rumex sp. | Dock, Sorrel | Leaves, seed, root | GT | |
| Filipendula vulgaris | Dropwort | Tubers (fried or cooked) | ||
| Oenanthe sp. | Dropwort | Tubers (must be cooked, very poisonous!) | ||
| Cornus suecica | Dwarf Cornell | Berries (leaves as tobacco) | ||
| Salix herbacea | Dwarf Willow, Least Willow | Leaves | ||
| Lathyrus tuberosus | Earth-Nut Pea | Flower, tuber | ||
| Zostera marina | Eel-Grass, Grass-Wrack | Leaves (shoot) | ||
| Sambucus sp. | Elder | Flowers, berries | N | |
| Smilacina stellata | False Solomons-Seal | Leaves, bulbs | N | |
| Sonchus arvensis | Field Sow Thistle | Leaves (not spikes), stem (not bark), root | ||
| Chamaenerion angustifolium = Epilobium angustifl. | Fireweed, Rosebay Willow Herb | Young shoot, leaf, root, stalk pith | R | |
| Glyceria fluitans | Floating Sweet-grass, Flote-grass | Fruit | ||
| Butomus umbellatus | Flowering Rush | Root | ||
| Prunus avium | Gean, Wild Cherry | Beries | ||
| Heracleum laciniatum | Giant Hogweed | Leaf, root (salt substitute) | ||
| Salicornia europaea | Glasswort, Marsh Samphire | Shoot, whole plant | ||
| Tragopogaon pratensis | Goatsbeard | Leaves, root | N | |
| Aegopodium podagraria | Goatweed, BishopÕs Weed | Leaf | ||
| Camelina sativa | Gold of Pleasure | Oil (seed) | GT | |
| Solidago sp. | Golden Rod | Seed | ||
| Ribes uva-crispa | Gooseberry | Beries | N | |
| Chenopudium sp. | Goosefoot | Leaf, stalk | GT, R, N | |
| Typha latifolia | Great Reedmace | Stalk pith, flower stalk, root pith | ||
| Fragaria virides | Green Strawberry | Leaves, berries | ||
| Mertensia maritima | Grey Northern Shorewort, Oyster Plant | Young stalks | ||
| Viburnum opulus | Guelder Rose | Berries | ||
| Lycopus europaeus | Gypsy-Wort | Root, tuber | ||
| Crataegus sp. | Hawthorn | Leaf-buds, leaves, berries | ||
| Corylus avelana | Hazel, Cob-nut | Nuts | ||
| Humulus lupulus | Hop | Young trunk shoots, female fl. (strobilius) | N | |
| Sempervivum tectorum | Houseleek | Leaves | ||
| Juncus alpinus = J. alpinoarticulatus Vill. | Jointed Rush | Stalk basis | ||
| Empetrum nigrum | Krekling | Berries | N | |
| Alchemilla sp. | LadyÕs Mantle | Leaf | GT, R, N | |
| Cardamine pratensis | LadyÕs Smock, Cuckoo Flower | Leaf, juice | ||
| Larix sp. | Larch | Innerbark | ||
| Campanula latifolia | Large Bellflower | Young buds, leaves, root | R | |
| Oxycoccus quadripetalum | Large Craneberry | Berries | ||
| Ledum palustre | Ledum | Medicinal | ||
| Ranunculus ficaria | Lesser Celandine | Tubers (poisonous, to be heated or cooked) | ||
| Typha angustifolia | Lesser Reedmace | Stalk pith, flower stalk, root pith | ||
| Lilium sp. | Lily | Bulb | ||
| Tilia sp. | Lime, Linden | Young leaves, flowers | ||
| Rumex longiforius | Long Leaved Dock | Leaves, seed, root | ||
| Pedicularis sp. | Lousewort | Root | ||
| Elymus arenarius = Leymus arenarius (L.) Hochst. | Lyme-grass | Fruits | ||
| Malva sp. | Mallow | Root | N | |
| Hippuris vulgaris | MareÕs Tail | Salty taste | ||
| Ammophila arenaria | Marram grass | Root | ||
| Stachys palustris | Marsh Betony, Marsh Woundwort | Tuber | ||
| Althaea officinalis | Marsh Mallow | Root | N | |
| Catha palustrias | Marsh Marigold | Leaf (note: to be cooked) | N | |
| Senecio palustris = Senecio congestus | Mash Fleawort | Leaves, stalk | ||
| Filipendula ulmaria | Meadowsweet | Leaves, flowers (medicine) | N | |
| Empetrum hermaphroditum | Montain Cowberry | Berries | ||
| Silene acaulis | Moss Campion | Root | ||
| Pedicularis hirsuta | Mountain Lousewort | Root | ||
| Oxyria digyna | Mountain Sorrel | Leaf | N | |
| Artemisia vulgaris | Mugwort | Leaf (medicine) | ||
| Urtica dioica | Nettle | Leaves | R, N | |
| Urtica sp. | Nettle | Leaves | R | |
| Carex aquatilis | Norhern Aquatic Sedge | Tuber, stalk basis | ||
| Acer platanoides | Norway Maple | Leaf, sap | ||
| Quercus sp. | Oak | Leaves, acorn (tannic acid) | ||
| Atriplex sp. | Orache | Leaf, seed | R, N | |
| Orchis sp. | Orchid | Tubers | ||
| Sedum maximum | Orpine, Livelong | Leaves, root | N | |
| Polygonum lapathifolum = Persicaria lapathifolium | Pale Persicaria | Leaf, root (to be cooked) | GT | |
| Lathyrus sp. | Pea, Vetch | Flower, tuber | ||
| Pinus sp. | Pine | Shoot, innerbark | ||
| Plantago sp. | Plantain | Young leaves | GT, R | |
| Potamogeton sp. | Pondweed | Root | ||
| Populus sp. | Poplar | Innerbark | ||
| Saxifraga oppositifolia | Purple Saxifrage | Flowers | ||
| Allium ursinum | Ramsons | Onion, leaf | N | |
| Rubus idaeus | Raspberry | Leaves , berries | R, N | |
| Ribes rubrum | Red Currant | Beries | N | |
| Lamium purpureum | Red Dead-Nettle | Leaves (before flowering) | ||
| Rumex acetosa | Red Sorrel, Sheep Sorrel | Leaves | GT, N | |
| Rubus saxatilis | Rock Bramble | Berries | ||
| Rosa sp. | Rose | Leaves, flower petals, fruit | R, N | |
| Sedum rosea | Roseroot, Midsummer-Men | Leaves, shoot, root (cook the old) | N | |
| Sorbus aucuparia | Rowan, Mountain Ash | Berries | ||
| Saxifraga sp. | Saxifrage | Flowers | ||
| Cochlearia officinalis | Scurvy-grass | Leaf, stalk | N | |
| Triglochin maritimum | Sea Arrow-Grass | Young leaves, stalks (to be cooked) | ||
| Hippophae rahmnoides | Sea Buckthorn | Berries (nut), flower axle | N | |
| Scirpus maritimus | Sea Club-Rush | Root | ||
| Limonium vulgare | Sea Lavender | Stalk basis (to be cooked) | ||
| Cakile maritima | Sea Rocket | Leaf, young stalks | ||
| Crambe maritima | Seakale | Leaf, flower | R, N | |
| Carex sp. | Sedge | Tuber | GT | |
| Capsella bursa-pastoris | ShepherdÕs Purse | Very young shoot,leaf | GT | |
| Potentilla fruticosa | Shrubby Cinquefoil | Leaf (herbal tea) | N | |
| Allium sibiricum | Siberian Chives | Onion, leaf | N | |
| Heracleum sibiricum | Sibirean Hogweed | Leaf root | ||
| Potentilla anserina | Silverweed | Leaf, root | ||
| Oxycoccus microcarpus | Smal Craneberry | Berries | ||
| Tilia cordata | Small-Leaved Lime | Young leaves, flowers | ||
| Veronica sp. | Speedwell | (medicinal) | GT | |
| Picea abies | Spruce | Shoot, innebark | ||
| Ornithogalum umbellatum | Star-of-Bethlehem | Bulbs | ||
| Sorbus intermedia | Swedish Service Tree | Berries | ||
| Polygonatum officinalis = Polygonatum odoratum | Sweet Scented SolomonÕs Seal | Tubers (grind or cook) | ||
| Viola odorata | Sweet Violet | Leaves, flowers | ||
| Vicia cracca | Tufted Vetch | Seed | ||
| Valeriana sp. | Valerian | Root (medicinal) | N | |
| Viola sp. | Violet | Root (emetic, agent for throwing up) | N | |
| Bistorta vivipara = Polygonum viviparum | Viviparous Bistort | Leaves, sprouts, stalk, root | ||
| Lactuca muralis | Wall Lettuce | Leaves, stalk pith | ||
| Sium latifolium | Water Parsnip | Root | N | |
| Alisima plantago - aquatica | Water plantain | Root tubers | ||
| Lamium album | White Dead-Nettle | Leaves (before flowering) | ||
| Nymphea sp. | White Water-Lily | Seed, root | ||
| Angelica sylvestris | Wild Angelica | Stalk pith, root | ||
| Dryas octopetala | Wild Betony, Mountain Avens | Leaf | ||
| Pastinaca sativa | Wild Parsnip | Root | N | |
| Fragaria vesca | Wild Strawberry | Leaves, berries | N | |
| Thymus sepyllum | Wild Thyme | Leaves (medicinal) | ||
| Salix sp. | Willow | Leaves, innebark | ||
| Barbarea vulgaris | Wintercress | Leaf | ||
| Scirpus silvaticus | Wood Club-Rush | Stalk pith, root | ||
| Ulmus glabra | Wych Elm | Bark, inner bark, young fruits | ||
| Gagea lutea | Yellow Star-of-Bethlehem | Leaf, onoin | ||
| Nuphar sp. | Yellow Water-Lily | Seed, root | ||
This list is from “A literature study that is important for the knowledge and ideas about the selection and nutrtional values of wild Swedish plants
that can be used as food in emergency situations” by Stefan Källman, 1980, FAO Report D 54012-H2, Sweden.
Recommended literature:
“Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants”
Stephen Facciola, 1990,
ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
“Handbook of Edible Weeds”
James A. Duke, 1992
ISBN 0-8493-4225-2
“The Book of Herbal Wisdom - Using Plants as Medicine”
Matthew Wood, 1997
ISBN 1-55643-232-1
“Vilda växter som mat & medicin”
Stefan Källman, 1997
ISBN 91-534-1690-2
TEH
1997