EatTheWeeds: Episode 23: Pennyworts

[niamh2739]

there are so many different plants weeds mushrooms here in florida in an abundance sometimes and I never know whats what. I think you should take a field trip to south florida like uhm ... miami, palm beach, or port st. lucie and do something on things here. I amsure that you will find something that will interest you.

[EatTheWeeds]

@niamh2739 I hold classes there regularly. The schedule is on my website. In fact I have a class in West Palm Beach this Sunday, July 17th.

[OmegaSeekerr]

Thank you! I am going to quit pulling them up & start watering them! Do you have one here about Amaranth? What Peanut fFarmers up here call Pigweed and spray against! It grows wild in my big yard. I already know what a blessing that really is and never pull it up except to eat it no matter where it decides to grow, but I can use pointers.. We should be growing IT instead of the peanuts!

[OmegaSeekerr]

@OmegaSeekerr Never mind I just found the pig weed one.

[Lester284L]

do you know if corn speedwell is edible? i have a ton of it around my house

[EatTheWeeds]

@Lester284L I have no references to Veronica arvensis, thus I would assume no until proven otherwise.

[hellerZauberer]

First one reminds me of miner's lettuce.

[cottonseedbks]

Really enjoyed this video... you covered everything so thoroughly. I live in the desert, so I don't know if I will encounter a pennywort, but it looks familiar.

[EatTheWeeds]

Thanks for writing... look for spigots and irrigation systems.

[ln4359]

Ate a pennywort, my 1st foraged food ever to go into my mouth. Collected some acorns and put them in the freezer is that okay?

[EatTheWeeds]

Yes, but it's easier to shell them first.

[EatTheWeeds]

There are size limits... the marsh pennwort can easily grow a foot tall.

[AsperGirl]

These comments are great. Thanks to those who post them.

[Shreelar]

I don't think mine is pennywort. Glad to hear you take requests. I'd like to see one on purslane vs spurge, and then one on cleavers/goosegrass too. I'm pretty sure about the cleavers, but when I find the purslane/spurge, the only way I've read to tell the difference is to break the stem to see if there's any milky sap. PS: I can't get your site's XML/feed to load in Google Reader, Bloglines, or even Firefox. A single page loads what seems to be all your posts, and it's named 197

[EatTheWeeds]

Purslane and purge are quite different. Purslane is plump, spurge is not and spurge has white sap. I am computer challenged and do not know what XLM/Feed is ... MAC has limited formats so I had to load the article like a blog, and to arrange them used future dates. I'd like to make them into a descent website some day.

[Shreelar]

We covered the area where there were lots of purslane/spurge; I'll find a new spot where it's growing to tell. XML newsfeed is like an auto-notifier so all us readers that "follow" your blog's "newsfeed" will be notified each time you write a new article, like how YouTube shows your subscribed channels' newest movies when you load YT's home page. Do wordpress com's accounts with a throw-away nickname. I believe they're the most popular full service/free blogging., Mac/Win doesn't matter. Later!

[RackAttack8BC]

QUOTE: "I'd like to make them into a descent website some day."

ANSWER: I've made & kept up many a website in my day. However, I must admit that I'm quite burnt out at it. In fact one of my Internet Nicknames used to be "Defessus," which I'm sure form the "dead language" you can find the amusing part in there. - Anyhow, once I "catch-up" on your vids & get to your current one's, maybe I'll drop you a line & at least point you in the right direction in this regard. TTUL (Talk To yoU Later)

[EatTheWeeds]

Thanks... I was thinking of someone local who wants to know foraging and swap that for a site. I'm with MAC now.

[RackAttack8BC]

Yep, that might work out better for you. Good luck (AND DID YOU ALL HEAR THAT TECHIES!?) ... talk to you again probably, cya

[EatTheWeeds]

Looks like a field pea, or bean... the problem with wild peas/beans is that most of them are toxic. One in fact is deadly, more toxic than arsenic... they are best avoided unless positively IDed.

[dkistner1111]

Oh, that's very good to know! Funny how they call to me to eat them.

I want to recommend a really inspiring book to folks here: The Lost Language of Plants. I had no idea how smart plants are! Smarter than me, that's for sure....

[RackAttack8BC]

Here's another name for people to look up on the Internet: "Cleve Baxter" or his book: "Primary Perception" If you look up this guy's name, and you see those words or "plants" in general associated with him, you know you have the right guy. YT frowns on posting links, but if you take the book name; remove the space; add the usual after it; you have the site. If you (dkistner1111) like the idea of "smart plants" this info. will "blow your mind." Have fun. (What U think of Cleve's work Deane???)

[dkistner1111]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll go find it!

[dkistner1111]

I was out today, totally maddened, trying to re-find the name of the weed that looks like a sicklepod but is not; the one that, young, has varying shades of green leaves, from pale to dark. What is it called? I think it had uses as a medicinal herb. I'd sure like to know what it is.

Would pennywort compete well against it, do you think? I've got the silver dollar weed version; I've always thought it's very pretty. Are pennyworts at all related to nasturtiums?

[EatTheWeeds]

To my knowledge they are not related but their leaves have similar construction. Do you have a picture of your mystery plant?

[dkistner1111]

I just emailed you pictures of the mystery plant. I couldn't figure out how to post them here, but you are welcome to use those photos if you wish, if they are instructive.

Thanks!

[EatTheWeeds]

Gotu kola ... then you have the right one. Floridians virtually pay millions to get rid of it... eat the weeds I say...

[avaleila]

Oh yes it is, you will probably be horrified to know that I actually bought it from Flower Power, my local nursery. It grows like crazy on neglect. Also known as Gotu Kola.

[avaleila]

OH thank you so much for this blog. So much appreciated. I grow this in my garden and have read countless articles about how amazingly good for you this herb is. You are very sweet.

[EatTheWeeds]

My pleasure, just make sure it is a pennywort.