The Foraging Center
A Place to Explore the Edible Flora
Welcome,
This website displays my books and connects to my videos. "The Botany of Survival" is my main piece of work. It's a 1,280-page book and all the pages are here at "The Foraging Center." Most of my foraging experience is in the southwestern United States, but I also foraged in other regions. The "Foraging in a Nutshell" video provides an introduction to edible plants in the Great Lakes region. This video is more concise than my work in the Southwest, but the final version will have a lot more content. I spent over 20 years working on these projects and a lot of that work was done on a mountain bicycle. My other book "The Two-wheel Botanist" is a collection of true stories highlighting some of the more precarious situations I ran into on my treks in the Southwest. It's the story behind the story for anyone interested in a travel narrative.
Enjoy the site, and always forage safe,
The author.
Foraging safety and guidelines:
*****
Never eat anything you can't identify.
Consider everything poisonous until proven non-poisonous.
Misidentification of species can be harmful—or even fatal.
Safety data on wild foods is often scarce or inadequate.
Many wild “foods” are not fit for consumption.
Beware of food allergies.
People on special diets should be extra careful with wild foods.
People with health issues should consult a physician before eating wild foods.
Know where information comes from and verify all references.
Use multiple sources to check references to edibility.
Consider taking a college class on botany.
Verify edible plants with a local expert.
Verify medicinal plants with a doctor.
Know the specific parts that are edible.
Know the proper times to gather the edible parts.
Processing is often required to make wild foods safe to eat.
Know exactly how to prepare the edible parts.
Pollution frequently contaminates plants.
Only gather from clean environments.
Only healthy plants should be consumed.
Molds, fungi, diseases, and bugs can make wild foods inedible.
Aquatic plants should always be cooked to kill any waterborne parasites.
Parasites can also live in moist soil.
Know the poisonous plants, so that you can avoid them.
Also, know the protected plants, so that you can avoid them as well.
Be aware of laws about plants.
Respect conservation efforts to help ensure a future supply of plants.
Only harvest things that are common.
Harvesting, processing, or consuming wild foods can cause physical injuries.
Many wild foods have irritating hairs or spines.
Avoid rubbing your eyes when harvesting or processing wild foods.
Do not accidentally inhale chaff when sifting out seeds.
Hard pits or any parts with a rough texture can present a choking hazard.
Large animals may be seeking these foods!
Always be prepared in the wilderness.
Maintain a line of communication in case you need help.
If possible, do not forage alone.
Always forage safe.
Book #1
The Botany of Survival
A Forager's Experience in the American Southwest
Copyright © 2022 Brian Lee Phillips.
All rights reserved and subject to the usage notice below.
Pages = 1,280 - all on this website.
Total # of species with references to edibility = 935
Total # of species found, eaten, and documented = 646
ISBN # 978-0-578-35441-5
Made in U.S.A.
Description:
“The Botany of Survival” is a massive, 1,280-page book that discusses the edibility of virtually every wild food in the southwestern United States, and every page is online here at "The Foraging Center." Coverage is comprehensive and beautifully illustrated with high-quality photography. Articles are based primarily upon field experience to provide first-hand knowledge of the wild foods being discussed. Detailed botanical descriptions are included to assist with identification, along with concerns that are relevant to foragers. This book excels in the number of species that are discussed and includes many species that are almost never discussed elsewhere. In addition to the years of fieldwork, an effort was made to track down the original references to edibility and explain how the wild foods were used in the past. Over 900 species are listed as edible, each with a precise citation to its edibility in published literature. Of these species, about half were located in the wild, documented, and brought to life with over 2,700 photographs. The photographs aim to show features that are useful for identification, as well as the parts that are eaten. Discussions aim to evaluate the true potential of the species to serve as food and answer questions about abundance, reliability, gathering, processing, flavor, texture, and aroma. The area covered extends from the Chihuahuan Desert of western Texas to the Mojave Desert of southern California and northward to central Utah and central Nevada. From the hottest deserts to the highest mountains, wild foods of the region find a place in this monumental work. If the desert is calling you, let this book be your companion on that journey.
Table of Contents:
The webpages on this site are organized by family names.
See the bibliography for references to edibility in published literature.
Overview
The American Southwest
Foraging Basics
Identification Basics
Classification
Safety Concerns
About the Book
A Word from the Author
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Justicia - Chuparosa
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Sambucus - Red and Blue Elderberries
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Mesembryanthemum - Iceplants
Sesuvium - Western Sea Purslane
Trianthema - Desert Horse Purslane
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Alismataceae - Water Plantain Family
Alisma - Water Plantains
Sagittaria - Arrowheads
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Amaranthaceae - Amaranth Family
The former Chenopodiaceae is included here.
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Allenrolfea - Picklebush
Amaranthus - Various species of Amaranth
Atriplex - Saltbrushes
Chenopodium - Goosefoots
Cycloloma - Winged Pigweed
Kochia - Fireweed Kochia and related species.
Krascheninnikovia - Winterfat
Monolepis - Povertyweeds
Salicornia and Sarcocornia - Samphires
Salsola - Tumbleweeds
Suaeda - Seepweeds and Seablites
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Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllis Family
Allium - Wild Onions
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Rhus - Sumacs and Sugarbushes
☠ Poisonous look-a-like: Toxicodendron - Poison Ivy ☠
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Overview of the Parsley Family
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Bowlesia - Rabbit Lettuce
Cymopterus - Wavywings
Daucus - Western and Wild Carrots
Foeniculum - Sweet Fennel
Heracleum - Cow Parsnip
Ligusticum - Osha
☠ Poisonous look-a-like: Conium - Spotted Hemlock ☠
Lomatium - Biscuitroots
Orogenia - Great Basin Indian Potato
Osmorhiza - Sweetroots
Perideridia - Yampas
Pseudocymopterus - Mountain Parsley
Sium - Water Parsnip
☠ Poisonous look-a-like: Cicuta - Water Hemlock ☠
Yabea - Hedge Parsley
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Asclepias - Milkweeds
Funastrum - Milkvines
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Lemna - Duckweeds
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Aralia - American Spikenard
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Washingtonia and Phoenix - Palm Trees
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Asparagaceae - Asparagus Family
Agave - Agaves
Asparagus - Asparagus
Dasylirion - Sotols
Dichelostemma - Snake Lily
Hesperocallis - Ajo Lily
Maianthemum - Solomon Seals
Nolina - Nolinas
Yucca - Yuccas
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Overview of the Sunflower Family
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Agoseris - False and Mountain Dandelions
Antennaria - Pussytoes
Ambrosia - Slimleaf Bursage
Arctium - Common Burdock
Artemisia - Sagebrushes, Sageworts, and Wild Tarragon
Baccharis - Broom and Seepwillow Baccharis
Balsamorhiza - Balsamroots
Bidens - Beggarticks
Carduus - Nodding Thistle
Chloracantha - Spiny Aster
Chrysothamnus - Rabbitbrushes
Cichorium - Chicory
Cirsium - Thistles
Conyza - Common Horseweed
Crepis - Hawksbeards
Cyclachaena - Giant Marshelder
Dicoria - Dune Dicoria
Dyssodia - Prairie Dogweed
Encelia - White Brittlebush
Gaillardia - Red-dome Blanketflower
Galinsoga - Gallant Soldier
Grindelia - Curlycup Gumweed
Helianthus - Sunflowers
Heliomeris - Showy Goldeneye
Hymenopappus - Fineleaf Woollywhite
Hymenoxys - Sneezeweeds
Lactuca - Lettuces
Lasthenia - California Goldfields
Layia - White Tidytips
Leucanthemum - Oxeye Daisy
Lygodesmia - Rushpink and Desert Gum
Madia - Mountain Tarweed
Malacothrix - Desert Dandelions
Microseris - Starpoints and Nodding Silverpuff
Pectis - Chinchweeds
Pluchea - Arrowweed
Porophyllum - Deerweed
Rudbeckia - Cutleaf Coneflower
Solidago - Goldenrods
Sonchus - Sowthistles
Stephanomeria - Brownplume Wirelettuce
Taraxacum - Dandelions
Thelesperma - Greenthreads, Hopi and Navajo Tea
Tragopogon - Salsify
Wyethia - Northern Mule-ears
Xanthium - Cocklebur
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Berberidaceae - Barberry Family
Berberis - Barberries
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Alnus - Gray Alder
Betula - Western Birch
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Chilopsis - Desert Willow
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Bixaceae - Lipstick Tree Family
Amoreuxia - Arizona Yellowshow
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Overview of the Borage Family
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Amsinckia - Fiddlenecks
Eriodictyon - Yerba Santas
Pholisma - Sandfood (federally protected species)
Lithospermum - Stoneseeds
Nama - Purplemat
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Overview of the Mustard Family
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Alyssum - Madworts
Barbarea - Yellowrockets
Brassica - Mustards
Camelina - Littlepod Falseflax
Capsella - Shepherd’s Purse
Cardamine - Heartleaf Bittercress
Cardaria - Heartpod Hoarycress
Caulanthus - Wild Cabbage
Chorispora - Purple Crossflower
Descurainia - Tansymustards
Eruca - Garden Rocket
Lepidium - Pepperweeds
Nasturtium - Watercress
Raphanus - Wild Radish
Sisymbrium - Hedgemustards
Stanleya - Prince’s Plumes
Streptanthus - Heartleaf Jewelflower
Thelypodium - Thelypods
Thlaspi - Field Pennycress
Thysanocarpus - Lacepod
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Overview of the Cactus Family
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Carnegiea - Saguaro Cactus
Cylindropuntia - Chollas
Echinocactus - Eagleclaw and Cottontop
Echinocereus - Hedgehog Cacti
Escobaria - Spinystar Cactus
Ferocactus - Barrel Cacti
Mammillaria - Fishhooks and Pincushions
Opuntia - Pricklypears
Pachycereus - Senita Cactus
Peniocereus - Queen of the Night
Stenocereus - Organpipe Cactus
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Campanulaceae - Bluebell Family
Campanula - Bluebells and Bellflowers
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Celtis - Hackberries
Humulus - Hops
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Caprifoliaceae - Honeysuckle Family
Lonicera - Black Twinberry
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Cerastium - Mouse-ear Chickweed
Pseudostellaria - Sticky Starwort
Stellaria - Common Chickweed
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Cleome - Beeplants
Cleomella - Twisted Cleomella
Peritoma - Spiderbush
Polanisia - Redwhisker Clammyweed
Wislizenia - Jackass Clover
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Commelinaceae - Spiderwort Family
Commelina - Dayflowers
Tradescantia - Spiderworts
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Convolvulaceae - Morning Glory Family
Cuscuta - Dodders
Ipomoea - Morning Glories
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Cornus - Red-osier Dogwood
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Crassulaceae - Stonecrop Family
Dudleya - Rock Lettuce
Rhodiola - King’s and Queen’s Crown
Sedum - Stonecrops
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Apodanthera - Loco Melon
Cucurbita - Gourds
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Juniperus - Junipers
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Carex - Water Sedge
Cyperus - Flatsedges
Scirpus (and Amphiscirpus, Bolboschoenus, Schoenoplectus) - Bulrushes
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Elaeagnaceae - Oleaster Family
Elaeagnus - Russian Olive
Shepherdia - Buffaloberries
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Ephedraceae - Joint-fir Family
Ephedra - Ephedras
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Equisetaceae - Horsetail Family
Equisetum - Horsetails
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Arbutus - Madrones
Arctostaphylos - Bearberries, Manzanitas, and Kinnikinnick
Chimaphila - Pipsissewa
Gaultheria - Alpine Wintergreen
Monotropa - Pinesaps and Indianpipes
Pterospora - Woodland Pinedrops
Vaccinium - Blueberries
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Overview of the Bean Family
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Acacia - Acacias
Cercis - Western Redbud
Dalea - Prairie-clovers
Glycyrrhiza - Wild Licorice
Hedysarum - Chainpods
Hoffmannseggia - Hog Potato
Lathyrus - Peavines
Lotus - Shrubby Deervetch
Medicago - Alfalfa and Medics
Melilotus - Sweetclovers
Olneya - Desert Ironwood
Parkinsonia - Paloverde Trees
Pediomelum - Breadroots
Peteria - Peterias
Phaseolus - Wild Beans
Prosopis - Mesquite Trees
Psoralidium - Scurfpeas
Psorothamnus - Smokebushes
Robinia - Locust Trees
Trifolium - Clovers
Vicia - American Vetch
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Quercus - Oaks
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Fouquieriaceae - Ocotillo Family
Fouquieria - Ocotillo
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Frasera - Elkweed
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Erodium - Filarees
Geranium - Geraniums
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Grossulariaceae - Gooseberry Family
Ribes - Currants and Gooseberries
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Haloragaceae - Watermilfoil Family
Myriophyllum - Watermilfoils
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Hydrangeaceae - Hydrangea Family
Jamesia - American Cliffbush
Philadelphus - Littleleaf Mockorange
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Hydrophyllaceae - Waterleaf Family
Hydrophyllum - Waterleafs
Phacelia - Scorpionweeds
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Juglans - Walnuts
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Juncus - Baltic Rush
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Juncaginaceae - Arrowgrass Family
Triglochin - Seaside Arrowgrass
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Koeberliniaceae - Junco Family
Koeberlinia - Allthorn
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Agastache - Horsemints
Dracocephalum - American Dragonhead
Hyptis - Desert Lavender
Lamium - Clasping Henbit
Lycopus - Bugleweeds
Marrubium - Horehound
Monarda - Beebalms
Monardella - Coyote Mint
Poliomintha - Desert Rosemary
Salvia - Sage and Chia
Stachys - Hedgenettles
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Overview of the Lily Family
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Calochortus - Sego Lilies
Erythronium - Yellow Fawn Lily
Fritillaria - Fritillary
Streptopus - Clasping Twisted Stalk
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Linum - Western Blue Flax
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Mentzelia - Blazingstars
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Anoda - Crested Anoda
Eremalche - Fivespots
Malva - Mallows
Sidalcea - Checkermallows
Sphaeralcea - Globemallows
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Martyniaceae - Unicornplant Family
Proboscidea - Unicornplants
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Molluginaceae - Mollugo Family
Mollugo - Green Carpetweed
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Calandrinia - Desert Redmaids
Cistanthe - Common Pussypaws
Claytonia - Springbeauties and Miner's Lettuce
Lewisia - Bitterroots
Phemeranthus - Orange Flameflower
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Morus - Texas Mulberry
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Nyctaginaceae - Four o'clock Family
Abronia - Snowball Sandverbena
Boerhavia - Spiderlings
Mirabilis - Desert Four o’clock
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Nymphaeaceae - Water Lily Family
Nuphar - Pond Lily
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Forestiera - Desert Olive
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Onagraceae - Evening Primrose Family
Calylophus - Lavender Sundrops
Chylismia - Suncups and Brown Eyes
Chamerion - Red Fireweed
Gaura - Velvetweed
Oenothera - Evening Primroses
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Orobanchaceae - Broomrape Family
Castilleja - Paintbrushes
Orobanche - Broomrapes
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Oxalidaceae - Woodsorrel Family
Oxalis - Woodsorrels
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Eschscholzia - California Poppy
Platystemon - Creamcups
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Mimulus - Monkeyflowers
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Abies - Fir Trees
Picea - Spruce Trees
Pinus - Pinyons and Pine Trees
Pseudotsuga - Douglas Fir
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Plantaginaceae - Plantain Family
Epixiphium - Snapdragon Vines
Hippuris - Common Mare’s Tail
Plantago - Plantains
Veronica - Brooklimes
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Platanaceae - Planetree Family
Platanus - Sycamore Trees
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Overview of the Grass Family
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Achnatherum - Indian Ricegrass
Alopecurus - Short-awn Foxtail
Arundo - Giant Reed
Avena - Wild Oats
Beckmannia - American Sloughgrass
Bouteloua - Grama Grasses
Bromus - Brome Grasses
Cinna - Slender Woodreed
Cynodon - Bermuda Grass
Dactyloctenium - Crowfoot Grass
Deschampsia - Hair Grasses
Distichlis - Desert Saltgrass
Echinochloa - Barnyard Grass
Elymus and Sitanion - Squirreltails
Eragrostis - Love Grasses
Eriochloa - Cup Grasses
Festuca - Alpine Fescue
Glyceria - Manna Grasses
Hordeum - Barleys
Koeleria - Prairie Junegrass
Leptochloa - Sprangletops
Leymus - Wildryes
Lolium - Darnel Ryegrass
Muhlenbergia - Muly Grasses
Panicum - Panic Grasses
Phalaris - Canary Grasses
Phragmites - Common Reed
Pleuraphis - Galleta Grass
Poa - Blue Grasses
Puccinellia - Alkali Grasses
Setaria - Bristle Grasses
Sorghum - Johnson Grass
Sporobolus - Dropseed Grasses
Tridens - Slim Tridens
Tripsacum - Gama-grasses
Trisetum - Spike Trisetum
Vulpia - Fescues
Zea - Corn
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Polygonaceae - Buckwheat Family
Bistorta - Bistorts
Eriogonum - Buckwheats
Oxyria - Alpine Sorrel
Polygonum and Persicaria - Knotweeds
Rumex - Dock, Sorrel, and Rhubarb
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Adiantum - Venus Maidenhair Fern
Polypodium - Western Polypod Fern
Pteridium - Bracken Fern
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Portulacaceae - Purslane Family
Portulaca - Purslanes
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Potamogetonaceae - Pondweed Family
Potamogeton and Stuckenia - Pondweeds
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Dodecatheon - Shootingstars
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Ranunculaceae - Buttercup Family
Aquilegia - Columbines
Caltha - White Marsh Marigold
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Resedaceae - Mignonette Family
Oligomeris - Desert Spike
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Ceanothus - Ceanothus and Deerbrush
Condalia - Condalias
Rhamnus and Frangula - Buckthorns and Coffeeberries
Ziziphus - Graythorns and Jujubes
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Overview of the Rose Family
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Amelanchier - Serviceberries
Argentina - Silverweed
Crataegus - Hawthorns
Dasiphora - Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dryas - Swiss Tea
Fragaria - Wild Strawberries
Geum - Prairie-smoke
Holodiscus - Mountain Spray
Peraphyllum - Skunk Apple
Potentilla - Red Cinquefoil
Prunus - Almonds, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches, and Plums
Rosa - Roses
Rubus - Raspberries, Blackberries, Dewberries, and Thimbleberries
Sanguisorba - Salad Burnet
Sorbus - Western Mountain Ash
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Rubiaceae - Madder Family
Galium - Cleavers
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Ptelea - Common Hoptree
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Populus - Aspen, Cottonwood, and Poplar
Salix - Willows
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Santalaceae - Sandalwood Family
Comandra - Toadflax
Phoradendron - Mistletoes
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Sapindaceae - Soapberry Family
Acer - Maple Trees
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Sarcobataceae – Greasewood Family
Sarcobatus - Black Greasewood
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Saururaceae - Lizardtail Family
Anemopsis - Yerba Mansa
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Saxifragaceae - Saxifrage Family
Heuchera - Coral Bells
Micranthes - Brook Saxifrage
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Simmondsiaceae - Jojoba Family
Simmondsia - Jojoba
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Solanaceae - Nightshade Family
Capsicum - Cayenne Pepper
Chamaesaracha - Greenleaf Five-eyes
Lycium - Wolfberries
Nicotiana - Tobacco (not edible)
Physalis - Groundcherries
Solanum - Wild Potatoes
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Sparganium - Bur-reeds
Typha - Cattails
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Ulmus - Elm Trees
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Parietaria - Pellitory
Urtica - Nettles
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Valerianaceae - Valerian Family
Valeriana - Valerian
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Aloysia - Aloysia and Beebrushes
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Viola - Violets
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Vitis - Canyon Grape
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Zygophyllaceae - Caltrop Family
Larrea - Creosote
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PDF version of "The Botany of Survival"
"The Botany of Survival" will always be free to read on this website, but there's also a pdf version on the Adobe Document Cloud. The pdf version costs $135.00, but since I have no way to process payments at this time, I uploaded a generous preview that anyone can access at no charge. The preview doesn't have all the pages, but this website does. A link to the preview is located below. All versions of this book are subject to the usage notice below.
Usage notice for "The Botany of Survival"
The author reserves the right to change or revoke this notice at any time.
No part of this book or website may be reproduced in any manner except as specified below and all use of it is subject to the following restrictions:
Alterations to the book are strictly prohibited.
No individual, group, organization, company, or business of any kind is allowed to print, edit, duplicate, upload, distribute, display on the Internet, offer for sale, offer for free, claim credit for, or use the book in any unauthorized manner.
Any authorizations for usage beyond this notice require permission from the author.
Permission is granted for an individual to download one copy for "personal use." Personal use means non-commercial, non-public, and non-Internet. It also means that only you can view it. If you own more than one phone, pad, or computer, you can put your copy on a few devices.
Small sections (meaning a few sentences) may be quoted as long as proper citations are provided.
Minors may use the material for school assignments as long as nothing is published.
Educators may read and display pages to students in non-commercial settings.
The "Foraging Center" and "Adobe Document Cloud" websites are the only authorized places to view the book on the Internet, except for websites reviewing small portions of it.
You may create links to anyplace in the "Foraging Center" website but be advised that linking directly to the cloud-version of the book is unwise because the location changes when the book is updated.
My intention was that this book would be viewable on this website for free or would cost $135.00 to download a copy of the PDF version. However, due to the complications involved with setting up a business, I decided to have only a website version at this time. Producing "The Botany of Survival" involved considerable investment, both financial and physical. It was a great experience, but I was hoping it would also be a profitable experience. At this time, in place of financial gain I'm seeking recognition for my efforts. So, if you feel that this book has merit and that you got something useful out of it, please tell other people about it.
Thank you for respecting this usage notice,
The author, Brian Lee Phillips.
Book #2
Foraging in a Nutshell
A Compact Class on Foraging in the Great Lakes Region
by Brian Lee Phillips
***
Produced and self-published by the author.
Copyright 2014 B. L. Phillips.
All rights reserved.
Pages = 129
Description of "Foraging in a Nutshell"
The "Foraging in a Nutshell" class is intended to be a compact introduction to the most important wild foods in the Great Lakes region. It puts things in perspective and covers practical skills that foragers need to know. The main focus is on wild foods that are abundant, easy to harvest, easy to process, safe, and palatable. There's also a focus on basic identification skills. A second video that elaborates upon this first video is in production. Additional "seasons" are also in the planning stage. The written version of this class is a bit more detailed than the video version, but the written version doesn't have any pictures at this time. Please note that plant identification can be very difficult, and that misidentification can have dire consequences. See the safety concerns and guidelines noted above. Good progress on documenting wild foods was made in 2022 and 2023, but I also had many setbacks. I've recently been putting more effort into building virtual instruments than foraging, but I'll never stop foraging.
Video version of "Foraging in a Nutshell" on YouTube:
Book #3
The Two-wheel Botanist
A Biking Adventure in the American Southwest
by Brian Lee Phillips
***
Produced and self-published by the author.
Copyright 2014 B. L. Phillips
All rights reserved.
Pages = 71
Description of "The Two-wheel Botanist"
"The Two-wheel Botanist" is a travel narrative assembled into a collection of true stories. Most of the transportation necessary for the fieldwork that I conducted for my books on edible plants was actually done with a mountain bicycle rather than a car. It was a heck of a workout, and I ran into some serious situations, but it was a great experience. The images below are merely a few places of the paradise I explored.
A Forager's Paradise:
Some places in the American Southwest,
and the desert in bloom.
