This
illustration shows the basic parts of the plant. this is important
information when attempting to identify a plant with which you are not
familiar.
I highly
recommend anyone looking to make use of natures bounty of wild edibles to
obtain a book or two, and start out slowly. I have amassed a rather large
library of books over the thirty odd years I have been doing this. I would
recommend your first purchase to be the Peterson's Guide Book. This book
is laid out in such a manner that it makes it easy for a novice to zero in
on a plant by its identifying characteristics. It tells which parts of the
plant are edible, at what stage it is edible, and what uses you can make
from it. For example, teas, trail nibble, salad green, pot herb, cooked
vegetable, insect repellent, etc.
