REVISED EDITION
ALASKA’S WILD PLANTS
A Guide to Alaska’s Edible and Healthful Harvest
JANICE J. SCHOFIELD
Dedicated to the wild plants,
who are our greatest teachers,
and to all who love and cherish them.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book benefits Kachemak Heritage Land Trust, a non-profit corporation dedicated to preservation of critical habitat in the Kachemak region. For additional information on KHLT, write 315 Klondike Avenue, Homer, AK 99603, or go to www.kachemaklandtrust.org.
DISCLAIMER: Though the plants described in this book have been traditionally used as food or medicine, positive species identification in the field is the reader’s responsibility. If identity is questionable, do not gather or ingest a plant. Neither the author nor the publisher is responsible for allergic or adverse reactions individuals may experience from wild foods, nor do they claim that the techniques described in this guide will cure any illness.
Text and photographs © 2020 by Janice J. Schofield
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of Alaska Northwest Books®.
Edited by Susan Sommer
Indexed by Sam Arnold-Boyd
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Eaton, Janice Schofield, 1951- author.
Title: Alaska’s wild plants : a guide to Alaska’s edible and healthful harvest / Janice J. Schofield.
Description: Revised edition. | [Berkeley, Calif.] : Alaska Northwest Books, an imprint of West Margin Press, [2020] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: “An introductory field guide to the most common edible plants in Alaska, including photographs and information on each plant’s botanical name, harvesting direction, food and medicinal use, and more”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019049578 (print) | LCCN 2019049579 (ebook) | ISBN 9781513262789 (paperback) | ISBN 9781513262796 (hardback) | ISBN 9781513262802 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Wild plants, Edible—Alaska—Identification. | Wild plants, Edible—Therapeutic use—Alaska. | Cooking (Wild foods)—Alaska.
Classification: LCC QK98.5.U6 E28 2020 (print) | LCC QK98.5.U6 (ebook) | DDC 581.6/3209798—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019049578
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019049579
Printed in China
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Proudly distributed by Ingram Publisher Services
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An imprint of West Margin Press
WESTMARGIN PRESS
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Marketing Manager: Angela Zbornik
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Design & Production: Rachel Lopez Metzger
CONTENTS
Learning More About a Plant & Notes on Botanical Names
Using Herbs in Our Everyday Life is Our Birthright
Beach Pea
Glasswort
Goosetongue
Lovage
Orach
Oysterleaf
GARDENS, LAWNS & DISTURBED SOILS
Chickweed
Clover
Horsetail
Lamb’s