Weeds

1
Weeds

• Objective Students will identify and use edible
  weeds from the garden

2
Weed definition and impacts

• Weed refers to any ________ plant
  in your garden.
• There are approximately ________ species of
  plants in the world.
• Around _______ species are considered to be
  major weeds.

Web-based resources
http//weedid.aces.uiuc.edu/
http//www.ppws.vt.edu/weedindex.htm
3
Impacts of weeds

• Lowers crop _______ and quality.
• Less ________ use of land.
• _________ cost of insect and plant disease
  control.
• e.g. Onion _______live on ragweed and mustard
  and later infest onions.

4
What is an ideal weed?

• Germination _________fulfilled in many
  environments.
• Rapid growth from ________to _________ stage.
• Very high seed output in favorable environmental
  conditions
• Examples
• Redroot pigweed produces _________ seeds/plant
• Common purslane produces ________ seeds/plant.

5
What is an ideal weed?

• Great __________ of seeds
• Germination after 40 years
• 38 of velvetleaf
• 7 of lambsquarters
• Adaptations for short-distance and long-distance
  _________
• Weeds may ______ through wind, water, humans or
  machinery
• May have special adaptations that help them
  spread.
• Example hooks or spines that cling to fur or
  fleece of animals or to peoples clothing.

6
Edible weeds

• Grains ( Amaranth, Chenopodium)
• Leafy greens (purslane, dandelion)
• Beverages and teas (chicory root, stinging
  nettle)
• Flavorings
• Herb and curatives

7
Weeds as Grains

• Some _______ crops first occurred as weeds of
  crops (barley in wheat) or are closely related to
  ________ weeds (amaranth to pigweed or quinoa to
  lambsquarters)
• Seed of weedy relatives are _______ but problems
• Small size
• Not retained on plant

8
Amaranth and pigweed

• Includes numerous species in genus Amaranthus
• Leaves and seed are edible
• ________
• Harvest when plant is young - only a few inches
  high
• Mild flavor
• Seed
• Can be ________ and ground
• Make pancakes, muffins, biscuits by mixing with
  wheat flour

9
Quinoa Lambsquarters (Chenopodium)

• Important food for ______yrs
• Leaves seed are _______
• Leaves
• Harvest only the _______ shoots soon after they
  unfold
• Discard older leaves and _______ stems
• Can add washed leaves to salads
• Seed Quinoa
• Incas called it _______ of all grains

10
Leafy greens and other uses

• Many weeds have been used as leafy ________
  (pokeweed, mustards, milkweed)
• Best used early in spring when leaves are very
  young
• May have to boil and change water multiple times
• Removes _________ or poisonous compounds
• Wild ________ (bird peppers, wild black berries)
• Bulbs (wild onions, ramps)

11
Ground Cherries or Husk Tomato (Physalis)

• Many species including some weeds and less common
  vegetables
• Related to ______ and _______
• Cultivated types
• ________ tomato
• Used in pies, jams
• Tomatillo
• Used in green sauces
• (salsa verde)

12
Tomatillo Salsa Verde

• Ingredients
• 2 tomatillos
• 1 small onion
• ¼ cup cilantro leaves
• ½ Tbsp fresh lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon sugar
• 1 (or less) Tepin pepper (ground)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• Methods
• Remove papery husk and rise tomatillos well.
  Place tomatillo in pan with water, bring to boil,
  and simmer for 5 minutes. Finely chop tomatillo,
  cilantro, and onion . Mix together. Grind pepper
  and add with lemon juice, sugar, and salt. Mix.

13
Bird Peppers or Wild Peppers (Capsicum chinense)

• Range from Southern US to _________
• Wild _______ of some cultivated types
• Fruit
• Red to orange in color
• Fruits are hot to very hot
• Are spread by ________

14
Wild onion (Allium canadense)

• Many species found worldwide
• Common (seed) onion from central ________
• Problem weed of ________ and lawns (also is wild
  _____)
• Wild onion has similar ______ and ______ as
  cultivated onion
• A few deadly plants have similar appearance (big
  problem with wild plants)

15
Prickly Pear Cactus (Nopales)

• A number of species native to North South
  America
• Found in _________ Mason Counties
• Parts consumed
• Fruit (cactus figs or ________)
• Must carefully remove outer layer (and spines)
• Can be used to make ___________, jellies, and
  drinks
• Cactus Pads (nopales)
• Use in salads, casseroles, soups, or grilled
• Flavor somewhat tart, _______ _____- or
  asparagus- like
• Has ___________ characteristic, so good for
  thickening soup and stew

16
Dandelion

• Young leaves are added to salads and sandwiches
  and are also boiled for soups
• _______ can be used to make wine
• Increases appetite and promotes digestion
• Acts as a _________ but mostly used to treat
  heart and liver disorders

17
Dandelion wine

• Pick flowers mid-morning and use only the _______
• Generally a light wine lacking __________
• Raisins, citrus added to provide _______
• Many different recipes
• http//winemaking.jackkeller.
• net/dandelion.asp

18
Herbal teas

• We have many dried weeds (herbs)
• Start with a single or couple of ingredients
• Use ingredients whose aroma you like
• Select ingredients to treat your problems or to
  _______ and ________
• Place ingredients in coffee _______ and tie close

19
Chicory (Cichorium intybus)Root

• Common caffeine free substitute for coffee when
  ______ and ground
• Used in the treatment of _______ and jaundice
• Also a natural sedative and used as a diuretic
  and mild ________

20
Quackgrass (Agropyron repens) rhizomes

• Root juice is used to help the obstruction of
  intestines, specifically _________ of the liver
  and __________
• Remedy in suppression of urine and stones in the
  ________
• Was formerly taken to purify blood in the spring

21
Kudzu Root (Pueraria montana)

• Used in stirfries and in ________
• Also used to reduce _______ cravings and
  hangovers
• They help treat colds and may help prevent
  __________ and heart disease
• Also restores _______ balance

22
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

• Used in Salads
• Remedy for severe colds, fevers, and measles
• Reputation for preventing _________
• Used to cure ________and toothaches in Norway
• Used for the manufacture of beer in Sweden and
  Africa

23
Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum)

• Can be boiled like _______ and also used in
  _________
• Used in ointment form as a remedy for a carbuncle
  or an external ________
• Is used to help _________, coughs, and hoarseness

24
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)

• Used for headaches
• Useful for fevers, ulcers, inflammation of the
  _______, and pleurisy
• Helps with _______ problems, earaches, and back
  pains
• Used to treat severe bleeding wounds in _______
• Can be used as an antidote to poisoning
• Flowers commonly used

25
Plantain (Plantago major L.)

• Used in ointments for the treatment of burns,
  scalds, insect _________, and to stop bleeding
• Has been used to help __________ of the skin,
  ulcers, and _______
• Also good against epilepsy, dropsy, jaundice, and
  reduces ________ of the liver and spleen

26
Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)

• Anti-_________
• Good for the kidneys
• Strengthens ______ making it soft and shiny
• Used in feed for ________ causing cows to produce
  more milk and helping animals digestive tracts

27
Goldenrod (Solidago arguta)

• Aquaretic Agent promotes the loss of water from
  the body
• Mostly used to treat urinary tract _______ and to
  prevent _________ stones
• Also helps allergies, __________, colds and flu,
  laryngitis, and sore throats