Did you know that we only eat about 0.1% of all the plants we know exist on the earth? Of the roughly 400,000 known vascular plants on earth, about 300,000 can be eaten with the right preparation & knowledge; but out of those 300,000 we humans only eat about 200 of those plants in total, globally. Why is that?  Well, excluding the non-edible & poisonous plants that we simply just shouldn’t eat, there are a few other reasons we don’t consume a lot of plants. Mostly those reasons are due to agriculture & harvesting on a mass scale. Some crops are less weather and pest resistant, harder to be transported, grow slowly, or simply don’t produce as much yield for profit. But that’s on a large scale. Imagine how many delicious & nutritious plants are out there not being enjoyed just because the local government can’t make enough money off of it? some of them might quite literally be in your backyard (or alley-way) right now.

It’s 2024, we no longer can afford to make conscious decisions that let us remain ignorant/delusional. If you know better you should do better, so here are about 5 plants that you should know:

1. Goosefoot a.k.a. Lambsquarters

Scientifically known as Chenopodium album, also referred to as “wild spinach” this increasingly popular weed is believed to be about 10x more Nutritious than spinach.

"Raw lamb's quarters are 84% water, 7% carbohydrates, 4% protein, and 1% fat (table). In a 100 gram reference amount, lamb's quarters provide 43 calories, and are a rich source (20% or more of the Daily Value, DV) of vitamin C (96% DV), vitamin A (73% DV), riboflavin (37% DV), vitamin B6 (21% DV), manganese (37% DV), and calcium (31% DV), with several other dietary minerals in lesser amounts (table).” - Wikipedia

This plant has actually migrated from temperate regions of the eurasian continent but has been recently naturalized on this side of the globe. It is considered “invasive” because it disturbs certain crops like potatoes for farmers, but last time i checked, Mother nature owns all this sh*t, she can thrive wherever she chooses. This plant is used all over the world including China, Russia, India, & North Africa. Keep a lookout for it the next time you find yourself somewhere in nature.

2. Horseweed

Remember that time when you were young & had to go outside & pull these green prickly “weeds” with the thin, white hairs around the stem? yep, that’s horseweed, scientifically named Erigeron canadensis, also known as mare’s tail because it looks like a horse’s tail when you stare at its shadow. Horseweed is a native plant to north america & can be found pretty easily in all 50 states. This plant can grow to be up to 5 feet tall but size varies depending on climate, soil, etc.

Horseweed is believed to have properties that help tighten tissues (astringent), promote urination (diuretic), arrest bleeding (hemostatic), and invigorate (tonic) body and mind. Horseweed leaves are a good source of nutrients including carbohydrates, protein, fat, fiber, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. - Medicinenet.com

uses of horseweed might include:

• Diarrhea

• Internal hemorrhage

• Hemorrhoids

• Menstrual irregularities

• Bladder problems

• nosebleeds

• fevers

• cough

• bronchitis

3. Indian Mockberry

Potentilla indica, known commonly as mock strawberry or Indian-strawberry.  growing abundantly in North America, It is native to eastern and southern Asia, but has been introduced to many other areas of the world as a medicinal and an ornamental plant. This plant can be found in places where the soil is considered “disturbed” which really just means the soil is wild, like how nature intended. when soil is “disturbed” the land likely hasn’t been drowned with pesticides, herbicides, & other toxic chemicals. This can also happen in areas where the ground has been moved around, compromising any unnatural treatments done to the soil. such as a place where construction has been done.

Although the berries are considered less tasty than regular strawberries, "It can help treat weeping eczema, burns boils, etc. It's also used in the treatment of snake bites. Moreover, you can add it’s fruits and leaves in salads for additional health benefits.” - CTGN.com  The indian mockberry has 6.3 mg of Vitamin C per 100 ml of juice and has been used in the past to relieve joint pain and/or arthritis, aid the stomach lining, & is even being researched to prevent HIV & cancer.

4. Dandelion

This popular plant has been gaining traction over the past few years as more & more people are realizing the plant that was often blown away as kids is actually something we probably should’ve been taking in. Scientifically known as Taraxacum officinale, Dandelion is a good source of vitamins & minerals, as well as aiding digestion, it is also believed to be a preventative of cancer. Although this plant can be found abundantly in America & other parts of the earth, there is still limited research on all the definite benefits of dandelion. “When consumed as a whole food (such as cooked dandelion greens), dandelion is safe to consume. However, people who are allergic to plants like ragweed, chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies may need to practice caution when consuming dandelion. These plants are related to dandelion and may therefore also cause allergic reactions.” - health.com

5. Pokeweed

If you have a natural garden or live in a place with a lot of agriculture you’ve probably seen this tall, purplish or green plant with long white or green berries that eventually turn a dark purple when mature. known in the science world as Phytolacca americana. Warning: this whole plant is known to be toxic when eaten raw, that is why doing your own due diligence before experimenting with any new plant, food, drug, etc. is important. With that being said, do not be alarmed by the toxicity of pokeweed as a lot of other foods we consume on a daily bases are toxic if not prepared correctly including meat, eggs, kidney beans, potatoes, ackee, castor oil, cashews, & plenty of other foods

When prepared correctly, the benefits of this plant far outweighs the cons. “A 100g serving of pokeweed contains 20 calories and 3.1 grams of carbohydrates, 1.6 grams of sugars, 1.5 grams of dietary fiber, 0.4 grams of fat, 2.3 grams of protein, and is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese. It contains low levels of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium.” - Wikipedia

In addition, this plant has been used historically to make paint or wine using the berries. The lectins contained inside pokeweeds are used to stimulate B-cell proliferation which is useful for B-cell assays, immunodeficiency diagnostic tests, and immunotherapy. “Modern research indicates that pokeweed has healing potential. A protein isolated from the leaves called pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) appears to be effective against such viruses as herpes and HIV and as an anti–tumor agent. Studies show PAP, in combination with other drugs, may be useful in treating osteosarcomas, some soft tissue sarcomas, prostate, breast and ovarian cancers.” -Monticello.org

…This is your sign to “discover” a new plant & add it to your diet.

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