Wild Edible Plants

[jgk3]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Yeah, regarding bears, there's the controversy about Timothy Treadwell, whom I'm sure you heard of since he lived with bears for 13 years in Alaska before he and his girlfriend got partially eaten by one... I do think there are some lessons to learn about body language that might help in defense against bears, but it's probably safest to still carry a weapon that can bail you out if all else fails. Another lesson is that walking around in fall is more dangerous than in summer or spring, since the bears are trying to pack as much body fat as possible for the winter in the fall.

If people decide to post pictures of mushrooms, I think they should include pictures of lookalikes that are poisonous, and in categories (such as boletes) that are common, to mention how there are tons and tons of varieties, of which many are toxic. Whereas for the morel, they are all safe, except that there are false morels (they look similar to the former, and yet are part of an entirely different division of fungi, you can say as distant as humans from lizards if you will) which are considered very poisonous. Links should be provided in this case, explaining ways to distinguish, and how similar some varieties can be, for example the last picture in the following link reminds one greatly of true morels: http://www.morelmushroom.info/Danger...se_Morels.html

In this link, there's a video which shows how the caps of skirt cap false morels (which are the most reminiscent of true morels) can be easily twisted off, whereas for the true morel, the caps are attached to the stem and cannot be removed without breaking it off.

Another great link, which explains the easiest way to distinguish between false morels and true morels, is to cut them lengthwise to see if the stem is hollow (true morel), or full and meaty (false morel): http://thegreatmorel.com/falsemorel.html

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

I used to pick mushrooms when I was younger and you need to know what your doing alright.

Porcini - Penny Bun Bolete (Boletus Edulis)

A suggestion --- anytime someone shows a picture of a plant on this thread --- tell everyone viewing if they are poisnes or edible. The picture that you (Retro) showed is beautiful in my eyes. I would love to see what that tastes like. Is that ok?
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

That's really cool Artashes, I like how you decorated your pics. Btw, how do you stay safe of bears on your travels?

I usually don't bother with mushrooms because they can look so similar to toxic species, but in the case of morels and false morels, I think you can learn the difference with fair confidence: http://thegreatmorel.com/falsemorel.html

I do nibble on polypores sometimes, and are reportedly non-toxic as a class of fungi. They are relatively easy to identify: no gills on the underside, but thousands of small pores, which tend to grow on trees or logs. As I said, most don't taste very much, and can be tough and woody. Some are useful as tinder (to start fires, as they burn well), and still others are lightweight but hard, and for giant specimens, you might think of using them as a shield. But some are tender inside and quite delicious, and others medicinal. Here's an entry on the birch polypore which Artashes mentioned:


http://guildwoodvillagemushrooms.blo...-polypore.html

Thanks for the nice info.. The pic you showed of the birch fungus growing high up in the tree are even more prized than the lower growing variety(nice pic).
The question you asked about bear protection is a tough one. Every sane person I know(exept for myself and a few of my friends) always pact artillery.
I ounce helped a father and son from from Vermont get to the south fork of the Koyukuk river (close to Coldfoot) where they dreamt of finding their fortune in gold. I insisted they pact heavy(guns) or no help from me. Went back a number of days later to bail them out. Here's the story they told me --- we were on a dry part of river with a big round boulder sticking out of the dry bed. Two black bears came upon us and started following us. We walked around the giant boulder 5 times and they followed all 5 times. It took some shots to scare the bears so they could get to safety(no one was hurt). I told them the brown big boys do not scare as easily(if at all). Unlike Vermont and Minesota where the black bear will try not to confront a man the Alaskan black will always hunt you down. Even more so than the big brown. Many of the grizzlys up here don't really care if your around(but definitely not all!!) some of the big guys you can actually bump into and they will just look at you like --- hey dude, are you having trouble walking but will do nothing. Will not happen with a black or polar and the polar bear does not frighten. I do not pack a gun unless I'm going to use it but I do --- NOT -- suggest that to anyone else.
Thanks for all the technical and informative info, most useful.
Artashes

[jgk3]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

That's really cool Artashes, I like how you decorated your pics. Btw, how do you stay safe of bears on your travels?

I usually don't bother with mushrooms because they can look so similar to toxic species, but in the case of morels and false morels, I think you can learn the difference with fair confidence: http://thegreatmorel.com/falsemorel.html

I do nibble on polypores sometimes, and are reportedly non-toxic as a class of fungi. They are relatively easy to identify: no gills on the underside, but thousands of small pores, which tend to grow on trees or logs. As I said, most don't taste very much, and can be tough and woody. Some are useful as tinder (to start fires, as they burn well), and still others are lightweight but hard, and for giant specimens, you might think of using them as a shield. But some are tender inside and quite delicious, and others medicinal. Here's an entry on the birch polypore which Artashes mentioned:

http://guildwoodvillagemushrooms.blogspot.ca/2008/06/birch-polypore.html

[retro]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Also concerning morel mushrooms. If a fire takes place round about your stomping ground look the following spring on a south facing slop. They are highly valuable and one can potentially make a fortune.
There is what's called a false morel and it's toxic!
Many mushrooms are highly toxic with no known antidote.
Spoke to a doctor and he told me many mushrooms are so toxic that one(1) touch of the finger that is then touched the eye, nose, mouth, open sore etc can cause total liver failure in minutes.
I personally would not touch any mushroom without expert guidance first.
Artashes

I used to pick mushrooms when I was younger and you need to know what your doing alright.

Porcini - Penny Bun Bolete (Boletus Edulis)

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Also concerning morel mushrooms. If a fire takes place round about your stomping ground look the following spring on a south facing slop. They are highly valuable and one can potentially make a fortune.
There is what's called a false morel and it's toxic!
Many mushrooms are highly toxic with no known antidote.
Spoke to a doctor and he told me many mushrooms are so toxic that one(1) touch of the finger that is then touched the eye, nose, mouth, open sore etc can cause total liver failure in minutes.
I personally would not touch any mushroom without expert guidance first.
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

These woody mushrooms(birch tree exclusive) are highly valuable. Big bucks can be earned to the finder.
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

That's really fascinating stuff, Alaska seems to be full of these natural treasures, especially all the stones you're finding. The variety of mushroom you posted is I believe a polypore, a class with no toxic varieties, though many are not very pleasant to eat as they can be woody, or without taste. I'm sure that some might have medicinal properties though.

All these stones you find... do they naturally appear on the ground during your travels in the wilderness? And the Vericite... that is part of a stone that you make tea with? wow. I never heard of such a thing.

Post 37 is the reference to the tea I spoke about. That particular woody mushroom is what's used to make the highly valuable tea and said tea is quite pleasant.
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Again sorry for multiple posts. Vericite and turquoise and Chrysocola amongst other rocks get there color from copper. Any time any where there is a copper mine look for gems. Same with gold, silver etc.
Artashes

[Artashes]

Re: Wild Edible Plants

Also if your interested I can bird dog you to two reputable stone dealers that put out nice catalogs of gems and are honest.
Artashes