Dancing Rabbit's 280 acres of rolling Missouri prairie are not only beautiful, but they are also home to a diverse environment filled with many different species of plants. Ever since I was a young child, I've been impressed with people who have shown any type of knowledge about the plant and animal life. In fact, I'm still impressed by anything as simple as someone who can point out a particular type of tree and say, "Oh that's a cottonwood." So as an intern, I've been delighted to learn more about the wild plants here on DR. Specifically, I've been learning about the wide range of wild edible and medicinal plants. And let me tell you, there are lots of them.
On Dancing Rabbit's disturbed and "waste" grounds (i.e. along roads, between fields, near old buildings, etc), there is an abundance of different types of wild edibles. One of DR's favorites is Lamb's Quarters, or Chenopodium album. Lamb's Quarters is a small to medium sized plant that grows up to 2' high. Its leaves are roughly triangle shaped with irregular coarse teeth and blunt tips. The leaves also have a characteristic whitish cast to them on their underside. Their flowers are small, hard-to-notice green blooms produced in short spikes from the top tip and upper leaf junctions. For harvest, Lamb's Quarters' leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Occasionally, the older leaves of a 10"+ plant may be a little too stringy for easy consumption.
Another common wild edible on DR's disturbed and "waste" grounds is the Burdock, Arctium minus and Arctium lappa. A biennial, Burdock has two different forms its first year and its second year. 
Its first year, Burdock is low growing with large hairy leaves that grow from the base of the plant. In its second year, Burdocks produce hairy flower stalks from a base that looks like last year's growth. Its flowers are numerous purple burs. For harvest, Burdock offers a variety of options. The first year plant's roots can be dug up and peeled. And then cooked for 20-30 minutes as a potato-like food. Further the leaf stalks of the first year plant and the flower stalks of the second year plant can be peeled and de-pithed. The pith can be eaten raw or steamed like celery.
On the property there are significant areas of forest edge. This is excellent for many reasons. Forest edge is the natural habitat for a wide range of animals. It serves as a windbreak between different fields of prairie. And it is where one can find many species of delicious wild edible plants, especially wild fruit. Some of the most widely found wild edibles in DR's forest edge are brambles (ie. Raspberry, Blackberry, and Dewberries). Brambles (Rubus spp.) are a group of related berries commonly found throughout the United States. 
The leaves are 2"-10" long with 3-6 leaflets. The stems are red or green with thorns. The flowers are 5-petaled and white. Following the flowers are black or red fruit. The fruit ripens in summer.
Another common fruit found in DR's forest edge comes from the Mulberry tree, Moras rubra (Red) or Moras alba (White). The Mulberry tree grows to a height of 65'-75', with a diameter of 3'. The leaves are 3"-6", toothed, rough on top, hairy on bottom, with a shine. The fruit appears similar to a blackberry. And it ripens in summer to dark purple (Red Mulberry) or stays white with purple spots (White Mulberry),
In the various different ponds in the area, there are several water-loving species of useful wild edibles. In fact, right next to the floating dock in our favorite swimming hole is a thick patch of a wild edible much loved by many Native American tribes, the Arrowhead plant, Sagittaria spp. The Arrowhead plant served as a staple in Native American diets throughout the United States. The Arrowhead plant can be found in ponds, lakes and other slow-moving bodies of water. The plant resembles a Y-shaped arrowhead on the top of a single long stem. The leaf is pointed at one end with a deep lobe at its base. The Arrowhead's tubers can be used like potatoes. Harvest them in Autumn, and peel the tubers before cooking. The tubers can also be eaten in Spring, Summer, and Winter, although they lose some of their starchy content.
Another aquatic wild edible found on DR's land is the Cattail, Typha latifolia. The Cattail could arguably called one of the best edibles to ever be found in the wild. The Cattail is a tall standing plant that grows up to 10' tall. Its leaves, slender and blade-like, grow at the base of the stem up to 8' tall. While the flowers form at the tip of the upright stalks. The Cattail's fruit is shaped like a brownish yellow cigar.
For harvest, there are many of different ways in which to use this plant. In the beginning of spring, the roots can be dug up to locate the small sprouts at the end of the roots. These sprouts can be eaten raw or cooked. And until the plants are 2-3' tall, the plants can be yanked out of the soil by their stalks. This normally breaks off the root. The stem can then be exposed to the tender inner core. This can be celery-substitute can be eaten raw, in a salad, or cooked. Once the flower spikes have formed but before they are out of their husk, the green spikes can be harvested and boiled until tender for a corn-on-the-cob substitute. Or they can be scraped, and the flower buds can be eaten. As the pollen forms on the flower spikes' husk, it can be shaken off and used as a flour substitute in baked goods.
These six species are just a few of the many wild edible species to be found on DR's land and throughout North America. For myself, they are a fascinating means of connecting with the world around me. And besides, they taste good!!!
- Sources:
- Peterson Field Guide of Edible Wild Plants, by Lee A. Peterson.
- Edible Wild Plants:A North American Field Guide, by Thomas S.Eliot & Peter A. Dykeman.
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