When I was first starting out immersing myself in wild foods I sampled a few flower heads of the Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris). I found them very hot and peppery, and rather pleasant. Only later that day after reading up on the Buttercup family (Ranunculaceae) did I realise that I was eating a poisonous plant!
Fortunately I was just sampling this plant, so I only ate 2 or 3 flower heads which wasn’t enough to make me sick.
I keep banging on about making certain that you are 100% clear in your identification of a plant and whether it is edible, but it really is important.
Just because a plant “looks” inviting, doesn’t mean you can eat it, even if it initially tastes somewhat pleasant.
In the same breath eating wild foods is all about self-responsibility and self-reliance. If you go into your local landbase with a lack of awareness and start munching your way through everything that “looks” edible, you might be in for a rude awakening.
I fully encourage you to explore wild foods as it is a truly fascinating and enchanting journey, and although I hold up warning signs here and there, don’t let them put you off.
This plant journey is like a gentle walk down an overgrown country lane. Take it slow and easy, and keep your eyes open, for you will discover aspects of yourself that you thought you had lost, or didn’t even know you had, and the journey is truly awe-filled.
As Frank Cook points out in this video there is a spectrum that plants lie on that ranges between Food-Medicine-Poison. Buttercup is in the Medicine-Poison section.
As Frank points out, there are powerful medicinal members of this family (Ranunculaceae) which includes Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) to name a few.
Yet more gentle wisdom from this fascinating plant teacher.
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