Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - March 02, 2014
From: Williamsport, PA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Edible Plants
Title: Edible plants in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi again! Thanks for answering my one question. I have another though. Do you know of any edible plants with no nasty side effects ( like stomach aches or being nauseous) that grow in Lycoming County forests? Also, if any plants around here are good for building shelters (like a teepee)? If you are unable to answer my second question that is okay. Thanks!!!ANSWER:
Several years ago Mr. Smarty Plants answered a similar question about edible native plants in Pennsylvania. You see the answer to that question here. It contains the names of several books that cover edible plants in Pennsylvania.
You can see a very useful article Surviving in the Wild: 19 common Edible Plants from the Art of Manliness. Several of the plants listed are not native to North America—I wouldn't recommend them—and some are native to North America but not to Pennsylvania, so I will list the ones that are known to grow in Lycoming County.
Amaranthus retroflexus (Redroot amaranth)
Typha latifolia (Broadleaf cattail)
Taraxacum officinale (Common dandelion)
Plantago spp. There are several species of native Plantago, but here are the ones that occur in Lycoming County or an adjacent county.
- Plantago aristata (Largebracted plantain)
- Plantago rugelii (Blackseed plantain)
- Plantago virginica (Virginia plantain)
Oxalis spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
- Oxalis corniculata (Creeping woodsorrel)
- Oxalis dillenii (Slender yellow woodsorrel)
- Oxalis grandis (Great yellow woodsorrel)
- Oxalis montana (Mountain woodsorrel)
- Oxalis stricta (Common yellow oxalis)
- Oxalis violacea (Violet woodsorrel)
You can find another list in Edible Wild Plants in Pennsylvania from Trails.com. Here, from that list, are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
Nymphaea odorata (American white waterlily)
Pinus spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
- Pinus banksiana (Jack pine)
- Pinus echinata (Shortleaf pine)
- Pinus resinosa (Red pine)
- Pinus rigida (Pitch pine)
- Pinus strobus (Eastern white pine)
- Pinus virginiana (Virginia pine)
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust)
Vitis spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
- Vitis aestivalis (Summer grape)
- Vitis labrusca (Fox grape)
- Vitis riparia (Riverbank grape)
- Vitis vulpina (Frost grape)
Fragaria spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
Rubus spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
- Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny blackberry)
- Rubus canadensis (Smooth blackberry)
- Rubus flagellaris (Northern dewberry)
- Rubus hispidus (Bristly dewberry)
- Rubus idaeus (American red raspberry)
- Rubus occidentalis (Black raspberry)
- Rubus odoratus (Purpleflowering raspberry)
- Rubus pubescens (Dwarf red blackberry)
Prunus spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
- Prunus americana (American plum)
- Prunus pensylvanica (Pin cherry)
- Prunus serotina (Black cherry)
- Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)
Juglans spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
Carya spp. Here are the native ones that occur in Lycoming County or in an adjacent county.
- Carya cordiformis (Bitternut hickory)
- Carya glabra (Pignut hickory)
- Carya laciniosa (Shellbark hickory)
- Carya ovata (Shagbark hickory)
- Carya ovalis (Red hickory)
- Carya tomentosa (Mockernut hickory)
Fagus grandifolia (American beech)
Castanea dentata (American chestnut)
Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (Common elderberry)
Sambucus racemosa (Red elderberry)
Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich fern)
So, you see, there are lots of native edible foods available in Lycoming County. There are probably even more to be found if you search the books listed in the answer to the question mentioned at the beginning of this answer.
Now, here is what I could find out about tipi poles. According to this article about tipis in Wikipedia, the favorite poles were Pinus contorta (Lodgepole or Beach pine) in the Northern and Central Plains and Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) in the Southern Plains. The Lakota Society says that Chamaecyparis thyoides (Atlantic white cedar) was also used. Juniperus virginiana (Eastern red cedar) is found in Lycoming County, but the other two are not. You can see instructions for building a tipi from the Lakota Society and from Shelter Online.
More Edible Plants Questions
Problems with non-native tomatoes from Spokane WA
August 18, 2012 - I have 2 tomato plants in 1 whiskey barrel, they are in abundance with tomatoes. My problem is when the tomatoes start to ripen, half green & half light red within 1 day the tomatoes are really soft ...
view the full question and answer
Landscaping from Wilmington NC
December 22, 2012 - I plan on moving to Belmont NC in the next couple of years and settling down with my future wife in her home town. I am a huge do it yourself person. I love to make things from scratch, including buil...
view the full question and answer
Blueberry and huckleberry plants for Washington state
April 20, 2010 - Could you give me the names of which blueberry plants and huckleberry bushes that grow the best in Walla Walla, Washington and where and how to plant and space and care for them??
Thanks so much.
view the full question and answer
Non Toxic Fruit Plants
April 03, 2015 - I am trying to plant on my backyard. My dog spends about 8 hours a day outdoors and I am afraid she will be poisoned. I am overwhelmed by the information of toxic trees\plants for dogs. However, I ju...
view the full question and answer
Rust on Blackberry
April 17, 2015 - I have two new blackberry bushes that I planted fall 2014. Only weeks after I planted the plant began to have rust color balls under the leaves then leaves began to die and fall off. When I returned t...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |